October Sewing Blog
| Hello Creative Sewing Friends,Thank you all for tuning into our National Sewing Month shows. Thanks also to all of you who have been writing to share your ideas! We all learn from each other and I’m glad we’re in this growing and sewing journey together! If you’re new to HSN.com or this blog, be sure to take a look at my past blogs for project ideas, information and other website links. You may also find past blogs from 2008 on my website.Even after four decades of sewing, I encountered a few new goof ups in my sewing world this month and wanted to share them with you so you can avoid such happenstance. While stitching a design on the Futura it made a horrible gut wrenching noise followed by a needle break. Upon analyzing the scene, I realized that my thread had slipped from the full spool and fell down to tangle around the base of the spool pin. Although my thread didn’t break— (a great testimony to the strength of my Melrose thread) this is certainly a sewing faux pas to avoid.
TIP: when using a full spool of Melrose thread on the Futura’s vertical spool holder, be sure to use a thread net to keep the slippery threads from slipping down and tangling around the pin’s base. If you do not have any thread nets, you can fashion one by cutting a 4” piece of unworn ‘knee high pantyhose’. TIP: Also use a thread net on the metallic threads. Even when the metallics are positioned horizontally on the spool pins, the thread can over-unwind and the excess can get tangled around the spool pin base. I broke another needle because my shank screw wasn’t tight enough and the foot gradually started wobbling while I was stitching and the needle hit the foot. The foot snapped in two and the needle snapped as well. TIP: Tighten all the screws with the screwdriver. Hand tightening is not strong enough. TIP: Use Goo Gone or Goof Off to remove the sticky residue on the underside of the embroidery hoop left over from the use of sticky stabilizer. I hope that my mistakes will encourage you regardless of how long you have been sewing. No one is ever perfect. All we can ever strive for is Excellence, which is doing the best we can with what we know and what we have at any given moment in time. So go on, start a new project and do your best. Do your most Excellent job and bask in the satisfaction of knowing that in every moment, you gave it your all!!! ANSWERSCan I use the walking foot for quilting and the embroidery foot for free motion work on the Brother HE 240? Yes, the Brother HE240 has a low shank so the walking foot will work on both machines. For free motion work on the HE240, attach the embroidery foot, remove the embroidery arm and drop the feed dog. (switch is on the lower backside of the free arm) When is the Felting Machine going to be on again? At this point there are no scheduled airings for the felting machine. It will continue to be available on HSN.com. I didn’t get the DVD with my 7470, what can I do? You should have received a “Quick Start DVD” with your machine. It is packaged in a white sleeve and may have been accidentally discarded with the styrofoam and packaging. You can go online to Singer at and download the 7470 manual for FREE. Is there any way to get the Brother Embroidery Cards on HSN? Right now the buyers are working with the vendor to try to make them available. Check back in a month or two. EMBROIDERY
1. Will I use the machine for all purpose sewing AND embroidery or will it be for embroidery only? 2. What extent of editing will I want to do? Ex: rotate, size, copy, mirror image, repeat design, change color, etc… 3. Other features to consider: Snap on or screw on hoops? Does it have Auto-Thread cutter? How many hoops and what sizes are they? 4. Do I want a stand alone embroidery machine with touch screen editing or a machine that hooks up to my computer to embroider and therefore has a large screen with which to edit? 5. If it’s a stand alone machine, can it hook up to my computer if I want it to? (This feature obviously increases your design storage capacity) 6. What file formats can the machine’s software interpret and stitch? 7. When sizing a design, will it automatically recalculate the stitch density to eliminate distortion? 8. Also determine if you want to simply stitch out designs that you find or if you prefer to customize a unique design and have the ability to build multiple elements of a design in one hoop (letters and , frames , borders and designs) for creative freedom. Whatever machine you choose, make sure you start off with the right thread and stabilizers. Our Sulky Stabilizer 5-pack is a good assortment at a great value. Check it out on HSN.com Item: #257-815 My Commercial grade Melrose 40 weight tri-lobal 100% polyester embroidery thread 24 piece 600 yard spool value packs are also a great way to ensure successful results. Check out my new assortments and order yours today. Pastel Item: #429-489 Neutral Item: #429-498 Brights Item: #429-437 FUTURA Embroidery TIP:1. When changing thread colors, FORWARD and SEND the next color block before you snip the top thread in the hoop. This gives the bobbin some extra lead and the machine is less likely to beep at you when you proceed to sew. It will also greatly reduce the need to remove the hoop and rethread the bobbin. 2. Trim jump stitches before you change each color. If you wait and stitch over the jump stitches, they are much harder to remove. WHAT FORMATS WILL MY FUTURA SOFTWARE RECOGNIZE?When downloading designs from websites, off a floppy disk or CD, the Futura will recognize AND AUTOMATICALLY CONVERT the following formats.
USING THE DESIGN BROWSER
This feature can be used for any embroidery design disc you may have. Left click on File > Design Browser:
Double left click on the DESIGN folder. Then all the folders on the CD will be available. Choose the folder (category) on the left menu bar and then you can view all the designs in that folder (on the right). Then click on the desired design to view the color steps and stitch count in the bar below:Then click on OPEN. This will open the design directly into the Futura Screen.
See you Thanksgiving Week~
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When to WatchOctober
October:
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Congratulations and Thank you to the thousands of viewers who have taken a bold step into the world of machine embroidery by ordering a machine from HSN. If you are just now thinking about the purchase of an embroidery machine there are many things to consider. With all the models available the question of which one to buy can be a bit confusing. There are many features to weigh in your decision such as hoop(s) sizes, additional software, designs built into the machines, editing capabilities, memory, to name just a few. To choose a model that will satisfy your needs and intentions, ask yourself these questions:
To view design from the Singer Stock Design CD 3900 design we suggest that you place the CD in your computer’s tray and use the design browser.
This will open the Browser to the following screen:
How large can the letters be sewn. Also is there a larger hoop that can be added? How much larger and smaller can the design be reduced or enlarged? How large can the spools of thread be and do you sell the bobbin thread?
I want the best Embroidery machine you have to offer but can’t decide between the Singer Futura CE-150 or the brother – I want the one that does the best stitching because this is for my business. Do you have any specials on sewing machines coming up? I need one that is on flex pay also which the Singer is and the brother is not but the reviews for the Singer are not very good and no reviews on the Brother. So not sure if the people with the Singer just aren’t patient enough to learn the Singer
I bought a Brother model HE240 and I need a walking foot. Can’t seem to find one
Does anyone know where I might find one? Thanks.
Darlene, I own and bought a singer machine from HSN a couple of years go and all the different feet now I bought the singer futura250 can those feet be used on my futura also you can tell I’m new at this
Hello, I also saw where they used ribbon, I would also like to know how to do this can you let me know Thank You. Also has anyone found out anymore on the free font site?
Darleene, I saw a demonstration on one of your segments and you used ribbon the the bobbin to create a design with a zigzag stitch…I would love to try it …I have looked all over for directions and have found nothing. Any advice on where to find directions??? Thanks,
Dear Vicki,OR – Most complaints for the CE150 is that people confused the Video which showed all the extras while the SES-1000 was being demostrated. The CE150 does not come with all of the extras. There were only 2 complaints about not working correctly – rest was due to not having all the extras that were shown with the SES-1000. I have my CE-150 and had no problems with any of it. I hope that this helps. Low ratings are due to confusion with extra parts that were shown with the SES1000
I’ve had my Futura 200 for almost 3 years now and no major problems except the power switch went bad before the first year ended and had it replaced. It works great and does everything it is supposed to do. There is a learning curve with them as with anything you buy but I wouldn’t trade it for any of the other machines on the market and I do a lot of machine embroidery. I even got the upgrade software. I’d recommend it to anyone. I have 6 other Singer machines so I knew the Singer quality.
Hi Marlene, I have the same questions. I had to look all over the web to find out the HE-240 only had a 4×4 hoop size. One of the reviews on the machine said that that size was as big as it got. That leaves me out I want a bigger size but the Futura has such bad reviews I’m afraid to buy it. I am wondering though when some machines have such problems why HSN doesn’t pull them or have the company fix the problem. Any thoughts?
Two questions: Will there be other sewing/embroidery machine shows before the end of this year, and what is the largest hoop size that can be used on the HE-240? I’m looking for an embroidery machine that has a larger work area than 4×4. Thanks!
HI Kathryn SC,
YOu are completly right. Sometimes people see Darlene do all the procedure so fast and get frustated when they receive the machine. Like me at the beginning. Changing hoops and using different kind of thread can create confusion if you don’t know the correct steps. I passed the beep caos. And sooo happy with my machine and HSN for the price!
Hi BF-AL, You’re right about getting use to the embroidry machine. I do alot of regular sewing on mine. My CE150 beeps at me alot mostly due to not having the presser foot in the down position. I use handwoven fabric I have to raise the presser foot in order to slide my material underneath it. Then I release the presser foot, everything looks good except that I did not lower the presser foot all the way. I know exactly what the problem is when my machine beeps at me. I got the numbers down pat.
HI,
I just wanted to comment regarding the Singer Embroidery machines. I have two and I am very happy with them. I do want to let everybody that think about buying one that you have to do your research first, although it looks easy there are features that takes time to get used to and undertand the machine. It beeps a lot at the beginning untill you understand what you are doing wrong.
HI Wini, NJ,
Can you let us know which serger did you buy? I want to buy the 1034D but I am not sure yet. I have never had a serger so I think this is a good start. Is the DVD good enough to start?
Thanks!
I just bought a Brother serger. I have never used a serger before. Can you
recommend a good book with lots of pictures to help me? I would appreciate it
a lot. Have you written one?
i purchased futura ce-250 and i spoke with customer service regarding the 30 day in home.my concern is that 30 days is not enough time to view any of the sewing machines that may be featured due to the functionality of some of them.i also stated to customer service that some of the returns are probably due to customers not able to work the machines and are not sure if there is a problem and for the sake of time they return the items. darlene can you see if hsn would extend the return time.
Where is everybody? Seems like no one is writing to the blog.Please, those who have bought a new machine in the last few weeks, write in and tell us what you think and any problems you may have. Also,remember there are several very good groups in Facebook that can be joined. Go to Facebook and in the search box type in Singer Futura Groups and they should come up,try the same with Google. They are very informative and glad to help with everything regarding the Singer Futuras. TENSI
Hi Ann,
What are you trying to download for your SES-1000? Designs?
I just purchased the Singer Futura 1000. Can anyone tell me how I download from the internet? Is there a certain web site I need to go to?
Tammy, you may consider an office U style desk.These are available at any large office supply store.I got mine for $75.because it was the display one and had been scratched on the top. You can get these starting $200. It has a desk with credenza on top, the return part which is where I put my machine,completing the U is a large table where you can put one or two machines or use to prepare projects. Koala cabinets are over $2000. Hope this helps.
TENSI
Darlene said she would give us info on free font locations for the Futie in Nov blog…
Now that I have brought more than my share of machine, can we get a sewing cabinet that will hold all three (sewing machine, serger and embroidery machine), something like (Koala sewing cabient) was that a hint or what? I have enjoy the the many purchases I brought throught HSN. Since in my own sewing business I have 3 brothers sewing machine, 2 brother serger, 2 futura, 1 singer computerized sewing machine. I can’t wait to see the new embroidery machine in Nov.
The when to watch box on the right side of this blog states that Darlene will be back on November 23 with a today special value which is to be an embroidery machine. Sorry ladies, she does not say which one. Hope this helps.
Tensi
Hi Darlene – wondering when are the specials going to be run on the sewing machines again for November and will there be specials in December for the Holidays on the Sewing Machines. If so – When?
I have a Brother PE700II and most of the designs I have use Madeira thread. I would like to purchase some Melrose thread…is there a conversion chart available?