Creating original Designer I patterns
I was wondering what is involved in creating original embroidery designs (particularly using scanned drawings or photos) with the Husqvarna Viking Designer I. My sweetheart of a husband went to our local dealer (insider a JoAnn Fabrics store) and she wasn’t very helpful. Nor could I find that specific information on the Husqvarna-Viking website. What type of hardware and/or software do I need in addition to the Designer I (ESS?) itself? I am under the impression that I need some sort of extra Viking attachment(s) costing at least an additional $2000 over and above the $5,000 – $5,500 the machine itself costs. Are there other additional things I would have to purchase? I have a Dell desktop and scanner. Would it be as simple as merely scanning or downloading a picture and then letting the Viking hardware/software do its magic? How easily do the Designer I and IBM/Microsoft compatible machines speak to one another? I am totally new to the world of machine embroidery (though have sewn for 30 years) and haven’t yet spent much time at the dealers or looking up models, so I hope you’ll forgive what are probably excruciatingly stupid or basic questions.
Thank you ever so much!
Replies
Your husband does sound like a sweetheart! (I have one of those too...)
I'm new to machine embroidery as well... and just got a Pfaff 2140 for Christmas from my sweetheart of a husband. I'm going to start with some of the stock designs available as freebies all over the place before I delve into custom embroidery designs -- but somehow I don't think it will be long before I'm heading in that direction.
It all depends how much money you want to spend for software... there are a variety of vendors out there and (of course) a variety of prices. Viking makes some fairly robust (and expensive) software. If you bought your D1 from that particular dealer -- go back and talk to them again... be persistent... find someone that has a clue about PC to D1 transfer, etc.
From what little I know about the D1 -- you would use the floppy disk to transfer designs from PC to D1. Not sure what the file extension is for the D1 -- .hus or possibly .vip (like the Pfaff 2140 -- since they are now both owned by the same company).
Good luck... and be sure to post what you discover!! Happy New Year!
Shellee
The Viking Designer I uses several software packages that will run on what ever windows computer you have. You have to buy the Customising software package whether you want to create your own designs or use purchased designs. I bought my software one at a time. It isn't the best way to do things but I saved a considerable amount of money doing it that way. Creating your own designs is not as easy as they make it out to be. For me there has been a steep learning curve. I bought this machine so that I could create my own designs. You just have to be patient and keep working at it and eventually you will have the pleasure of seeing your designs stitched perfectly right before your eyes! It is thrilling!! I have been searching for other Designer I embroiders to be able to talk about little tricks for doing things. Do you already have the machine or are you trying to decide? It is an amazing sewing machine and the embroidery is beautifully. The latest upgrade is also a great improvement. I can't say enough about how much I love my machine. Good luck and feel free to post questions. I will too.
Vashti and others,
Is there any particular area in digitizing embroidery designs that's particularly difficult for you? Threads includes an article on machine embroidery in every issue, and would love to know what you all feel are topics of special interest for future articles about embroidery. Please feel free to answer here, or email me privately if you prefer. Thanks!
Carol
Dear Carol,
I was not aware that Threads has a machine embroidery piece in every issue. That's great! Are you connected to Threads? I am particulary interested in how to layer flowers. I am also finding it hard to correct mistakes. For example, some how the calligraphy which surrounds my design was assigned the same thread color as one of the center motifs. When I tried to change the color I couldn't figure out how. I found the small "c" for color but didn't know what I should do next. I received some clues about layering flowers which I haven't tried yet. I'll let you know how it goes. Any suggestions for fixing design color choices? Feel free to e-mail me directly also. I get an e-mail when anyone posts to my entries so I don't have to worry about missing your response. Thanks for your interest. Vashti
Vashti, I'm not by any means an expert in machine embroidery, and I haven't used the Designer I or its software, so I can't answer your questions very specifically, I'm sorry to say. As for correcting color choices, I don't know how you'd do that so that the program indicates the thread color you want, but of course you can change thread color any way you want, as long as there's a stop digitized in (preferably with a lock stitch before and after it).
Layering motifs can, I believe, be tricky. If at all possible, you really don't want to embroider over previous embroidery--you'll get an unpleasant build-up of thread and might have trouble stitching through the first layer. A better option is create a single design that includes the overlapped motifs, and digitize is as one piece (unless you're doing just an outline treatment, in which case you won't have any problems).
I suspect others on the board will have more useful, specific help for you, so even if this wasn't particularly clear, keep posting those questions!
And yes, I'm an editor here at Threads (that's why I get that gavel next to my name!), and I'm always interested in hearing what our readers might like to see in the magazine.
Good luck!
Carol
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