photo NavIG_zps7563fd85.png photo NavPin_zpsd777ef70.png photo NavYT_zpsbdfa2471.png photo NavBL_zps47aef9ce.png


Friday, January 30, 2015

What's in my monogram/embroidery stash

If you follow me on Instagram, you'd know that I have a new hobby. Along with blogging, writing for MQ, chasing a toddler, and simultaneously baking a baby girl, I have taken up embroidery. Not old fashioned hoop and needle (although I would love to learn someday) but I've entered the world of computerized monogramming and it is quite an obsessive hobby. I have been toying around with purchasing an embroidery machine for a few years and finding out we were having a daughter really solidified my decision to buy one. I love anything and everything monogrammed and figured I would be doing a lot for our baby girl. It was an easy sell on my husband whose hobby is fixing up old cars... this is a hell of a lot cheaper! I've had a lot of emails asking about my machine and what supplies I have so I figured a blog post would be the easiest way to get the word out. After chatting with a few other women who have machines and doing quite a bit of research myself, I purchased a Brother PE770.


I wanted the highest rated but lowest priced machine that fit a 5x7 hoop. I have a friend who has a machine that will only use a 4x4 hoop and she wishes it was larger...this is exactly why I like to use recommendations from friends before purchasing! This machine was top rated on Consumer Reports and Brother is such a recognizable brand. I actually bought my machine on Overstock.com after receiving a 10% off coupon for signing up for an account with a new email address. I price shopped for a while since it is a hefty purchase, and that is the best deal I found (and I wanted brand new, not refurbished). The night my machine came in I expected to be monogramming Lucy's entire wardrobe within an hour. Boy was I wrong! Is it easy for me to do now? Yes. But easy is NOT a word I would use to describe learning how to use it. Lots of prayers, frustration, and tears...yes I can get emotional about crafting. 

I joke with people and say that this is the gift that keeps on taking because I've had to buy quite a few essentials to get it up and running. If you are looking into buying an embroidery machine, here is what I have in my stash.

  • Brother 4x4 hoop- my machine came with a 5x7 hoop which I am glad to have the capability to do but most of my projects are baby items so I bought this 4x4 hoop and use it 90% of the time. 
  • Embroidex thread set- instead of purchasing colors on their own, I bought this set and haven't not had a color when needed. So far I like this thread, it shreds when I'm working with super thin fabric so I think I will test out some other brands but I love how inexpensive it is!
  • Wooden thread rack- I have this hanging on the wall above my machine and the thread is in color order. It's really nice to be able to see all of my options and have quick access to it. 
  • Pre cut tearaway stabilizer sheets- you must use a stabilizer backing on each project and to save time and space, I prefer pre cut sheets. It tends to be more expensive than buying a roll but this is a great deal. I also have the same sheets for my 5x7 projects. I have a roll of cutaway stabilizer that I bought from JoAnn fabric but I don't use it much.
  • Spray adhesive- instead of hooping my projects I float them with a spray stabilizer and it is SO much easier! 
  • Super solvy- for thick fabric items (towels, fleece), using a topper stabilizer makes the embroidery look so much better, and not flat. It's water soluble so dissolves when you wash it but I just peel it away after I am done. 
  • Bobbin thread- I use white bobbins instead of winding one for each color of thread I have and use this thread. You can also buy prewound bobbins and these come highly recommended (make sure you buy the specific size for your machine).
  • Embroidery software- my machine came with preloaded fonts and designs but I can honestly say I will never use any of them. You can purchase tons of fonts and designs on Etsy for as little as $1 but you must have software to load into your machine. I purchased Sew What Pro (works best on a PC) for $65 and am able to create my designs on my laptop, load onto a USB, and pop into my machine. You can get a free 30 day trial before buying. Embrilliance software comes highly recommended for Mac users but I have no experience with it. 
  • Fonts and designs- like I said above, there are TONS of fonts available for purchase online. I have purchased a few from different shops on Etsy but my favorite is Rivermill Embroidery. You can follow them on Facebook for coupons too. My machine takes PES files only so be sure to purchase the correct file format. 
I am 2 months into this embroidery gig and loving it. If you know me at all, you know I love thrifting, especially for baby clothes. I've bought tons of outfits for Lucy for less than a dollar and stitched her name on them, easy peasy! I have done a few gifts for friends and items for family but mostly just playing around with things for my babies. Doing a project can take a good chunk of time (creating the file in Sew What Pro, loading into my machine, and the actual stitch can take a while) so I am not sure if I will offer up my services anytime soon. I did my first fleece lovey a few weeks ago and my first backpack this week! It's fun to experiment and I am proud of myself for actually reading the manual and figuring this machine out. If you are interested in buying a machine of your own or have any questions, shoot me an email

(I am a sucker for girly monograms, I haven't really done much for Ford....so Lucy overload!)






13 comments:

Unknown said...

I want to monogram ALL of Blaire's things! Can you do appliques with this machine too?

Unknown said...

I have been wanting to get in to embroidery lately! I have an etsy store & thought embroidered monograms & such would be good sellers! I just can't decide if I should learn to hand embroider or if I should buy a machine. The machine is just kind of pricey but it could be worth it in the end! Hmm...

-Jennifer
Www.jennifersblogbook.blogspot.com

Allena said...

It's all so cute! In theory I would love to do embroidery too but not likely going to happen, so I'll just continue to buy it when I 'have to' have something!

Kevin Nguyen said...

This embroidery machine 2016 is really good for us. I will buy one for my work.

Unknown said...

Examples of Home or Family machines include Bernina, Janome, etc. Examples of commercial embroidery equipment includes Tajima, Barudan, SWF, Melco, Toyota, Brother. Note, that Brother also makes home and family machines.
Thanks for sharing.....
Embroidery Digitizing

Unknown said...

You have to respond to external stimulus and act accordingly. Technological advancement is one of the external stimuli. Bring innovation and mold our business operation according to advancement. Author highlights all aspects very clearly. DigitEMB

Jayden Daniel said...

I have bookmarked your website because this site contains valuable information in it. I am really happy with articles quality and presentation. Thanks a lot for keeping great stuff. I am very much thankful for this site.!!!! www.excellentdigitizing.com

Wilcom Studio said...

There are many more extortion adhesive points with embroidery digitizing companies. When you are putting up your website or first-hand an embroidery digitizing company, you want to teaching what you would like if you were going to use an embroidery digitizing burden and make sure that your burden has each of these points. That can quite be easier than it sounds. Some of the issues are going to be like the customer benefit question. Consistency and good benefit are going to keep your customers seemly back. digitizing companies

jhon said...

By the end of the class you'll have created your very own framed card to take away and a selected of sample pieces. Resources

Raman Raman said...

Embroidery in Centurion has never been easier. 24 HOUR Embroidery has its own industrial embroidery equipment, which enable us to deliver to the highest quality standards and ensure that you are completely satisfied with the end result.


embroidery digitizing service

embroidery digitizing company

Raman Raman said...

Embroidery in Centurion has never been easier. 24 HOUR Embroidery has its own industrial embroidery equipment, which enable us to deliver to the highest quality standards and ensure that you are completely satisfied with the end result..


embroidery digitizing service

embroidery digitizing company

Serena Williams said...

Wow you are a great artist. I am running a destash group on facebook. It is also related to Embroidery Digitizing if you would like to have a look or sell any destash, do let me know.

Samira said...

8) I've read this blog, this blog is very informative and great blog for Embroidery Digitizing

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...