We have just released three brand new Embroidery Video Short-Shorts designed to help you accomplish some basic tasks. They vary in length from 5 to 7 minutes and you can watch them absolutely free. Additional video short-shorts are in the works. We will add them to our video library as they are completed.

Your comments are welcome. Let us know if we're on the right track. Did you find them helpful? Were you happy with the quality? And don't hesitate to let us know what topics you would like to see covered. Our goal is to offer assistance where you need it the most.

More comprehensive full-length video tutorials are also planned that will be available for purchase in our online store. We'll keep you posted on our progress and their projected release dates.

Enter our theater - Free Admission

There are many things to consider when shopping for a new embroidery machine and one of them is hoop sizes. It would be pointless to purchase a machine that doesn't come equipped to handle the size designs you most often use or plan to use.

Before you begin visiting the local dealers in your area to compare different makes and models, knowing beforehand what hoops come with the machines you are considering may help narrow your search and save you valuable time.

We've got just what you need to do that. If you haven't yet discoverd it, we have a comprehensive chart on our web site that lists standard and optional hoops sizes for most home embroidery machines.

Making an informed decision on which machine to buy can prevent dissappointment and save you money. This chart should help.

Home Machine Hoop Sizes

Ten (10) exclusive and really cool Sealife Outline designs for the 4 x 4 hoop. Quick to sew, these multi-colored outlines are great for accents just about anywhere. Perfect for quilt blocks too.

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Don't wait! Get 'em while they are on sale.
Available in DST, HUS, JEF, PES & SEW formats.

Set sail for this set here...

I came across this piece the other day and thought you might find it amusing. It's a timeless bit of advice from the folks at Singer.

TIP from a Singer Sewing Machine Manual from 1949.

"Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do...never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing.

When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on. If you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should."

There is such a thing as overdoing it with your satin stitches. When ever you create a design it is wise to keep your satin columns as narrow as possible. Too wide and you run the risk of the stitches being snagged, particularly when the design is to be sewn on a garment that is to be worn.

Generally speaking I don't recommend creating satin columns that are wider than 8mm. You may get away with stretching the limit to 9 or 10mm, but it really isn't advisable. Not only can they easily be snagged, but sewing them will really slow down your machine. If you happen to be in a production mode this can make a big difference in the time required to complete a project.

If the area is too large for satin, consider using a standard fill stitch or a satin fill stitch. The satin fill looks pretty good most of the time and it does provide a different look from a standard fill.

Two important things to keep in mind when creating a design are "sewability" and "wearability." Your designs should include both.

Our thanks to Kathy Spence for submitting this helpful embroidery tip:

I do all types of sewing including heirloom sewing. Trying to keep track of the different types of threads, I mark my bobbins with a magic marker to indicate the type of thread on each bobbin (EB-embroidery, HE- heirloom, COT-cotton, etc). If there are different weights of thread I mark that as well (60, 80, 12wt etc). This helps to avoid mistakes, confusion, and loss of sewing time.

Want to win FREE designs? Submit your tip or trick to us. If we publish your tip you will win your choice of any downloadable design or design set we offer for sale on our web site.

• Martha's Sewing Market - June 14-16 Arlington, TX
• Sew & Quilt Embroidery Festival - June 28-30 Cincinnati, OH
• Embroidery Extravaganza - June 29-30 Louisville, KY
• Sew & Quilt Embroidery Festival - July 6-8 Saratoga Springs, NY
• ISS Show New England - July 19-21 Providence, RI
• American Sewing Guild Conference - July 26-29 Sacramento, CA
• Indiana Embroidery Conference - July 29-August 2 Columbus, IN

If you own one of these machines, have ever run into problems with tie stitches, or lock stitches, not sewing at the beginning or end of each segment? If so, the highlighted section in this scan could be the reason why.

The highlighted setting is what controls short stitch deletes. If the tie stitches are shorter than this setting they will be deleted and not sewn. Unless you watch very closely as a design is sewing this could easily go unnoticed. When it does happens it leaves your design with unsecure stitches that can easily unravel, particularly on garments that are destined to be washed repeatedly.

The length of the tie stitches in any design will vary with the digitizer. Some may set them at .2mm in length while others may set them either slightly longer or shorter. If the short stitch delete length is set to .3mm, for example, .2mm tie stitches will automatically be deleted and not sewn. Your machine can not distinguish the difference between your fill stitches and the tie stitches. To your machine, they are all just stitches.

To test this, sew out a few simple designs to make sure your stitches tie-in and tie-out as they should. If they don't you will need to make some adjustments to this setting. I recommend setting the short stitch delete setting to "0.0" as you see in the scan. That way no short stitches will be deleted and your tie-offs are ensured.

Two (2) lucky winners in every isssue!

Today's lucky winners are:

If your email address is shown above, you have won a complete set of our exclusive Stick Kitty designs. Please contact us within 5 days to claim your prize. Be sure to let us know what format you need so we can get the designs on their way to you.

Any cat lovers interested in this set can purchase it here.

Get ready for your summer visits to the zoo with these two colorful critters, Leo the Lion & Froggie the Angler. Please enjoy them with our compliments.

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