Embroidery Software Tips!
Recently, I received an email from a reader (Carol) discussing Perfect Alignment Software. Carol explained her desire for a change in the software. I believe she has a valid point regarding the sequencing of the placement marks since I occasionally want to stitch the marks last instead of first.
Although I will discuss this with our software programmer to see if a change can be made to the program, I can tell you a fix like this will not be immediate (ugh – I always think everything should be done in 24 hours!). In the meantime, I suggest you do what I do. At the machine, skipping the first color – the placement marks, advance to the second color and stitch the design. Once complete, stitch the placement marks.
One other thing that has helped me is a trick I do in the actual software itself. I click on the Placement Mark icon and select the four corners. The marks are positioned at the absolute perimeter of the design.
Then I select the marks on the right by moving the cursor over the mark and left clicking while holding the Shift key.
The two marks move as one unit and I can position them away from the pretty stitches.
The key here is to move the marks as one, if you move them individually, you’ll have to realign them.* (See How to Align Placement Marks at bottom). I’ll repeat this step for the remaining two marks on the left.
Since the marks are now placed away from the embroidery, there is no chance the pretty stitches will stitch over the marks, making it difficult to remove them.
This method works on designs that are smaller than the hoop. If you’re using a design that completely fills the hoop, you won’t have space to move the marks. But you may be able to place the marks in area within the sewing field but out of the way of the embroidery. Here’s an example:
How to Align Placement Marks
If you do move the marks as individual units, just select both marks in their new position and right click. Select Align from the drop down menu. You’ll have a few choices on how you want to align them.
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111 COMMENTS
Ruth Sopata
12 years agoYES! I have tackled continuous embroidery. It was something that I took my time with and double checked everything before I put in stitches. I was very excited when the task was complete and the job I had tackled came out perfect.
allyson
12 years agoI haven’t tackled any continuous designs yet. I am pretty new to embroidering. I have only had a machine for a couple months.
Lynn Gerrish
12 years agoI haven’t tackled a continuous design, but want to try. It looks very intimidating as I’ve only been machine embroidering for 6 months. I’ve mostly done applique designs and small embroidered designs for children and babies, and a few adult t-shirts too. Thanks for this offer!
Jean Lowenberger
12 years agoNo, I have not tackled continuous design. I have embroidered and embroidered with applique….to be honest continuous design, for me is a real gamble. If there were step by step “easy” directions I am sure I would try it.
Mary Craig
12 years agoI havent attempted continously embroidery yet. There have been so many other projects I have been involved in and I guess I am just a chicken. I need to try it since there are so many beautiful patterns to do.
Carmi
12 years agoI embroidered two jean jackets I made for my granddaughters. I made the design continuous and it stitched out perfectly.
Susan Wilson
12 years agoI have not enjoyed Continuous Embroidery yet. Thanks for the link to the Applique For Kids web site – such cute designs, especially the shadow work.
cindy
12 years agoI’ve not tried continuous stitching yet, but hope to soon.
Mary Jo Foster
12 years agoI also hope to tackle continuous stitching. On my to-do list when I retire soon.
[email protected]
12 years agoNo, I haven’t tried it yet.
Angi
12 years agoI have not tried continuous embroidery yet, but I believe i will some day soon try it. I have been trying to expand my abilities on my machine. I get really neverous when I try new things not enought confidence.
Dominique
12 years agoOh My!!! I’m so glad I found this blog! I have yet to use my embroidery machine to the fullest. For an inexplicable reason, I’m too afraid of it! Thanks so much!!!
Denise Holguin
12 years ago AUTHORDominique,
We are happy you found our blog. Don’t be afraid to jump right in and play with your embroidery machine! Start with something simple– and don’t be critical with the results. It’s an incremental learning process. Just focus on getting more comfortable with one or two features. This will increase your confidence then you’ll be able to advance to even more complex techniques. You CAN do it! We have complete confidence in you.
Eileen’s Machine Embroidery Blog offers great embroidery information every week. Plus we have a monthly Designs Plus Newsletter that features a free project and free designs. Our archives can be found on our website:
http://www.dzgns.com/products/*/*/5882
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Keep us posted Dominique on your progress. And remember, machine embroiderers are a fun loving community eager to help one another. 🙂
Best wishes,
Denise / Designs in Machine Embroidery
Susanna
12 years agoYes, I have done it, with warious results, lately mostly good results 🙂
ChasRivari
12 years agoOh yes, I did… once… And I must admit I was very uncertain about how it would look like berfore I started. But in the end, it was perfect and my little girl was very happy since I made this embroidery for her on a dress.
However, I never tried again, but I should. Maybe it is not as difficult as it looks like…!
Chrystina Power
12 years agoYes I have tried continous embroidery!! Fun when it goes right, funnier when it doesn’t!!! I just start over, crying doesn’t help, just find somewhere I can use the piece that didn’t go right in!!
Nancy Lee
12 years agoI just got the Quattro Upgrade III and have tried the continous border, my first project was a sheet set. I did the pillow cases with no problem, but did a lot of ‘fudging around’ on the top sheet due to the volume of material to hold out of the way. I think with practice bigger items will get easier 🙂
Bev Weis
12 years agoI’ve not yet learned about or tried continuous emb designs. Hopefully I will soon, though.
It’s great to read various emb tips & advice from online sources. Thank you!
Lisa
12 years agonot yet!
Rhonda W
12 years agoNo, I haven’t tried continuous embroidery yet. I would love to try but don’t have the time to set down and learn the process. It is on my “want to” list if I ever get through with my “have to do” list!! LOL!!
Robert Young
12 years agoMuch of what we do is continuous embroidery.. we never sew marks .. we either use a bar of soap or a fabric pencil or chalk that easily comes off by hand rubbing. The actual fabric determines which method… but never by doing basting stitches.
If I am hooping multiple times and only the horizontal measurement really matters I just use a pc of scotch tape… so for example a 4 ft wide lettering only design for a tablecloth.. I just place a pc of tape along the bottom edge of the entire lettering… the space from one letter to the next can be eyeballed easily enough..just need to make sure the bottom lines up all the way across.
Lilia Orozco
12 years agoI have not tried continuous embroidery, I too find it quite intimidating. Mostly, I just do simple embroidery, but I realize I need to venture out of my ‘little world’. I just love this blog, so full of information!
Carol Seavitt
12 years agoNo I haven’t…I just keep getting a bigger hoop:)))
Jule Joffrion
12 years agoNo, I have not tried continuous embroidery. After attending the Martha Pullen Sewing School and Market in Arlington, TX, I realized there is a LOT to learn!
Terrie Underwood
12 years agoLove continuous embroidery. My favorite is to add a pretty border around a pillowcase. Pretty, fast, and one of a kind gift, (unless you give a pair of cases)!
Jane Anderson
12 years agoLast week I made a table runner with continuous embroidery on all four sides. Then I mitered the corners for a quick finish. It was my first attempt! The second project will be easier and faster now that I know the steps.
Jane in Kansas
Kathy
12 years agoYes I did tackle continuous embroidery when I took a class at my local sewing store. We were suppose to make a bolster pillow, but as usual I had to be different and made a continuous design on a jean skirt. I have gotten many compliments! Need ti try it again.
Margaret Brantley
12 years agoYes, I’ve done some continous designs on pillowcases and was pleased with the results.
Marilyn
12 years agoYes, I have done several. It is great fun when it works out perfectly.
Tara
12 years agoNo, I have never done continuous designs. I would love to, but it makes me so nervous!
Jean
12 years agoNo, I haven’t stitched a continuous design yet.
Sherrie Lilly
12 years agoI have done continuous embroidery on Quilt borders with and without the Perfect Alignment Software. I have actually placed the marks, saved the design and then pulled the design into digitizing software and changed the colors for the top marks to one color and the bottom marks to another. I also move the bottom marks to the end of the embroidery sequence. When I stitch out the marks I use washaway thread. Once the first group plus marks stitch out then I rehoop the project and can work on aligning the top marks of the new stitchout to the bottom marks of the prior stitchout. I still need more practice on this but it is getting better.
Donna Jones
12 years agoTo tell the truth, the thought of it is intimidating. I’ve been wanting to try it, but I just don’t feel experienced enough to try it. I would like to try it on something small enough to start and will feel less intimidated.
Gail Beam
12 years agoNo, I have not tried continuous embroidery, but I think about trying it. It always looks so intimidating! lol
Wanda
12 years agono, haven’t tried this yet. baby steps right!
Liz Fergus
12 years agoI have tried continuous embroidery once and that was at my dealer’s last month. I fell in love with it. I haven’t tried it since as I have been on two vacation trips in the mean time. I plan to get started experimenting with it at home very soon.
Barbara Rowlan Wong
12 years agoNo, never, but I’ve sure thought about it often.
I have 3 sets of sheets and pillowcases just waiting
for me to gather my courage.
Mary Haggenmaker
12 years agoI made a pair of slacks and upon completion..they just weren’t wide enough. I took some of the material and used my continous hoop to put a flower design long enough (twice, one for each side). I then opened the side seams and put the strip of flowers into the seam so that the pants were then able to fit me. I now have my pants with the strip of flowers on each side. I ended up making covered buttons with the flower on them for the jacket and I even made matching earrings also with the same flower on them.
Michelle Hall
12 years agoI tried it once years ago but haven’t attempted it again. I have a new machine that can do almost everything and I am a little intimidated by it. Guess I just need to take a deep breath and DO IT!
Pamela Beeth
12 years agoYes, I have been successful on some simple projects. I did try to do a Jenny Haskins large pillow design which had to be moved in four re-hoopings. Three came out perfectly but the 4th was a disaster. In trying to figure out what happened, we finally figured out that the hoop itself must have been bumped and was slightly out of place.”Slightly” on that pillow was a total disaster.
Mary Coonts
12 years agoI have not but I keep meaning to.
Regina Pierce
12 years agoMy first attempt at cut-work was also my first continuous embroidery. I used my largest hoop (10 x 7) and would re-hoop every couple of scallops. It was a sheet set for my granddaughter when she moved from the nursery to her “big girl” room.
Martine
12 years agoWhen I bought the Husqvarna’s Endless Hoop I did a lot of borders that way. You have to stick to within a short distance of the edge of the fabric using that hoop and I have never tried doing continuous embroidery further away from an edge in a normal embroidery hoop.
Celeste B
12 years agoI have done it with some overall quilting designs to make quilted pieces to go in a jacket. Much easier to do with sticky paper than standard hooping.
Linda
12 years agonot yet, to intimidated. will try soon. thanks,Linda
Fran Mollica
12 years agoI haven’t tried continuous embroidery but am eager to figure it out. I have the Perfect Alignment software, but would like more tutorial than it comes with, since I can’t seem to get it to work right. I’ve learned tips through your blog posting that I wished were part of the original education and it makes me look forward to more. I guess I am just frustrated that I am not understanding it better.
Connie
12 years agoI love the endless embroidery. I used the Magna Hoop and it was so easy!! I removed the seams on the legs on a pair of capris and did the endless embroidery on an insert. It totally changed the looks and wow on all the compliments I have received!!!! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!!
Carolyn Oglesby
12 years agoI have not done any continous embroidery but would like to do it. Lately I have been doing applique embroidery.
Sharon
12 years agoI have that upgrade on my Ellegante but have not yet attempted it. I’m hoping one of the members of my embroidery group will do something with continuous embroidery and present to us. Hmmm…maybe that someone should be me!
Nell Summerlin
12 years agoI have tackled a few continuous embroidery projects. Once was a wrap dress for my granddaughter which had a beautiful design that was actually embroidery on two different fabrics making the dress one color and part of the hemline – border design another color. I also embroidered her initials and it was so pretty. I also did a knit jacket with continuous embroidery down the front and all around the bottom, a skirt with continuous embroidery on the front. Also, several other projects.
Christina
12 years agoI have not attempted a continuous embroidery project. The software looks like it makes it pretty easy to do. I’m willing to give it a try in the future.
Angela Brady
12 years agoNot yet.
Kate Petrosky
12 years agoI LOVE the continuous embroidery function and have used it for a number of projects — pillowcases, hand towels, borders around the hems of tee shirts, scalloped hems, candle wraps, etc.
Mary Sheets
12 years agoNot yet. I keep reading every article I can find about continuous embroidery but seen to be hesitant to try….I really do not know why. I guess I just do not feel confident yet. Need to gear up and just go at it!
Royce Zook
12 years agoYes I have, several times. All worked out well and I was pleased with the result.
Elaine
12 years agoI have…..using PAL. Works great!
Rosalee
12 years agoI have when doing lace for a pillow, came out great!
Vivian
12 years agoI used the printed design with cross-hairs and tried to match up a continous design. I just ‘eyeballed’ it, and the designs were a little ‘off’. I’ll have to keep this site in my faves, so I can review it when needed.
Cindy
12 years agoI have not tried continuos designs yet…hope to get to soon with some more experience under my belt.
Sue Duisenberg
12 years agoI have done embroidery in two hoopings that had to line up but didn’t have the software that made marks to match up. I struggled and worried and did make it happen. I need to try some with registration marks. something more for my “to do” list.
Patti Jones
12 years agoI haven’t tackled it yet, but plan to (soon?). I did finally get the right hoop. Now to get up the nerve.
Pat Donald Chambers
12 years agomy head is spinning as I read all the ways that people find to do continuous embroidery, I would like to learn the real way. I also have a granddaughter that is just 12 and she embroidered her first item and did a great job. She would be a great candidate for the children’s applique. Yippee!
Patricia
12 years agoI have embroidered jacket collars using continuous embroidery and they turned out beautifully. I have also done it around the hem of a skirt.
Delia Tapia
12 years agoI have done continuous embroidery. I found it challenging at first but once I got the hang of it, it was a peice of cake. Love it.
Anna
12 years agoHi there! I have tried continuous embroidery on a table cloth,I print out templates to help me. It worked well I was impressed with my results. Thanks Anna
Christine Ward
12 years agoWhat a coincidence. My PR1000 Brother is chugging behind me embroidering a queen size sheet set with funky coloured flowers and butterflies for my daughter. My job is made easier using the corner marks and the camera which takes the picture of the background so that previos corner marks can match up to the next design. I used this method on my son’s sharks and waves sheet set and they do look a million dollars. I also did a border of sunflowers on the bottom of an apron using this method. what fun!
Martha
12 years agoI haven’t tried continuous embroidery yet — but it is on the “to do” list. That darn list is getting long! Gotta find more time to just experiment and try all these things.
Barb Mroczka
12 years agoI love continous embroidery! Learned some great tricks at Schiller’s Stitching Sister’s Event in May. Using them on pillow cases for kids and a little girls skirts! Too cute!
Thanks, Barb
MarciaW
12 years agoI am a beginner at machine embroidery – after a training session at the dealers store, started with an attempt to quilt using an embroidery design and wanted to do continuous for a border. Unfortunately, couldn’t hoop the edge of the quilt and couldn’t figure out the placement marks to make a test run either. I did manage to get the block quilting in the small blocks — but had troubles aligning those too. I know there is a way to do so with a Husq. Model 20 Topaz – but cannot find any information on the mfgs site.
Jeanette
12 years agoI have done continuous embroidery several times and find it a wonderful option.
Karen
12 years agoI have done continuous embroidery several times.
Doreen
12 years agoNo I haven’t attempted continuous embroidery yet.
Carolyn Cohen
12 years agoNo, I haven’t. Still learning. I am interested in learning how to use my babylock 10 needle, Enterprise for this.
Elaine
12 years agoI have done a little continuous embroidery, but think I would do more if I ever got around to a continuous hoop.
Andrea Gibson
12 years agoI have done continuous embroidery several times, however it has been a while. I was fairly successful with it, but having to take care of my ailing mother for the last year has kept me from doing much embroidery. Hope to get back into it soon, I miss it.
JodieT
12 years agoI haven’t tried it continuous embroidery because I can’t figure out my software yet. I got really messed up when I bought it because I had a Mac and was not told I needed a PC. I bought Embrilliance and have 4D embroidery software. It is all so confusing. I have embroidered names, but that is all. My dealer was teaching a class way ahead of where I was (a beginner to embroidery and to the machine) and the class completely blew me away. Everyone there knew so much more than me. I went from a familiar machine line to a another machine company with embroidery. BIG change from long term loved Bernina to new machine Pfaff that embroiderd. I need to go to a week camp somewhere I can get good training and practice.
eileenroche
12 years ago AUTHOROh Jodie, I feel your pain. Take it one step at a time, devour your machine manual and get very familiar with your machine’s icons. That’s the key to knowing your machine. Let yourself master one tiny thing at a time. Next week’s blog is about basic steps for beginners, hopefully, it will encourage you to work through basic steps and advance to more complicated tasks.
Doreen van der Merwe
12 years agoHi there, I am from sunny South Africa. Not so sunny at the moment as we are into our winter. No snow, but just cold wind. I am trying to teach myself to digitize, but this is an enormous task. I live in a very small town with the nearest agency 200km away. So much of the learning that I do is over the net. I would love to learn to do continuous embroidery , but time is always a factor. I am a Grade 1 teacher and use my embroidery machine to make educational projects for my classroom. I have things like a calender, height chart, games quilts, embroidered books and many other embroidered articles in my classroom. My colleagues all come and see what I have made after each holiday. This holiday i am working on a snakes and ladders quilt for my classroom. I am having such fun. I am so glad that i have discovered this blog. Looking forward to reading it in future.
Doreen van der Merwe
eileenroche
12 years ago AUTHORWelcome Doreen! So glad you’ve joined us from South Africa.
Dianne
12 years agoI have been doing machine embroidery since 2006. And have no clue of how to do continuous embroidery. I still struggle with hooping it in the right place
janet fishman
12 years agoyes I have done continuous embroidery. I did a set of pillowcases with a flowery design and a scalloped edge. They turned out beautifully but did require close attention and no distractions. Next project is an Irish linen tablecloth.
Linda Turner
12 years agoHi Eilleen, Your directions sound easy and the pictures make it great to do continous embroidery but I have not tackled it other than making longer names years ago when the hoops were smaller you had to go by the thread marks and move the hoop. I have purchased an upgrade package to my Baby Lock Ellegante II. I now have an 8 month old grand daughter and I am just dying to try a continous border design on a little dress or jumper! I have a friend has promised to help me with the project. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
eileenroche
12 years ago AUTHORYou’ll have a lot of fun with that Ellegante II upgrade, Linda. Take the plunge and try a continuous embroidery design on a piece of felt then try it on the pretty little dress! You can do it!
Kay
12 years agoI finally took the PLUNGE and tackled continuous machine embroidery (using PAL) and LOVE IT! It is the easiest technique… I can’t believe I had never tried it before! I love, love, love it! I recently made a bow-holder wall hanging (using an old pillow case and ribbons stitched vertically) and monogrammed my daughter’s name on it and used continuous embroidery as an embellishment at the bottom. Soooo pretty! I wish I knew how to upload a picture on here so I could show you how great it turned out! Thank you for making the most intimidating embroidery technique so easy to accomplish!
eileenroche
12 years ago AUTHORI’m so glad to hear you’ve had success with continuous embroidery and PAL. It really does make a challenging project easy! By the way, I don’t know how to upload a photo here either but you could post on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Designs-In-Machine-Embroidery/162029163819622
Jane Smith
12 years agoI haven’t tried continuous embroidery, although I am interested. I actually bought a platform that you attach to your embroidery machine, haven’t used it. I guess it seemed too confusing.
Helen
12 years agoI have tried using placement marks to join stitches for a large embroidery, but am still having a few issues. I will work this through though.
Ellen
12 years agoI want to do continuous borders someday
Dani Beth
12 years agoNo continuous designs yet, this is one task on my Bucket List!
Barbara
12 years agoYes, I have. Turned out nice.
Mattie
12 years agoNo I have not tried continuous embroidery. I would like to try but not sure about doing it. I live in the country with no dealers around to ask questions if running into problems. Have no idea where to start and what to try doing it on.
Beviejo
12 years agoIt is on the list! I have set the designs up in my software, but not yet stitched them out…Next!
Judy Wentz
12 years agoI have never tried continuous embroidery, but it sure sounds interesting. I can imagine embroidering a beautiful border for a quilt or wall hanging.
Mishell Ruehs
12 years agoI was doing endless designs before they came out with the endless hoop or the endless feature in the Husqvarna Viking software. These new features make it so much easier!
Susan Weber
12 years agoYes, I have done continuous embroidery and think it is fun and turns out beautiful!!!!
Margaret Brantley
12 years agoYes, I did some borders on pillowcases using continous embroidery. They worked out perfectly.
Elsie Jarry
12 years agoHi Debra. I have done it twice in classes. It was so long ago, I don’t remember how to do it. I want to do some embroidery that uses the correct hoop. I have several that came with several hoops. I bought the machine from one of the ASG memberals and I love to use it. Please help me with the direct steps so I can be a happy stitcher. Thank you.
Kathy
12 years agoI did my first continuous embroidery along the side seam of blue jeans in a class at my dealer. That turned out so well, I did a border design on curtains for my parents. I plan on doing lots more!
Ramona Chebli
12 years agoI have been embroidering for over 3 years and am still afraid to attempt continuous embroidering. It scares me. I am waiting for a workshop in person by Eileen Roche and/or her sister, in St. Louis!This will help a lot!
Thanks.
Mary
12 years agoI would love to get more confidence to do a continuous design.
Ann
12 years agoI have done several “endless” designs and love the results. My favorite is my dining room table cloth done by creating my own design using my initial in a fancy script font, mirror imaged in four directions with a flower cut from a design in the middle. This was my first endless design and although challenging, fun to do and very satisfying when completed.
Rebecca Actkinson
12 years agoI haven’t tried it, yet. Looks like it’s hard but usually things that look hard are worth the challenge!
karen thibodeaux
12 years agoI have not tried yet. i did purchase a humming bird design and wanting to try.
Vicki Becker
12 years agoI haven’t had the nerve to try that yet, but I’ve seen several projects using the continuous design.
Ann Michel
12 years agoDear Eileen, I want to learn to digitize Shadow Work in my software.
Can you help me? Where can I find a lesson or tutorial on Machine Shadow Work?
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