We have just completed a brand new series of video tutorials covering MasterWorks Lite digitizing software from Baby Lock.

MasterWorks Lite, the newest addition to the Designer's Gallery series, is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to learn how to digitize their own embroidery designs without breaking the bank. It's basic enough for beginners yet powerful enough to satisfy more than the casual user.

Come take a look at these brand new video tutorial CDs. They'll teach you everything you need to know to be able to create embroidery designs you'll be proud to display. And here's a cool new idea - we have a version for your iPod so you can take your lessons with you where ever you go. How's that for convenience?

Learn more about our MasterWorks Lite Video Tutorial CDs here. They will be ready to ship beginning January 18th and you can save $10.00 by pre-ordering your set today.

Most machines need periodic maintenance to keep them running at peak performance. Now that we're starting a new year, it could be time to get your machines in tip top shape for the projects ahead.

If you don't already have a schedule for taking your machine in for routine service, now might be a good time to start. New Year's day can be a yearly reminder that it's time to have some preventative maintenance done on all your machines.

Outside of oiling any components recommended by the manufacturer, periodic tune-ups should be performed by a qualified service technician. They'll fully clean and lubricate the internal workings of your machine and make any adjustments that are necessary.

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even if your manufacturerer doesn't specifiy a maintenance schedule, it can't hurt to drop it off at your dealer for a look see. It will surely be money well spent.

Just released! A brand new set of colorful and decorative Jacobean Dragonflies. Set includes 10 different designs for the 5 x 7 hoop. A great addition to your Jacobean design collection.

Click here to see the entire set.

Here's a question submitted to Ask Mary! from an embroiderer asking about sewing out redwork designs.

Question:  I would like to know what kind of thread, stabilizer and needle I need to do redwork.

Answer:  Redwork designs are really no different than any other embroidery design when it comes to sewing them out. There are just a lot less stitches.

Use the same needle you use for regular embroidery. A 75/11 works best for most applications. As for thread, use your regular embroidery thread in what ever color you choose. You don't have to use red if you want a different color.

Stabilizing is generally the same for redwork designs too. Since the stitch count is a lot less than filled designs, you may be able to get away with a lighter weight stabilizer, but it really isn't necessary. Use what you normally use and you'll be fine.

Over time, all of us add and remove programs from our computer. We move things around, delete stuff, and in general just make changes on an almost daily basis.

If you are a Windows user, the problem with all that is the mess it leaves in your registry file. What's a registry file you say? Well, your registry file is a long list of instructions that tells Windows what to load when you boot up your computer. It could be a complete program that runs on your computer, or nothing more than a single process that runs silently in the background while you work.

As time goes on your registry file gets larger and larger. The longer the list of instructions gets, the longer it takes for Windows to load everything and complete the start up process. Eventually things can really get bogged down and your computer may no longer function at peak performance.

Theoretically when you uninstall a program from your computer the uninstaller should remove all of its entries, but the sad truth is it does not. Many remnents are left in the registry that are no longer valid or necessary, but Windows still attempts to load them. Even when you move or delete embroidery designs there could still be references to the old file locations left in your registry.

But all is not lost. There is a way you can keep your registry file in tip-top shape with a nifty little program called Registry First-Aid by Rose City Software. It will fine tune your registry file by eliminating any errors it finds.

The program is easy to use and very thorough. As a precaution it automatically makes a back up of your registry file prior to starting the tune up. In the event something goes wrong you can restore the old registry file quite easily.

We use this software on all of our computers and it does work quite well. If you wish to learn more about Registry First-Aid you can visit their web site and download a free trial version.

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

Recipe Name:  Mexicali

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup water
1 can green beans
1 can corn, drained
1 can diced or crushed tomatoes
1 can dark red kidney beans
shredded cheese to taste
chopped onion
corn chips

Directions: Brown 1 lb. of ground beef, drain, rinse, return to pot. Add 1 packet Taco seasoning, 1 cup water, stir. Add crushed or diced tomatoes, green beans, dark red kidney beans and corn. Simmer until seasoning cooks in and mixture thickens a bit. Strew shredded cheese and chopped onions, or green onions if you like them, over top and serve with corn chips. Healthy, fast and tasty.

Tips: To extend recipe, use a large can of kidney beans and two packets of taco seasoning

Submitted by: Shirley S

Putting your thread in the freezer helps restore lost moisture content.

"Myth" - Putting your thread in the freezer actually dries it out. Freezers tend to dehumidify things and even food stored in your freezer will dry out if not stored in moisture and vapor proof containers. I'm sure you are all familiar with the term "freezer burn," which is nothing more than dried out portions of your food product.

If you have old thread that is dry and brittle, your best bet would be to disgard it and replace it with new thread. If you use polyester thread you needn't worry. It is made from synthetic fibers that will not dry out. Rayon thread, on the other hand, is made from natural fibers that will eventually become dry and brittle.

Our thanks to Phyllis M. for submitting this helpful embroidery tip:

I have one of the thread holders that mounts on the wall. I hot glued a piece of a drinking straw, a little taller then the spindle, to each one of the spindles. That way I can put my bobbin with the matching thread. It works great to put 2 spools of thread on top of each other too.

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.

• Creative Sewing, Quilting & Embroidery Expo - January 17-19 San Antonio, TX
• Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS) - February 8-10 Orlando, FL
• The Original Creative Festival - February 15-17 San Mateo, CA
• Original Sewing & Quilting Expo - February 21-23 Tampa, FL
• Sewing & Stitchery Expo - Februrary 28 - March 2 Puyallup, WA

We would still like to hear your New Year's Resolutions. In fact, we have decided to sweeten the pot. On February 1, 2008 we will hold a random drawing from all resolutions submitted. The winner will receive a complete set of our Embird Video Tutorial CDs.

Send us any New Year's resolution you made that pertains to your embroidery business or hobby. In addtion to our drawing, we'll compile a list from all the submissions we receive and publish some of the most popular resolutions in a future issue of Thread Times.

If you have already submitted a New Year's Resolution your name will be included in our drawing. And don't worry, we won't ask you next year if you kept your resolution. It will remain your secret.

Click here to submit your New Year's Resolution.

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 Retro Restaurant Advertising 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. Be sure to visit our customer showcase while you're there. See some of the creative ways other embroiderers have found to use this set.

Two individual dragonfiles that compliment our new Jacobean Dragonflies design set. Use them alone or to add additional dragonflies to a Jacobean Dragonflies project.

Please enjoy them with our compliments.

For the 4 x 4 hoop

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