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How to Apply Rulers on Snap Hoop Monster

by / Current Posts, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Tips, Facebook Live, Hooping, Snap Hoop Monster, Uncategorized, Wildcard Wednesday / 8 Comments

Now’s a good time get your new Snap Hoop Monster out of the box and apply the rulers. Here’s a quick solution for precision placement of the adhesive rulers on your Snap Hoop Monster magnetic frame. Download the Crosshair design (click here) and send it to your machine.

Hoop stabilizer in Snap Hoop Monster.  Align the top frame with the bottom frame. Attach the hoop to the machine. Select the Crosshair design and stitch it in black (or other dark thread).   Make sure you do not move the design before you stitch it.

Remove the hoop from the machine and place it on a flat work surface.

With PAL

If you have Perfect Alignment Laser (PAL), turn on PAL and align the beams with a cutting mat or the DIME hoop mat.

Place the hoop under PAL.  Align the stitched crosshair with the laser beam.

The beam will extend over the frame. Remove the protective paper from the wrong side of the rulers. Place the rulers on the frame, centering the zero on each beam.

Firmly press the rulers to the frame.  Trim the excess off the ends. Done!

Without PAL

Use a ruler to extend each leg of the stitched crosshair to the frame.

Remove the protective paper from the wrong side of the ruler. Place the ruler’s zero mark at the extended crosshair.  Press the ruler to the frame.

Join me Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM CDT on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.  We have lots to talk about and I can’t wait to share some of the April #DimeDoors that you’ve been stitching! See at 1:00 tomorrow!

 

April Door Reveal

by / Current Posts, Digitizing, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Techniques, Embroidery Tips, Facebook Live, Free Designs, Quilting, Quilting with your embroidery machine, Snap Hoop Monster, Uncategorized, Weightless Quilter / 1 Comment

I’m wrapping up National Quilting Month with quilting projects: one large and one small. I’m quilting a large – and I mean – large quilt! It’s 90″ x 90″ and I’m quilting it on my embroidery machine. I spent weekends in March piecing Red Ribbons by Kaffe Fassett and added extra borders as the original size of Red Ribbons is 68″ x 68″.  You can find the pattern in his Quilts in America book.

Truth be told, when I’m piecing a quilt, all I think about is the next step – the quilting – as that’s my favorite part of quilting!  I love seeing the design come to life and watching the quilt morph into a dimensional, cozy quilt sandwich.  The texture of the quilt completely changes as the stitches are added and the end of the task comes into view.  It’s motivating!

But there are quite a few challenges along the way – like what design to select, what hoop to use and how to handle the bulk of the quilt.  Tomorrow, on Facebook Live you can watch the process as I’ll be quilting the second half of the quilt.  I finished the first half this past weekend.  Come see for yourself how you can handle a 90″ x 90″ quilt on single needle embroidery machine!

And…meet Becky Thompson, from San Antionio, TX, my guest on tomorrow’s Live session. Becky is the force behind Power Tools with Thread (fun name wouldn’t you agree?). She’s so passionate about machine embroidery, I just had to introduce her to you.  We’re going to have fun because she’s going to be quilting an Edge to Edge design in her studio while I’m quilting in my studio!  Join us at 1:00 CST PM on Facebook Live!

But wait there’s more!  My small quilting project is the big reveal of the April Door!  If you’ve been looking for a breath of spring – you’ll find it in the April Door. I can’t wait to share it with you tomorrow on Facebook Live.  See you at 1:00 PM CST on March 26, 2020.

 

Best Update Ever!

by / Current Posts, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Tool Shed, Inspiration Software, Lettering, My Block Piecer, My Fabric Designs, My Lace Maker, My Quilt Embellisher, My Quilt Planner, Perfect Embroidery Pro, Software Updates, Uncategorized, Vintage Embroidery Software / 5 Comments

There’s a new update available for Inspiration software and it will put a smile on your face. The newest version puts all of your Inspiration software programs in one platform. Instead of having to open each software individually, you’ll open Embroidery Tool Shed, where you’ll find all of your Inspiration software programs.  The Embroidery Tool Shed has the same familiar screen that you’re familiar with a couple of small changes.  You’ll notice there is now a cart at the bottom right under the properties box. Click on the cart to view all software.

 

You’ll see a yellow check mark next to each software program you have registered.  If there is no check mark, then you can try each program. Just left click on the ellipse and select Try.  When you’re in demo mode, you can explore the program’s features but will not be able to save a design.  It’s a fun way to play before you purchasing.

There are more improvements to specific software programs in this update. My Lace Maker:  Select multiple lace designs from the Lace library – a huge time saver!

In Perfect Embroidery Pro, it’s now possible to print a crosshair on individual designs on one sheet of paper.  Yeah!  Personally, I’m thrilled to have this feature because I use Print & Stick Target Template paper and I despise wasting a sheet with just one small design.  Open several designs in one file.  Select a design, right click and select Utility/Add Crosshair.

Repeat for the remaining designs.  Now when you print, the designs will print on one sheet (if they on a standard piece of paper) and each will have a crosshair.  Love that!

You can now rate a design.  A great way to keep track of your favorite designs – just click 5 stars for your favs. Create your own rating system to make searching for designs easier in the future.

 

In Perfect Embroidery Pro and Word Art in stitches, you can now map purchased design fonts. Go to Tools “Font Editor”. A window will appear with an alphabet.  As you select each of the individual letters (of your purchased digitized alphabet), strike the corresponding key on the keyboard to ‘map’ the letter to the keyboard.

I’ll post a more in-depth how-to on this new feature in the near feature.  It’s best to subscribe to this blog to be notified with a new post, video or live discussion is going to happen.

If you have Perfect Stitch Viewer, the new update includes a better view of your embroidery designs in Explorer. In Explorer, select Details Pane.

A properties box will appear in the folder providing details of the design along with the image.

Oh boy, so many fun features to explore! I think the saved the best for last because all future updates will be done with just one click. Imagine just one update!  Instead of updating every piece of Inspiration software, you’ll be able to do it in a flash!

I did preview of the update on Facebook Live on Thursday, Feb. 27, you can still watch it.  Just head over to Faebook or YouTube and watch.

Subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss any details on how to use and enjoy the new features. See you on Thursday at 1:00 PM CST on Facebook Live and YouTube!

The Big Reveal

by / Current Posts, Digitizing, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Tool Shed, Facebook Live, Inspiration Software, Software Updates, Uncategorized / 5 Comments

I’ve been looking forward to tomorrow’s Facebook Live broadcast for several weeks and have been keeping hush about what we’ll reveal. We have two big announcements – one is all about Inspirations software and the other is the Dime March Door.

I’ll reveal a transformation that will make your embroidery software experience more enjoyable.  DIME will flip the switch on the new software ‘mothership’ during Facebook Live at 1:00 PM CST.  The best part – the new mothership is free and will house all your existing Inspiration software programs.  Don’t have any Inspiration software programs?  No worries, you can download the ‘mothership’ for free and use its basic editing features. I hope you’ll join me during the broadcast as I’ll be happy to answer our questions.

Speaking of free downloads, tomorrow is the big reveal for the March Door. I hope you’ll love my version of the first signs of spring.  I’ve heard some oohs and ahhs from office mates when they saw the March Door so I’m hoping you’ll feel the same way.  I’ve also heard some sewing machine retailers are hosting Watch Parties in their store.  Might be a good idea to check with your local sewing machine retailer and see if they’re hosting a Watch Party, then plan on joining them for the big reveal!

The last Thursday of the month is beginning to be my favorite day of the month!  See you at 1:00 CST on Facebook Live or YouTube Live.  To be notified when the broadcast starts, like our Facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/dzgns.  See you online at 1:00 CST!

One of My Top 3 Favorite Projects

by / Current Posts, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Techniques, Facebook Live, Uncategorized / 0 comment

When you create and design for over 20 years, you’re bound to have some favorites.  Join me tomorrow on Facebook Live at 1:00 CST to take a look at one of my top 3 all-time favorite projects.  This project, actually, a group of projects, is something you can use everyday. Boy, can I testify to that!  I have one that has traveled everyday with me – for over nine years!

Wondering what it is?  Well, tune in tomorrow to find out. Hope to see you there – cause Facebook Live is definitely more fun when you join in and say hello!

You can also watch Live on YouTube, just subscribe to our YouTube channel and you’ll be notified when you start to broadcast. Click here to subscribe to the Designs in Machine Embroidery YouTube channel.

Resizing the January Door for 5″ x 7″ Hoops

by / Current Posts, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Techniques, Embroidery Tips, Embroidery Tool Shed, Facebook Live, Inspiration Software, Software Saturday, Software Techniques, Uncategorized / 6 Comments

During Thursday’s Facebook Live session, several viewers expressed an interest in making the January Door in a 5” x 7” hoop. I mentioned you can resize the design to fit your hoop. If you do not have embroidery software, you can download our free embroidery software, Embroidery Tool Shed, just click here. 

Embroidery Tool Shed allows you to resize (and recalculate the number of stitches), copy, paste, mirror image and more.  Once you download and install the software, click the Embroidery Tool Shed icon on your desktop, and click on Open a Design.  Locate the January Door design, select the .C2S version and click Open.

Click on the Select tool. The Select tool is a red arrow, circled in green below.  Select the design by holding down the left mouse button and dragging the cursor over the design.  You will know it is selected when the design is all blue with a boundary box around it.

To resize, click on the Transform tab in the Properties Box.

Change the height to 7”.  Since there is a check mark in the Maintain aspect ratio, the software automatically resizes the entire design keeping the original proportions.  You’ll also notice there is a check mark in the Regenerate stitches box, that ensures stitches are removed when a design is shrunk and added when a design is enlarged.  Always keep that box checked. Click Apply.

The design now measures 4.30” x 7.01”.  The size is displayed at the top of the screen.

If you want to completely fill your 5” x 7” hoop, you will lose the original proportion. Follow the next steps to see the results. It’s best to start with the original 6” x 10” file.  Go to File, Open and locate the original January Door.c2s file.

Select the design, remove the check mark from Maintain aspect ration box and enter 5” in the width box and 7” in the height. Click Apply.

The design will fill the hoop but be a bit wider than the original.  If you like it, use it! Regardless of the size you choose, go to File, Save As and save the newly-sized January Door as JD_Small in the appropriate format for your machine.  Send the design to your machine and you’re ready to stitch!

Before you move to the machine, I suggest getting familiar with this handy, free software. – you’ll find many uses for it.  Just click on the shopping cart in the lower right corner of the screen (red arrow below) and click on the ellipse next to Embroidery Tool Shed (green arrow below).  You’ll be taken to 10 tutorial videos on YouTube by Inspiration’s Educational Consultant Ashley Jones.  Watch each one to learn how to get the most out of Embroidery Tool Shed.

 

 

 

Lofty Monograms!

by / Current Posts, Digitizing, Eileen Roche, Embroidery Techniques, Embroidery Tips, Inspiration Software, Lettering, Monograms, Perfect Embroidery Pro, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

Gift #2 on my top 10 gifts to make for the 2019 Holiday season was a personalized throw. There’s such a wide selection of throws available at every price point and in many different fabrics. In Thursday’s Facebook Live session, Deborah Jones and I reviewed four different throws: a fleece buffalo plaid, a nubby and stretchy chenille, a poly/wool blend tweed and a faux suede with a Sherpa back.  The trickiest one to embroider was definitely the stretchy chenille because of its thick yarns and open weave.  But I am thrilled with the finished results.  Let me walk you through the process so you can duplicate this at home.

Open a new file in Inspiration’s Perfect Embroidery Pro.  Select the Text tool and type in your monogram.  Select the Fan_Scr font and click Apply in the Properties Box.

With the Text tool selected, click on the monogram and the kerning tools will appear.  Drag the blue diamond between the letters to change the spacing.

Click on the Select tool, right click and select Utility, Nap Blocker from the dropdown menu.

Leave the default setting at 4.0 mm and click OK.

The Nap Blocker, or low density fill, will now be the first color of the embroidery design.

Its function is to hold down the fabric’s nap and create a delicate, yet solid base for the beautiful monogram.  Without it, the monogram would slip between the chenille’s yarns. The end result would be less than professional!

Change the color of the Nap Blocker to match the fabric and select the color of your choice for the monogram.

Click on the Auto Baste tool to add a basting outline around the design.  It will stitch in the first color.  Send the design to the machine.

Hoop the throw with Piece & Stitch Tear Away Wash Away stabilizer.  Place water soluble topper over the design area to allow the embroidery foot to glide over the surface.  Without it, the foot would caught in the loops.  (Hmm…wonder how i figured that out!)  Stitch color 1, the basting outline.  Stitch color 2, the Nap Blocker.

Finally, stitch the monogram.

Remove the throw from the hoop. Snip the basting stitches and remove.  Tear the excess Piece & Stitch stabilizer from the wrong side of the throw. Tear the water soluble topper away from the monogram.

If you hate those pesky bits of water soluble stabilizer that are trapped in the small openings, then you’ll love Deborah Jones’ tip for getting rid of every last speck. Watch the Facebook Live session from Thursday, Dec. 5.  You can watch here on YouTube or over on our Facebook page.

I love this throw and think it will definitely put a smile on someone’s face at Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

by / Current Posts, Eileen Roche, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

Holidays can make many people sad, especially, if they’re spending the holiday alone.  If you don’t have big plans – or if you do have big plans – remember, it’s not about the fuss. It’s about being grateful for all our blessings: good health, family, friends,  faith and our talents.  If you’re alone on Thanksgiving Day, reading this blog and not feeling so happy, go to your machine and find some joy by using your creative talents.   Today is a gift – a gift of time – don’t squander it, enjoy it!

On Thanksgiving Day, I’ll be cooking and hosting family but I will take some time in the morning to reflect on the past year.  As I look back over the last 12 months, I know I’ll find hundreds of moments to be thankful for.  Moments with loved ones, moments with new friends, moments of renewed and strengthened faith.  And my heart will fill with gratitude.  I wish you the same.

Thank you for reading, watching and making my life full! Happy Thanksgiving!

Gift #3 Reveal!

by / Eileen Roche, Holiday Stitching, In-the-hoop, Uncategorized / 0 comment

Join me tomorrow at 1:00 CST on Facebook Live or Youtube to see Gift #3 on my top 10 gift-making ideas for 2019!  Tomorrow’s ideas are all in the hoop – fast, affordable and easy ideas to make.  I’ll bet you already have the fabrics you need – as several of the ideas are true scrap-busters.  And it’s a great way to use odd textile remnants like marine vinyl, sweater knits, fleece and more.

Join me at 1:00 CST, and make sure you say hello, it’s more fun when you join in!  I know some of you aren’t on Facebook but you can watch live on YouTube.  In fact, go to https://www.youtube.com/user/dzgns and subscribe to our channel.  All subscribers are notified when a new video or live session is broadcasted.

See you then!

Instant New Baby Gift

by / Current Posts, Digitizing, Eileen Roche, Embroidery for Children, Inspiration Software, Lettering, Uncategorized, Word Art in Stitches / 4 Comments

As embroiderers, we are always driven to create a custom gift for new parents but it can be difficult to find time to create something special.  For the new parents, there’s nothing quite like seeing the statistics of your new baby etched in thread on pretty fabric. Inspiration’s Word Art In Stitches has just what you need to put a smile on the parents’ faces.

Subway blocks were added as a free update to the software several months ago and I think many of us forget they are in the software.  Let’s take a look. Open a new file in Word Art in Stitches and click on the Library icon under the Properties Box (lower right corner).  Scroll to the bottom of the list.

Here you’ll find nine different blocks for baby, new home, wedding and more.  Select the first one, Baby 4×4. Once the design appears on the screen, select it, right click and Ungroup.

It’s so easy to change the name, date and weight to customize the block for the new baby.  Just click on the name and type the new name in the Properties Box.

Select the name, drag one of the side handles to stretch the text to fit the space.  It’s that easy!

Do the same for the date and weight.

The block is 4×4 but you can resize it to fit your needs.  Wasn’t that simple!  You can use as framed artwork, a custom block in a quilt or as a quilt label.  I’m sure you’ll find many ways to use the Subway blocks.

Remember to join me on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 1:00 CST on Facebook Live and YouTube Live to see gift #4 in our holiday gift making countdown!.  I hope you had a chance to see gift #5 on Nov. 7 – it was one of my all time favorites!  If you missed it, you can watch it anytime, check it out!

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