Congratulations on paying off your embroidery machine! That's the one most people seem to rave about! I'll be interested to see how you like it! I've had one in my cart at
Amazon, but can't really justify it since I really don't think I would be using it much. I just want to play with one for a while
Thank you! I am very excited about it! I have a cart full of Heather Sue's designs, but I keep waffling back and forth on them. Nini suggested that I start with something simple - like a Minnie head applique... So, I put one in my cart, and I keep thinking to myself "I could hand applique that so easily"...
But the whole point is to do something simple at first. LOL So, I went through all of her designs, and I tried to choose things that I can't do myself - which is a little difficult. I haven't pulled the trigger on my purchase yet though, I need to soon though - or I will have nothing to work with when it gets here...
How exciting to have a new machine on its way. Hope Ali gets better soon there is an aufull bug going around everyone is getting sick.
Thank you! I think she is starting to feel "better'... DH is going to his cousin's hockey game tonight, and with the promise of young college guys in the stands - well - I am guessing she will be feeling quite well today, whether she is or not.
I would love an embroidery machine. But I can't hand-embroider, and I can barely hand-sew.
Do I need to know to embroider to use an embroidery machine? Or just computer-savvy?
I want to try to machine sew again. They offer courses through my county's extension program. I tried to get into the course this fall, but it was booked solid the first day. After I got the newsletter. Yesterday, I called the extension office to inquire about winter classes. The receptionist said they won't even release the schedule until mid-January, and classes won't start until late January.
Looks like I'll be hounding them starting the first of the year.
Tess gave a really great answer below - so did Chiara. So I will just second what they say. I am quite certain there are many people who add embroideries to store bought items - so theoretically - you could get by with out sewing at all. However, I have heard that somethings are easier if you open them up to embroider... Like kids tee shirts... If you open up the side seams, then embroider, then sew the side seams back in place. I have done this with hand applique before and it works like a charm. So, I think you could get by for quite some time with out knowing how to sew.
You don't need to know how to sew to use the embroidery machine - I have the same one that D~ is getting. Its more of knowing how to hoop your ready-made garment so the placement is correct - and how to thread and run the machine. You do need to be a bit computer savvy to download the patterns though.
You should also look into adult ed classes at the local high school or even at a store like JoAnn's for sewing lessons. Sometimes you can find someone in your community that offers classes too.
Thanks for taking the time to answer this Tess - I really appreciate it! I have a feeling I will be leaning heavily on my friend's PE770 knowledge in the coming weeks. Going into the machine embroidery side of sewing - I know almost nothing. However, I will admit, I am very glad that my friend loaned me her machine, I did learn a lot. And since it was a Brother - I hope that the 2 machines are similar enough that I should be able to pick up on it fairly easily.
this is all greek to me... you people amaze me in how you can do this stuff.. you create your own magic and it's awe inspiring!
Hello???? We are all amazed by your photography... I am a firm believer that EVERYONE out there is blessed with a talent of some sort. Some of us sew, and some of us take amazing pictures.
Yep I bought an embroidery machine before I knew how to sew and now can sew LOL. One day I want to learn hand applique but that won't be until The dumb numbness from the pregnancy carpel tunnel goes ccompletely away. Well it has only been 5 months since I had Sami so I guess there is still time.
YEah I will have to check back on the new bag. I am updating my PTR with a Mabel out fit.
I didn't know that Chiara! I never would have guessed. I knew we started sewing around the same time. You are AMAZING!!! I hope your carpel tunnel goes away soon - hand applique is so much fun to do!
So excited to hear that you ordered your machine. You are going to love it!
Sorry to hear Alli is sick. Hope she has a speedy recovery!!
Today I get to work from home !!! I have been cleaning up my sewing area, wrapping station, cleaning the dogs kennels, disinfecting the house, laundry and anything else I can get done. Guess you can say I am multi tasking big time. I had a really bad cold for two weeks and it has put me behind on everything. So today I feel like a million bucks and I am running all over the house getting things done.
I don't remember if I mentioned it, but this past weekend my DD and I saw Lion King on Broadway. We LOVED it! It was just amazing!!! The community college that my DD attends were selling tickets and I said let's go. The price was perfect plus it included a charter bus down to the theatre. AND we had fantastic seats.
Cannot wait to see your new bag and the big secret you are working on
Have a wonderful weekend! Hope everyone stays healthy and that Alli starts to feel better.
WOW!!!! So, ya wanna come to my house??? I have a whole list of stuff to get done! Hahaha.
Ooooh - TLK sounds amazing - I bet it was soooo fun! Doing a charter bus for somethign like that would be right up my alley.
Thank you - I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
Hope that your embroidery machine is shipped quickly! I have been looking at the se400, but it only has a 4 x 4 hoop and now I'm wondering if I would regret that decision over time. (I seem to remember that you wrote earlier about having to move the fabric for the larger names.) Thought I might post a question on the DisBoutiquers board about pros and cons of the se400.
Thank you! Well, this is my thought on it... After having the 4x4 hoop on the borrowed machine, I know I would not be happy with that size. However, I did learn a few things... Like even though it's a 4x4 hoop, it seemed that the actual embroidery space was more rectangular, so I could flip the design and make my fonts smaller, then move the names around with in the hoop - which allowed me to get more into one hooping. But that was definately a learning curve for me - and very frustrating. There were many things I had done that I had wished I could do bigger, but it all worked out. I am glad I was able to give the smaller hoop a try though, because it just reaffirmed that I really wanted a bigger hoop. Many of the Disboutiquers recommend that people purchase the largest hoop size they can afford, and I think I would have to agree with that. Unfortunately, my budget barely allowed for the smallest hoop size - so I needed to go the used route - in the end, I am certain I will be happy with that.
How sweet of you to miss my posts
I hope Alli gets well soon and I can't wait to see your next bag. Have a great weekend
Thank you! I think she will be feeling much better today... Josh is going to a college hockey game tonight, and I don't think she will miss the opportunity to oogle at some college guys.
I'm so sorry Alli is home sick again; hopefully the rest and a weekend home she will feel better.
Have a good weekend, friend (oh, and I did do a short update yesterday in case you missed it).
Thank you Kathy and thanks for letting me know about the update, I did miss it. I hope you have a great weekend too!
Sorry Alli is sick.
Have a good day sewing.
Dreamingofcastles: I've got a machine that has a 4X4 hoop and I love being able to do the fonts and stuff but I really like that I don't have the opportunity to get lazy with the appliques because most of them I do by hand. I don't mind so much the moving for bigger words/phrases. But that's me.
Thanks for answering Ruth!!! My biggest problem is aligning the words and phrases so that they are all on the same line... That is so difficult to do. I am not sure that even the biggest hoop size would be big enough for some of my needs though. LOL
And your hand applique's are great!! So maybe it was a good thing. But now it's ordered and I'm sure you'll still do some awesome things with it.
Glad you found it. Once I realized I didn't update I went OOPS!! That's what I get for Dising at night when I'm exhausted. :
I hope Alli feels better soon!! Can't wait to see the bag since it sounds like your so close to being done!!
Thanks Sandra! And I am glad that the diet seems to be helping. I sure hope so!
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Well, I am almost done with my bag set... I have one teeny-tiny thing to do today. I am not sure when I will finish, as I have to do a Joann's run.
So, I am not sure if I will have the time to get pictures posted this morning before I go, or if it will have to wait until I get home this afternoon? Overall - I am very happy with it though.
In trip planning news... I have NOT heard anything from BFF regarding my email from last week. She has some life things going on right now, so I understand why our dining reservations are the last thing on her list. I will see her today though - so I will ask about it and prod her a little bit.
I've also been having lots of customs ideas swirling around in my brain - it's a sickness really. And since this is the year of "Show your Disney Side" well - we all know I don't have a problem doing that.
I have so many items drawn up - I am just not sure if I am going to be able to do them all? I am going to have to prioritize... I have a great MK bag (Donald) and I have a great DHS bag (Toy Story)... So, I need to prioritize great bags for Epcot and AK next... Epcot is soooo hard for me to do - it's just not one of my favorite parks, so nothing sticks out at me.
I have LOTS of ideas for Epcot, just nothing that really relays the feeling of Epcot - if that makes any sense at all?
As far as AK - I have ONE great idea, but I am not sure I can pull it off? And already - I am a little freaked out on whether I am going to get everything done in time. V has several outfits she wants for our trip... + our bags x 5+... Then BFF's and dd's bags... It promises to be an interesting year ahead.
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Update on Jennifer: Some of you recall that I had asked for prayers for a Diser's dd. This Diser said I could share whatever info with you all that I chose to. Her grown dd is in the hospital, she is having issues with her bones and not being able to support her own body weight. They have run several tests, including bone scans for cancer - which have come back negative. Praise the Lord! But, at this time, they do not have a diagnosis, and things appear to not be getting better and maybe even worse. This Diser is a very good friend of mine, and I would appreciate any and all good thoughts & prayers you are willing to send their way.
I know it would mean a lot to all of them.
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On that note... I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will be back at some point today to post pictures for you all!
D~
I'm so glad I discovered it in time. If I didn't have to send a notice to the hotel about the arrival time I would have discovered it on Tuesday and then I would already missed my first flight. I don't know what I would do then.
!!! I have been cleaning up my sewing area, wrapping station, cleaning the dogs kennels, disinfecting the house, laundry and anything else I can get done. Guess you can say I am multi tasking big time. I had a really bad cold for two weeks and it has put me behind on everything. So today I feel like a million bucks and I am running all over the house getting things done. 
