machine-embroidery

USE HUMOUR TO SELL YOUR PRODUCTS

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:19:42 +0100

I have found that humor sells items faster then sentiment. Take for example the craft fair I attended last week. While waiting for customers, I embroidered two words on a baby bib and that baby bib sold right after I got the threads trimmed. Those two words were "cereal killer." It was a touch of humor.

Using humor on your business cards will also make you more memorable. Just a humorous tag line under your business name will fetch a smile and often a sale. Try funny sayings on t-shirts or quilts. Making off-the-wall hats or funny house slippers will often get your business the attention you are striving for.

A phrase, a few words or even a picture done in a humorous way can grab that sale. Now I am not going to say that the humor should be in good taste, but I will say that you know your customers best and if they go for raunchy humour then go for the raunchy humour. If on the other hand your customers are just the mild dry humour type, then go for that. Experiment and see what you are comfortable with in the humour realm.

Adding humour to your business my take you in a whole new direction and a profitable one at that.

The soccer 2010 World Cup is about to take place. Get the logos of some teams off the internet and embroider caps and t-shirts and even some rugs (remember it will be winter) to sell before and during the tournament. I might even do some scarfs with the local soccer teams' colours. Even if you don't like soccer, it doesn't mean you can't make money from it. Many items can be customized or fashioned using preprinted fabric or your own design. A word of caution regarding selling more than a few items with team logos on them that you designed; if they are exactly like the logo and you might or might not be sued for copywrite infringement. Several machine embroidery companies sell the patterns for soccer team logos with the stipulation that it is for limited personal use. I don't think those companies would come after you for selling a few items at a local craft fair, how would they know? Use your own judgment regarding logos.

When you think of having a fabric item personalized you think of custom embroidery. That is only one way to personalize an item. Another way is to use fabric paints or applique to add that personal touch. Of course personalization is what will sell your items faster than lightening. Anything that you can put a person's or pet's name on will sell fast. Doing something as simple as adding a monogram to a set of towels or a name to a golf towel will not only enhance your profit line but will increase you customer base almost overnight. The stockings I got at Ten Rand store and they sew beautifully. I sold them for R25 each. It only took the machine about 3 minutes to sew out the names and about 5 minutes to set them up and then trim the threads. I was also the only table to have a line except for the guy doing the temporary tattoos a few tables away. It was showing me that people want personalization and service and they were willing to pay for it.

You have often seen people handing out pens, refrigerator magnets and other small promotional items to advertise their business at conventions and the like. Are you doing that for your sewing business?

Do you have a wedding gown design business? Have you thought about giving away free cheap wedding invitations with an estimate of the gown? How about doggy treats with every dog bed or dog jacket you sell? I know one woman who repairs horse blankets and gives out coupons for horse feed to every client. Are you doing the same thing for your clients?

You have to make your business stand out from all the others by either doing exceptional, high quality work or by attracting attention to the business. Think about what you can do. Your business may depend on it.

SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL MACHINE EMBROIDERY

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:57:55 +0100

Are there any secrets for stitching out beautiful embroideries? I’m referring to those embroideries which do not have any puckers, where the top thread and the bobbin thread remain within their own parameters and where we are not testing the stitchouts time and again to achieve that sought after perfection.

The answer is YES, definitely YES. A design is nothing more than stitches. Our embroidery machine is the means to achieving that embroidery and that is where we need to be prepared before we even take the design to the machine.

Before I even attempt to explain anything about machines, I want to draw attention to some other items that are essential to creating beautiful embroideries. The two most important ingredients to stitching out embroideries, apart from the embroidery machine, are thread and stabilizer. It is important that we understand their role and how they work.

Thread comes in a variety of weights. The most common weight for machine embroidery is 40 wt. My understanding from many years was that the home embroidery machines came pre-set with 40 wt tension from the factories. That understanding, now, however, has changed due to the majority of home embroidery machines being manufactured in Japan where majority of the embroidery thread weight is 50. The higher the count, the finer the thread and the lower the count, the thicker the thread. Thus, when we digitize our designs to use with 40 wt threads (yes digitizers, you can create your designs based upon thread weight), we often find that the bobbin thread comes to the top. Thus begins a whole new set of adjustments and loss of time etc. in creating our projects.

The easiest method is to test your embroidery machine’s tension using the thread and bobbin that you will use. Bobbins come in a variety of weights as well and just like the embroidery threads can be of polyester or cotton. But before I digress again, let’s keep it simple and go on with the process of making it easier rather than trying to understand it all.
All machines have built-in alphabets. My advice is to select the capital "I" and, using the stabilizer and threads, stitch it out on a scrap piece of fabric. If the tension of the threads is perfect, you should see a 60/40 look on the underside of the embroidery, with 60% being the bobbin thread (in the middle) and 40% should be the top thread (on either side). If this tension test works, you are set to start stitching out your design.

But, what happens if you encounter some other configuration? Tension problems occur on Brother, Babylock, Pfaff and Janome machines. The best way to avoid any problems is to do a tension test sew out as described above. If the tension is tight (and I am referring to the top tension, not the bobbin tension), then simply loosen the top tension until the tension test sew-out is satisfactory. I personally would strongly advise against changing the tension on the bobbin case. That is to be done only as a last resort. If the embroidery machine is serviced once a year, there is no need for anyone to ever meddle with the bobbin tension. If the top tension is loose and the "I" is completely covered with the top thread, tighten the top tension. This little test saves so much time in the long run.

Once the tension is set, it's time to talk about stabilizers. Stabilizers are a definite necessity to beautiful stitch-outs. I am not going to burst anyone’s bubble on home made stabilizers, but will only warn that coffee filters, dryer sheets, typing paper, etc are not good stabilizers. Your needles will not last long using paper or any of the above mentioned products. Moreover, paper has a fine white residue which can create problems with the bobbin of the embroidery machine. As all stabilizers are manufactured at a handful of companies worldwide, it pays to shop around for the best types. Surprisingly, you will find the same kind of stabilizers as sold by your dealer at any shop where Pellon products are sold (of course your dealer will have them branded by someone else). For cottons, medium weight tear-aways are best. For knits use polymesh and for items where the backside will be showing, use water soluble stabilizer (vilene). The stabilizer should always be hooped in such a manner that it creates a thump sound when hooped….that’s how tight it should be. If it is wobbly and moving around in the hoop, chances are that your embroidery will either pucker or pull to one side.

I normally hoop the stabilizer and then pin the fabric to the stabilizer. Alternatively use fabric glue stick. It dries fast and will hold the fabric taut and it washes out easily. The trick is to always have the stabilizer tight in the hoop. I have heard where friends will float a piece of stabilizer underneath the hoop. Floating a stabilizer underneath the hoop does nothing for the embroidery. All it will do is shorten the life of the needle and also make it harder on the machine.

The most difficult fabric to embroider on is muslin and general tendencies are to use two sheets of tear-away stabilizer. The more the stabilizer, the harder it will be on the machine and you will have numerous puckers. Puckers occur when fabric is stretched too taunt in the hoop. Once the tension of the hooping is released, the fabric puckers around the embroidery.

HOW TO SELL YOUR ARTICLES ONLINE

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:25:05 +0100

Stuck with a hoard of unsold stock? Selling things online is a great way to clear your desk of unsold articles.

Selling things on the Internet is not very difficult, and pretty safe if you play the game right. Many people have been selling things online for many years, and have experienced great success. Here’s the basic process for unloading your things online, boiled down to a few simple bullets:

   1. Decide how much money you want for your item (include postage and insurance)
   2. Put your item in front of potential buyers.
   3. Carry out the actual transaction.

Decide how much money you want

Before you go ahead and sell something, you must have a clear idea of how much you want in return. Often times an online sale is accompanied by some haggling, so you need to ask yourself two questions:

    * What is the least amount of money you are willing to accept?
    * What is the highest reasonable price you can imagine fetching?

The least amount of money you are willing to accept should be a number that allows you to sleep easily the night after the sale. If you advertise an embroidered set of linen for R100 you can be sure someone will buy it, but I am also sure you will be quite upset with yourself later on.

The highest reasonable price you can imagine fetching should be a number that makes you happy, but more important, one that is fair to the buyer.

Be sure to include packaging costs and to establish posting costs, locally and internationally, as well as insurance costs.

Putting your item in front of potential buyers

In order to get your item sold, you need to put it directly in front of as many potential buyers as possible. The two main types of places to do this are classified listings and auction sites. List on classified sites first, and never at the same time as on auction sites. This is because auction sites lock you into a binding contract with the winning bidder. If your auction ends on eBay, then you receive a higher bid from a classified ad an hour later, you are required to pass up that higher bid and sell your item to the eBay winner.

When listing items on classified ad sites, try to use as many relevant sites as possible in order to reach as many potential buyers as possible. Here are some excellent places to post your classified ad:

    * craigslist
    * Facebook Marketplace
    * Google Base
    * Gumtree (Euro-centric, but also has a few sections for the U.S., Australia and New Zealand)
    * Kijijiji
    * MySpace Classifieds
    * Windows Live Expo

You have an additional advantage if you are an university or college student. At most of these institutions, students set up unofficial web sites in order to cover campus life and activities. Many of these sites feature message boards. Post your listing here, or e-mail the site administrator and ask to have a page created for your item.

Auction sites are another great place to list items for sale, however most of the time you must list on one auction site at a time. When your auction comes to an end you are contractually bound to sell the item to the winning bidder. eBay is the clear front-runner in the online auction category.

Make sure your listing is attractive to buyers

You could spend hours posting your item for sale all over the Internet, but it’s all a waste of time if your ad is a turn-off for potential buyers. The composition of your ad is crucial to making a sale. Here are a few tips:

    * Use a descriptive title with appropriate keywords that gets straight to the point. Avoid flashy tricks and special characters that make you look like a spammer.
    * Including photos is an absolute must. Your item is far more likely to sell if the buyer can see exactly what you are talking about. If necessary, include photos taken from different angles.
    * Write a short, accurate description that tells the buyer exactly what he will get for his money and leaves nothing to the imagination. Be honest and specific with regards to the condition of used items.

Carry out the actual transaction

Once you’ve found a buyer, you need to carry out the actual sale. At this point you must do everything possible to keep yourself safe and avoid being scammed. Whether you meet in person or deal through the mail, you need to ensure that you get paid and keep yourself safe.

If you are meeting the buyer in person, the only form of payment you should be willing to accept is cash. No personal checks, no cashiers checks, no nothing. I don’t even take money orders. It’s cold hard cash or nothing at all, because anything else can be used to scam you. Additionally, meet in a crowded public place and make sure you either take a friend, let someone know where you are going, or both.

If you deal through the mail, only accept payment through reputable channels. Personally, I don’t see a reason to accept anything other than PayPal. Anyone with Internet access, an e-mail address and a credit card can use PayPal’s system. If a buyer asked to mail me some form of cheque, I would figure something’s up. Specify the methods of payment you are willing to accept when the auction begins, not afterwards. Internet transfers can also be a safe and verifiable method of payment.

Request and verify payment before sending out the item, especially if the site you are selling through does not provide feedback on past transactions in which this person was involved.

Ship the item with insurance and a tracking number as proof that you have upheld your end of the deal. If you choose not to use insurance and a tracking number, the buyer can dispute the fact that you ever sent the item.

Read eBay’s “Safe Trading: Avoiding Transaction Problems” for more helpful tips on keeping yourself safe from online fraud.

POSITION OF THE PRESSER FOOT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:16:08 +0100

Properly threading the sewing machine is the first step to having a machine that will sew correctly.

Whenever you are threading a sewing machine, one basic rule to every sewing machine is to thread the machine with the presser foot up.

When the presser foot is raised, the tension disks are disengaged. Being disengaged allows the thread to go in to the tension disks and seat properly.

If you try to thread the machine with the presser foot down, the tension disks are engaged or tight and will not allow the thread to seat in between the disks.

A simple way to see what the difference is:

    * Thread the sewing machine with the presser foot raised.
    * Once you have the thread through the needle, tug the thread. You should be able to easily pull the thread through the machine.
    * Without the thread being under the presser foot and being careful that you do not bend your needle, lower the presser foot. Now when you tug on the thread, you should feel a definite drag on the thread and it will not pull through the machine the way it did when the presser foot was raised.

If your sewing machine is not sewing properly, re-threading the machine is your first step to trouble shooting the problem.

HOW TO CHECK THE TOP THREAD TENSION AND INTERPRET THE RESULTS

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:34:11 +0100

Is your embroidery machine too tense, a little high-strung, always going off at the smallest thing? Or is it too laid back, lackadaisical and lazy about its job? Or is it on a nice even, steady-as-she-sews path?

If the top thread tension is off on your machine, your embroidery will never be right, no matter how diligent you are about changing needles, choosing thread, hooping and selecting only quality digitized designs. Your work will not be up to par if the top thread tension is out.

Here's how to check it.
Stitch Out a six-column test, one column with a different colour for each needle.

If you embroider with a Brother PR-600 the tension test pattern is available in the machine's stock designs. If you are unsure how to access it on your PR-600 or you own a machine that does not have a test pattern, you can download the zipped test from one of the following links.

Brother (PES):Tajima (DST):Melo (EXP)
Husqvarna/Viking (HUS):Janome (JEF):Pfaff (PCS):Singer (XXX)

The PR-600 is a six needle machine so the test has six patterns to check the tension on all the needles. If you have a single needle machine simply stitch out one of the columns, stop your machine, check the tension as described below, make any needed adjustments and stitch out the next column to see the results.

A few tips:

   1. Make sure the colours of your top threads and bobbin threads contrast enough to see the results.
   2. If adjustments are needed, make them in small increments, then stitch out the test again and check it.
   3. Keep the stitched out pattern for future reference.
   4. It only takes a few moments to run a test, so check often.

Stitch out a test pattern with a different colour on each of the 6 needles.
On the PR-600 the columns represent needles 1 thru 6 from left to right
Flip the Fabric Over and Take a Look
It's the backside that you really care about so let's check those columns and see what the thread has to tell us.

If the top thread is too tight, hardly any bobbin thread will show at all in the test stitch column. Make a slight adjustment and try again.

If too much bobbin thread is visible - more than a third of the column- the top thread tension is too loose. Once again, make a slight adjustment and test stitch another column.

A perfect thread tension is when the ratio of bobbin thread to the top thread is 1/3 in all three columns and all the stitching is equal and even,

HOW TO KNOW WHICH STABILIZER TO USE

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 08:00:20 +0100

The phenomenal popularity of machine embroidery has given rise to many new brands of stabilizers coming to market and the task of sorting them all out can be daunting. But there are still only a few basic types and they are all designed to support the fabric while the embroidery machine stitches the designs, helping to prevent puckering and bunching of the stitches.

Stabilizers or backings can be permanent or temporary. Excess permanent backings are removed by cutting around the design after embroidering and are made to be laundered with the garment. Temporary backings are removed after the design is done.

Use this guideline as a starting point for selecting the right stabilizer for your project:

Cut-Away
Use:    Permanent support
Best on: Knits, loosely wovens
Available: Light to heavy weights     Meant to remain with the garment; not removed, except for cutting away excess.
Notes: Used by professionals. Washes well and is excellent for jobs where the stabilizer comes in contact with the skin, golf shirts and sweaters for instance
.
Poly-Mesh Cutaway:
Use:    Permanent support
Best on: Designed specifically for extra stability on lightweight fabrics and knits
Available in: Woven
Notes: Semi-transparent. Will not show through white garments.

Tear-Away
Use: Temporary support
Best on: Firmly woven, natural-fiber fabrics
Available in: Light to heavy weights, fusible and non-fusible
Notes: Can be used in single or double layers. Use with medium to heavyweight fabrics and densely stitched embroidery designs. After stitching it is carefully torn away, it can be torn away. Not recommended for delicate fabrics or sweaters.

Iron-On Tear-Away
Use: Temporary support
Best on: Medium to heavyweight knit fabric
Available in Sheets & rolls
Notes: Avoid stretching the knit when ironing on.

Adhesive-Backed Tear-Away
Use: Temporary support
Best on: Ideal for small collar areas, velvets, napped fabrics, patch blanks and baby bibs and items
Available in: Sheets & rolls
Notes: Place in hoop. Peel away protective paper, then lay the fabric to be embroidered over the hoop and smooth in place.

Heat-Away
Use:    Temporary support
Best on: Non-washable, delicate fabrics that can tolerate heat and for off-the-edge stitching techniques
Available in: Woven sheets, plastic film
Notes: Completely removable with iron and caution. Good for designs not dense enough for Tear-Away.

Wash-Away (Soluble)
Use: Temporary support
Best on: Delicate, mesh-like washable fabrics and high pile fabrics such as terry. Also cutwork and appliques.
Available in: Plastic film, paper sheets, brush-on or sprayable liquid
Notes: Dissolves completely in warm water.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SALES WITH YOUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:49:55 +0100

Increasing customer sales with your current customer base is all about creating relationships. Many times we have a gold mine right in our midst and don’t even realize it. Our customers are our gold mine and without them we do not exist!

Creating good customer relationships is the most important duty that we have as business owners and this is something that does not cost a lot of money. Many times it is the little unexpected things that we do that mean the most and keeps that customer coming back to our business over and over!

I purchased a program a few weeks ago from a large company and was shocked when I received a handwritten Thank you note in the mail. I have to tell you, I was extremely impressed at this gesture! Just a simple thank you card that only took the salesperson a couple of minutes to write meant a lot to me and I will remember that the next time that I decide to order another program.

Here are some simple ways for you to increase your customer sales.

   1. Offer Exceptional Customer Service
   2. More Low Cost-High Profit Services To Your Existing Customers
   3. Build A Relationship With Existing And Former Customers
   4. Plan A Customer Appreciation Night
   5. Create A Web Presence
   6. Offer More Than One Price Level Of Products

Is there a service or a process that you can offer your customers that they cannot get from any of your competition. What is it that you can do to be more efficient than the competition? It is usually better to focus on being different in a particular market rather than trying to compete directly. Find a unique strategy or a way to position your products or your business differently in your current market place.

Spend some time educating your customers about the benefits, services and value that they will be receiving by doing business with you. Point out to them what you are doing that the competition is not doing. You do not have to say that the competition is not doing such and such; you just have to point out what you are doing that makes you different or better!

You cannot compete with the big manufacturers or embroiderers that have many multi-head machines when you are only a small shop with one or two heads. Don’t even try. You must focus on what you do best in your smaller market. If you focus on improving one step or one process that can make you more efficient then this alone will help to make you more profitable!

Those large shops normally are not offering the type of customer service that you can offer. This can set up far above the larger shops and help to increase your customer sales. I have seen this many times. Many of the larger shops have systems all set and they will not steer away from their systems and they are not always customer focused, they are usually profit focused.

In order to be successful in this business, you must be customer focused. The profits will follow if that is the case! By finding your own unique way to stand out in the crowd, you will increase your customer sales naturally.

Embroidery Machine For Sale - How to Choose

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:26:09 +0100

The art of sewing has recently become more popular and sales of traditional sewing machines almost doubled from 1999 to 2005.

Embroidery is the art of placing ribbons, beads, patches, hoops, etc. on clothing and accessory items in your wardrobe.
Sewing is the actual craft of making the clothes while embroidery allows you to embellish it. When looking for an embroidery machine, you first need to determine your potential needs - will you try creating professional looking clothing or will it be just a periodic craft you undertake with the kids.

If some of your sewing creations need a little more "life" added to them, consider a combination sewing-embroidery machine with pre-programmed embroidery designs. Those of you with a more creative side may want to design your own custom embroideries, so finding embroidery patterns and an embroidering machine that digitizes your art via a scanner is the way to go.

Some of you think "big" and may dream of your own business someday and therefore buying a commercial embroidery machine that is sturdy and durable is the way to go. Commercial embroidery machines like Tajima and Melco work great with heavier materials like upholstery and denim fabrics.

There are really 3 embroidery machine types or styles -
* embroidery only (perhaps you already own a sewing machine),
* combination (sew and then embroider on the same machine),
* commercial (many offer multiple needles and multiple heads for faster reproductions).

No matter which embroidery machine you choose, you'll need to think about all the features you will need. Some features to look for are:

bobbins that are easily changeable,
automatic needle threaders,
embroidery hoops - for keeping the fabric steady,
mirror-image capability - provides balance and symmetry when doing patterns,
scanner - great for turning your designs into stitches you can embroider,
presser foot - holds the fabric steady while you are embroidering or sewing,
walking presser foot - much like the presser foot but moves with the embroidery machine so that satin and silk (fine fabrics) stay in place,

Computerized digitizing embroidery machines come with a huge collection of machine embroidery designs already programmed into the machine. Some computerized machines allow you to create new patterns/designs on your computer and transfer them over.

Machine embroidery software is the accessory that will allow the transfer of patterns from your computer to the computerized embroidery machine and we will discuss that in another article.

Visit Stitches.com, Allbrands.com, and Amazon.com to read up on the newest embroidery machines and look at customer reviews to find the best machines. Top brands include Bernina, Brother, Janome, Marie Osmand, Melco, Renaissance, Simplicity, Singer, and White.

Some selected embroidery machines:
The Simplicity SE3 Embroidery System with Embroidery Card is an embroidery only machine (no sewing machine function on this one). The computerized machine comes with an instruction video and embroiders up to 4 by 4 inches. The LCD touch screen can bring up 100's of pre-programmed embroidery designs - letters, numbers (3 styles), 120 design frames, and 60 motifs. It edits for mirror image, 90-degree rotation, and stitch density. Great for embroidering towels, shirts, and clothing.

The Brother PE-150 4x4" Embroidery Only Machine is another excellent buy in this category. The Brother embroidery machine comes with 60 built-in embroidery pattern designs, 120 frame & border design combinations, 3 alphabet font styles (block, serif, outlining), a built-in needle threader, and LCD touch-screen display. The warranty is 25 years on parts, 1 year on electronics.

Owners say the Simplicity is built to be easier to use, but the Brother machines are famous for being workhorses and needing less repairs.

The Brother SE350 Computerized Embroidery & Sewing Machine has 67 built in stitches and 70 built in embroidery designs. You get a 4" x 4" embroidery area to work with and the backlit LCD touch screen is easy to use. Automatic needle threader and quick set drop in bobbin are 2 features that owners say work great. The SE350 has an expandable embroidery design if you purchase the memory card.

Some embroiderers reckon the Singer Futura CE-250 Sewing and Embroidery Machine is the best combination sewing-embroidery machine you can buy. Some of the older Singer models had issues with bobbin problems and repairs (back in 2005) but the newest Singer models have fixed those issues and now the machine works great. The Singer Futura is an electronic sewing machine with a computer linked embroidery unit built-in. It does require you to use a personal computer and it accepts embroidery designs from CD or the Internet. There are 100 stitch functions, a built-in needle threader, and 6 styles of 1-step buttonholes. The machine connects to your computer via a USB cable connection and the software is first rate and easy to use. The tutorials are a great resource on the software so be sure to use them.

The Janome MC 9500 is a much higher end sewing and embroidery machine combined into one great model. It offers power, precision, and durability that the cheaper machines don't.

Enjoy and have fun shopping for your embroidery machine!

EMBROIDERY CARDS AND EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE EXPLAINED

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:42:36 +0100

Embroidery Software and Embroidery Cards both play a part in allowing your embroidery machine to make professionally embroidered pieces in a fraction of the time. It is important that you understand how they work together.

An embroidery card is computerized and machine-format-specific, and fits directly and specifically into your embroidery machine. It works with the built-in computer in your machine to stitch out designs.

Embroidery Cards may be purchased with designs already on them or you may purchase blank cards. With blank cards, you can transfer designs from disks and CDs, or download images from the Internet or your computer, using embroidery software. Embroidery Cards are not usually interchangeable unless you have a converter box or specialized conversion software.

Embroidery software is a language-specific coding program or application that your embroidery machine uses to perform specific tasks. For instance, if you are creating your own designs, modifying existing designs or downloading designs from the Internet you will need embroidery software or embroidery digitizing software.

Types of embroidery software:
Commercial software:
Commercial grade software gives you the most freedom and control when designing your own embroideries. By simply scanning in the artwork you create or select, the software turns it into a digitized image that your embroidery machine can reproduce. Commercial embroidery software is perhaps the most complete and it allows you to create your own embroidery designs. This is great for small business owners who want to have their own unique or custom designs.

Machine-specific software:
This type of embroidery software is created by the sewing machine companies for use with their embroidery machines. Designs can be scanned by using any scanner that works with your computer system. After scanning, the image is imported into your software program for use as a template.

Independent-vendor software:
This embroidery software is an add-on package that you can use with your machine-specific software. The type of software expands your specific software package's capabilities. It does this by allowing you to convert embroideries designed with other software packages to a format your embroidery machine can read. Most independent embroidery software can be converted easily so that it will work on your embroidery machine. Creative DRAWings® is a powerful machine embroidery digitizing software that empowers you to create original machine embroidery designs. Creative DRAWings® is compatible with (ie, it can read the embroidery cards of) all major makes of embroidery machines,

Independent designs:
Independent designs are embroideries that a company or individual artist is selling for use with a particular embroidery machine. To use them you will need brand-specific hardware and software.

Embroidery downloads off the Internet:
Many companies sell their embroidery packages and individual embroideries on line. They are easily purchased and downloaded. There are also many free types of embroidery to be found on line. However, these free embroideries are usually just a lure to get you onto their site to make a purchase. If you are not interested in purchasing anything, be strong, and just take the free embroidery and be on your way.

There are 2 recommendable websites for getting started, they are Embroideryoffice.com and Stitch.com.

Embroidery Office 8 is compatible with most automatic embroidery machines and comes loaded with every feature you would want. Testimonials on the site say the software is user intuitive and easy to work with.

Stitch.com is another excellent site that offers free embroidery designs, graphics software, digitizing software, and reviews on the latest embroidery machines and software.

For the most popular items see the embroidery software and books at Amazon.

PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS FOR 2010

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:40:17 +0100

In order for your products to sell, you have to create the need. Customers' needs change as do the seasons, so you have to ensure that, not only do you keep up with the change, but that you set the pace.

In order to do this successfully, and not to create too much stress on your part, you must get yourself a large calendar.
Proceed to mark the following dates on it with a Red Cross.

•    Christmas Day
•    Easter Weekend
•    The onset of every school holiday
•    Mother's Day
•    Father's Day
•    Valentine's Day
•    Halloween
•    And any other important date I might have left out

Then mark with, say, a Green Cross, the date two weeks before every date marked in red on your calendar. This will be the day on which you will display all the articles you have made pertaining to the dates in Red. Now draw an arrow from your Green Cross to your Red Cross. This will be the period during which you will display your articles.

Next, take a Blue marker and draw a Blue Cross on the date a month before every Green Cross. This will mark the day on which you will begin making the articles. Draw an arrow from the Blue Cross to the Green Cross. Do not become concerned if there are overlapping lines.   Sometimes, such as during the Year-end holidays, Christmas and Halloween period, you might even have three lines ending on different dates.

If you keep to the dates that you marked, you will never be rushed and always have suitable embroidered articles at the right time. Your customers will know that there will be fresh displays every time they walk into your shop and you will be perceived to be in control and on top of things.