We've added something new to our web site. I guess you could say it is sort of an experiment in the unknown, but we thought it sounded like fun.

Each week we plan to offer a brand new Mystery Design Package that will include one of our design sets or a variety of mixed designs chosen from our current catalog. You won't know what is in the package until you purchase it, but that's the idea. It's a surprise!

This Mystery Design Package will cost only $5.00. That's considerably less than the value of the designs it will contain. Who knows? You may find it contains the set you've been eyeing for quite some time.

If this sounds like fun and a real bargin to you, visit our Mystery Design Package web page and pick your format. It beats buying lottery tickets. You don't have to worry about overwhelming odds.

Mystery Design Package is available here...

One really nifty gadget that every embroiderer should have in their sewing room is a hand held steamer.

It's one of the easiest and best ways to remove hoop marks from your garments. As I mentioned in a previous article, hoop marks occur due to the fibers in the fabric being crushed between the inner and outer rings of your hoop. The gentle steam relaxes those fibers causing them to return to their original shape.

A good quality hand held steamer is worth its weight in gold when it comes to removing hoop marks and wrinkles. They range in price from about $40.00 to $100.00 depending on the manufacturer and quality.

The steamer shown above is the Jiffy ESTEAMŽ Hand Held Steamer. It uses plain tap water and heats up in about 3 minutes. It's at the higher end of hand held steamer quality and sells for about $99.00 in most of the online stores I visited. You may be able to find it at a lower cost with a bit of detective work.

Here's a question submitted to Ask Mary! from an embroiderer asking about transferring designs directly from her computer to her machine.

Question:  I have a Baby Lock Essante embroidery machine that i love. I want to take some designs from my computer, but my machine doesn´t recognize it from my computer. What could i do? Please, help.

Answer:  You may be attempting to do things a bit backwards in this case. Your machine does not recognize your computer, but your computer will recognize your machine as an external storage device. You must send the designs from your computer to the machine. You can't do it the other way around.

To better understand how USB connections work with embroidery machines, please take a look at an article we wrote for a recent issue of Thread Times. It goes into much more detail and may help you better understand the different types of USB connections.

Understanding USB Connections

I hope I have answered your question.

Christmas Coasters

Set of eight (8) festive Christmas Coasters for your holiday table. Quick and easy to sew out with or without a waterproof backing. Complete instructions included. Make a set for your yourself and several more to give as gifts.

Garnish your table here.

Sewing Room Coasters

Jazz up your sewing room and make a statement with this set of eight (8) Sewing Room Coasters. Quick and easy to sew out with or without a waterproof backing. Complete instructions included.

Make your statement here.

Designed to get you in & out of the kitchen fast and back to your embroidery machine.

Recipe Name:  7-Layer Mexican Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: NONE!

Serves: ???

Ingredients:
1 pkg Taco seasoning mix
1 can refried beans
1 container fresh guacamole---or make your own
1 2-cup container sour cream
1 large ripe tomato, diced
Green Onions, sliced
Grated cheese
Sliced ripe olives

Directions: Mix one-half the taco seasoning with beans and layer*. Mix the sour cream and rest of the taco seasoning; layer*. Layer the diced tomatoes, green onions, cheese, and black olives.

*Layer the guacamole

Tips: The SECRET is THIN LAYERS!!! Overall height should be LESS than 2"!!! And it is advisable to have more than one dish of this out or all the crowd will be at one end of your table. Trust me on this!

Submitted by: Anna Nash

If you're looking for a unique way to spice up some of your rather plain looking embroidery designs, how about variegated thread? If you haven't heard of it, or haven't tried it, you might be pleasently surprised.

Variegated thread comes in a variety of mixed colors. Each spool has its own unique blend of colors that travel the entire length of the spool in predetermined increments. You'll find color options with only two colors or multiple colors on each spool. Hopefully you can find a combination that works well with your overall design theme.

Since it is nearly impossible to know in advance how well the variegated thread will look in your design, it is always best to test sew a sample first. Sew your sample on the same fabric you'll be using in the finished product if possible. If not, select something that will offer a high contrast between fabric and thread.

Several thread manufacturers offer a variety of this type thread. They may have different names for it, but overall the multi-color principle is the same. If your local dealer does not stock variegated thread, it is available online.

Our thanks to Karrel Buckingham for submitting this helpful embroidery tip:

I recently learned how to do cutwork. I was punching a small hole with my scissor tip to start cutting and sometimes it would pull a piece of the thread out in the fabric, making an ugly line in the fabric. So now I use the tip of my seam ripper to enter the fabric, then rip a small hole with the ripper blade to make room to insert my scissor tip. No more pulled threads!

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 from our online catalog.

• No major shows scheduled through the holiday season

Nowadays a large majority of computer users have wireless home networks. Chances are you have one too. You most likely have a wirless router in your office where your main computer and broadband access reside, and you have a wireless laptop in your sewing room. When you need to download a design or check your email, you access the internet via your wireless network.

The big question is are your computers safe from intrusion? Many home networks are not secure and are accessible by anyone within range. I know this to be true because I can scan for wireless networks from my office on any given day and find several unsecure networks in my immediate area.

If your network is unsecure a hacker could easily gain access to the computers on the network. Once that happens all of your personal data is at risk. Things like passwords, credit card numbers and bank account numbers are but a few of the things intruders seek.

By making your home network secure your chances of intrusion are greatly reduced if not emliminated entirely. Securing your network is not difficult and well worth the time it takes to put your security measures in place. Check you owners manual or contact the manufacturer if you are unsure how to accomplish this. You will also need to set the security key in your wireless computers to match your router settings.

One more thing. If you use any local Wi-Fi networks in your area while you are out and about, be careful what you transmit. These networks are unsecure and subject to eavesdropping just like an unsecure home network.

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 extremely popular Mirror & Pouch design set. Please contact us by email 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.

Others interested in this very popular set can see it here. Add-on mirror set also available.

Two Wintertime Kids redwork designs appropriate for the season. Please enjoy them with our compliments. Happy Holidays!

For the 4 x 4 hoop

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