For the past few years I've really wanted to delve into learning how to embroider by machine. I have a Bernina QE 440 machine which I thought was perfect for the task. My passion will always be sewing, but I thought embroidery would give my sewing an extra special touch.
When I purchased the Bernina on Ebay I thought I died and went to heaven. I had been sewing on "another" machine for years. The Bernina was like.... well try and visualize a comparison between a really bad pudding and the best NY cheesecake. I'm sure that isn't the best comparison, but I can't imagine ever using another machine.
The model Bernina I have has an optional embroidery attachment. I tried and tried to figure it out, but the learning curve just wasn't within my grasp. To make a long story short, I sold the QE 440 attachment on Ebay for enough to purchase the Brother PE770 on Amazon's Black Friday in July sale. I really wanted a separate Embroidery machine, not an attachment I had to keep setting up and taking apart from my sewing machine I use all the time and on the spur of the moment.
Embroidery is not something you can just start doing without doing a bit of research ahead of time. I fell back on my favorite library for research. Pinterest, and learned quite a bit about thread, stabilizers, hooping, etc.
In a previous post you can see how I made a quilt label. That was relatively easy. For this project I wanted to import some designs I purchased (for free, lol) online. This machine is great because I can transfer purchases to the machine via a USB stick.
I purchased some bar mop cloths at Dollar General (we call it the mini Walmart) to practice these two designs.
The only thing I didn't really like is the spool of embroidery thread to the left. I purchased a bundle on Amazon which was a deal, but on this spool there is no place to secure the thread to keep it from unraveling. I'm a neat freak when it comes to my sewing supplies. It bothers me to have tangled up thread ends in my thread drawer. I do like the spool to the right which has a neat design of just pulling the thread around the upper part of the spool. The little things.... I know.
I washed these towels after I embroidered them and they came out great. We'll see how many more washings they can with stand.
Can you tell what I was thinking of while creating these projects? CHEERS!
Lessons Learned:
1. I think I should have used a water soluble stabilizer on the top. I've read this product makes the embroidery look "more professional".
2. I've learned I need to print a color chart for each design I do if it has more than two colors. I mark the steps by the colors so I don't loose track of what section will be embroidered next.
I would really like to hear your opinions about the Brother PE770 or embroidery tips and tricks in general. Feel free to comment if you have some wisdom to share.
Thanks for visiting One Twenty Seven.
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