Craftsy Flash Sale

"What do you want to create in 2015? Get better at what you love to do and save up to 50% off popular online Craftsy classes for this weekend only. (35+ new classes included!)"

When things go wrong......

Ok, so a few of you have requested information about uh oh's that happen..
.
We all know getting ready for Christmas can be very hectic.  Well believe me when I say that when you travel, it becomes more than hectic.  At my house this year, I had a frantic one day to get prepared for Christmas.  I had a few gifts to make and had exactly 24 hrs. to get them completed.  My dad had asked for hats for a Church function he participates in, so I thought..no problem, put that hat hoop on and go for it, right????

Not so much.  I put the hat hoop on, hooped the first hat, ran the design and no problem it is done and looked great.  So here I go with the second one.  I am getting super fast at this by now.  This one is a little heavier weight, a denim hat, I hoop it up, put it on the machine and my machine is struggling to get it done.  Now I am on a PR1000e and it can go through almost anything, but I think to myself, maybe the fabric is just too thick for my needles.  I had 75/11's in the machine.  In the back of my head, I could hear Paulette Bell telling me you never need a 90/14 needle in this machine, but my machine was really thumping.  So I switched out the needles.

Well the machine ran beautifully after that and finished the hat without further issue.  When I took the hat off, I had to laugh at myself.  Sometimes you just have to!  I had completely sewn the back of the hat to the front over the Velcro closure.  I don't know how I managed to get that sucker caught, but I did indeed.  Moral of the story....If your machine is struggling, check and make sure you don't have something caught under the frame that isn't supposed to be stitching.  I stitched through 6 layers of denim and 2 layers of Velcro.  Boy that machine can stitch through almost anything!

The Knowing in Sewing

Happy New Year to one and all!

Just a quick note to let you know the Newsletter went out last night.  If you didn't find it in your in box, end me an email and I will forward it on to you and check your email address in my system.  There were bounce backs.

Cindy

Huge Craftsy Sale....Act Now

Wow...I was floored when I got this email today.  All Craftsy Classes are $19.99 until Christmas day.  If you have been waiting for the right time to purchase a class, I would say this is it!  Below is a link to go directly to the Craftsy Sale.

Little Black Dress Files from It's Sew Easy Show

Hi All,
My Christmas present to you is to finally get the project files uploaded to my website for you to use.  I hope you enjoy them!

Follow this link....http://cynthiasembroidery.com/Free-Designs_ep_42.html
This will take you to the free designs page.  The files are on the bottom of the page.

Cindy

Kari's Sew Unique bounced emails

Some of your emails have bounced back to me as undeliverable.
behrecar (your mailbox is full)
kathyhoffma I added the n to the end of your name and it bounced back again, you will have to contact me.

Contact me if you don't receive your instructions: cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

Cindy

Kari's Sew Unique Seminar

Hi Ladies,
I really enjoyed spending time with all of you this weekend.  You were a wonderful group!  Check your emails for the instructions that you requested.  I just sent them out.  They may make my newsletter this month as well.  Two birds with one stone :)

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
Cindy

Craftsy Black Friday Sale

"I'm excited to share some news with you about Craftsy's biggest event of the year! I know that this is the season to shower your loved ones with gifts, but why not invest in yourself, too? Craftsy is making that just a little easier by marking down ALL online Embroidery classes to $19.99 or less, including mine, through Monday. Give the gift of learning here:"

 

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/CynthiaHogan_holiday

$20 off My Craftsy Class 3 days only

Hello ladies and gent from Heyde's.  Here is a link for a discount off my Craftsy class.  It should make it about half off.  Have fun!
Cindy
www.craftsy.com/ext/CynthiaHogan_3939_H

Craftsy Shop to Unlock Sale

Save big on top online Craftsy classes today and unlock extra savings on even more classes tomorrow. Which class you are most excited about? :) Click on the Picture below to go to Craftsy and find your favorite class.

What do you want to learn today?

Is there something new you want to learn?  Have you thought about Craftsy?  Now is the perfect opportunity to try out the platform.  All classes are up to 50% off through Monday!  Best of all, they have a 100% money back guarantee.  You have nothing to loose. 

Click on the picture above will take you to the wonderful world of Craftsy.  I am thinking about taking the Cooking the Perfect Steak Class (to impress my husband) and one of the Photography classes.   I would really like to become better at taking project pictures!  I wonder if they have one on puppy training?  We recently rescued this little cutie on the side of the road with an injured leg.  She has had surgery and is on the way to recovering.  She was definitely not in our life plan, but sometimes your heart just breaks when they look at you in that sweet, sweet way.

Now the Craftsy folks want to see how many of you like me and will follow my link.  Who knows, this may lead to more classes in the future and I have a lot more tricks in my basket as we have new Brother software and I working with DIME Inspirations Software Programs.  So click on the picture to purchase that class you have been waiting to go on sale!

I do apologize for the tardiness of my posts, but I will make it up to you as soon as my life settles down!


Happy Stitching!
Cindy

Craftsy Dog Days of Summer Sale

Craftsy is having a huge summer class sale.  This is probably the last one of the season.  Click on the link below to get your discounted prices.



Enjoy!
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing July 2014

Hi All,
I hope you are having a wonderful summer.  Just a quick note to let you know the newsletter went out tonight.  I am trying out a new email service in hopes that it will be able to get to all of you without being seen as spam.

Also, Craftsy is having a huge sale this weekend only.  Click on the link below.  They have classes in all categories on sale.

Craftsy Sale

 

Evidently my post didn't make it with the picture.  Click on the link to get a great discount on all your Craftsy classes until the 9th (even mine:) )
http://www.craftsy.com/ext/CynthiaHogan_holiday

It's Sew Easy

Hello Everyone,
Just a couple of announcements tonight....
On Friday the second It's Sew Easy Episode that I appear in will be airing @ itsseweasytv.com. In. this episode, I will be demonstrating using the Scan N Cut machine to cut your applique pieces as well as how to print a template for manually cutting applique pieces.  Be sure to tune in.  It will be available for free for 7 days.

Secondly, I am trying to move my blog back to my own website.  I have not been satisfied with the commenting on either site.  I am trying a new technique on both platforms for a bit (there will be duplicate content) to see which one works best.  I really want this to be interactive.

I have left the discount link on my website for the Craftsy class on the home page active for the rest of the week since last week was Memorial Day weekend.  I have been getting good feedback from it so far.  I hope you will enjoy it and as always hope you find it informative and helpful!

Cindy

Newsletter and Craftsy class

Hi Everyone,
The Knowing in Sewing was mailed tonight.  The big announcement is that my Craftsy class went live last week.  There is a link on my home page for you to receive a discount on the Craftsy class.

www.cynthiasembroidery.com  If you click on the Embroidery Software Essentials link on the page, it will take you directly to Craftsy with the discount applied.  I really hope you will enjoy the class!

Below is a link that will show you what to look for on my homepage.  The discount link on my homepage will be good through Friday.

Have a great rest of the week!
Cindy

Newsletter

After a large delay, I have evidently finally sent out a newsletter.  I thought I had sent it out in February.  The move has me a little frazzled to say the least.  I think I live in the messiest home ever right now!

I am on a flight to Baton Rouge tomorrow to teach a Scan N Cut and Photo Stitch seminar.  These are the only ones of this type that I have on my schedule right now and I am done scheduling for the Spring/Summer time frame.  If you have one of the products and want to learn how to use them, there may be a few spaces left (I am not sure about this).  Call Allbrands.com to see if they have any slots left.  The phone number is: (225) 923-1260<

Enjoy the newsletter.  Again, sorry for the delay!

Cindy

Printing Applique Outline for Scan N Cut

Hi Cathy,
You can print the outline for an applique from PE-DESIGN NEXT and some of the lower versions.  Follow the steps below.

1. IMPORT the design into Layout and Editing.
2. Click on the Stitches Attributes tab at the top of the window.
3. Choose Divide by Color.
4. In the Sewing Order window, determine which segments are the cut lines for the appliqué. 
5. Click on the cut lines for the Applique in the Sewing order window and then Click on the Select Patterns icon .
6. Click on the Home tab.
7. Click on the Copy icon.
8. From the Start button of the computer, open a new session of Layout and Editing.  Do not close the current session.  You will open a new window.
9. Click Paste to paste the cut lines into the new window.
10. In the Integrated Sewing Attributes window, click on the Color Tab.  Change the color of all the pieces to black.  This will print better for the Scan N Cut.
11. Left mouse click on a piece and move it around on the design page to separate the parts.  Continue until all appliqué parts are separated.
12. From the File pull down menu, choose Print and then Print Setup.
13. In the Embroidery Print Mode area, choose Actual Size and Realistic Stitch Image.
14. Remove the checkmark if there is one in front of Print sewing area box and center axes and Print template grid.  These items will interfere with the cut process on the Scan N Cut.
15. In the Stitch image area, click on the Attributes button.
16. Change the Thread Width to Thick, the Brightness to Dark and then click OK.
17. Click Print.
18. Choose Page 1 to 1.  Page 2 is the design information.
19. The design will print.  Use the print to scan into the Scan N Cut to cut the appliqué pieces.

Cindy

It's Sew Easy

Hi All,
Tomorrow at 12pm EST, the second episode of It's Sew Easy that I appear in will air.  Visit www.itsseweasytv.com to view the full episode.  This episode I will be demonstrating cutting appliques for machine embroidery.  Be sure to view.  Angela Wolfe and Eileen Roche will also be appearing in this episode.  Here is a pic from the set.

We are finally in our new home in Jackson and will close the chapter of our Murfreesboro home tomorrow.  Please be patient, I will post the newsletter as soon as I catch my breath!  It has been a whirlwind couple of months.

Cindy

Wow, March has really snuck up on me.  With the move, trying to get our old home ready to sell and trying to get my studio set up, February really flew by!
My Niece came to visit this weekend.  At Christmas time, I gave her a ULT to use for her mixed media projects, thinking she would enjoy having more stitches on her machine.  I really didn't want to push the embroidery on her as that is my thing and I didn't want her to think that was the only reason I was giving it to her.  I thought the technology in the machine would help her in her art studio.  Much to my surprise, she is embracing the embroidery side of the machine. 
She is so excited, her grant for PE-DESIGN NEXT was approved.  So she came to learn more about the software and learn how to digitize a bit.  Since her degree she is pursuing is in Fine Arts, she is going to catch on to the software pretty quickly (I feel sure).  This weekend, she created her logo and learned how to manipulate text.  It is fun to watch her get excited.  We also played with the Scan N Cut and cut out vinyl stickers of her logo.  She has one pasted proudly on her Iphone.  Guess what her next purchase will be.  She used my Quattro as the ULT  went on the blink and is in the repair shop right now.  I think it really spoiled her.

She is getting ready for a large craft show in her area and it is fun to see what her generation is into as far as embroidery is concerned.  She is creating note pads that she has embroidered and then stitched together.  She is really enjoying mixing media in her projects.   If you are in the Starkville, MS area, look for her at the Craft show in April.  She has named her company Gold Sheep Goods.  If you are one of her first customers, I think she will have a special bag for your purchases (that is her plan).

I can't wait to see where her journey takes her!

Right now I am preparing for a Craftsy class and have some deadlines I have to meet.  It may be a bit before this months newsletter goes out to you.  I will try to do it when I hit the road.  Next week is the start of a marathon of travel.

Cindy

Ken's Sewing Center

I just wanted to say to all of you what a pleasure it was to teach you this weekend!  You all were wonderful and so attentive.  Thank you for attending the seminar.  I do hope you felt it was worth your while.  Please be sure to play with your software sometime this week so you don't forget what you learned.  I hope I will be able to share with you again in the near future!

Cindy

Advance PE-DESIGN Class Baton Rouge

Hi Ladies,
It was a joy teaching you the past couple of days.  I hope your heads aren't totally swimming!  I have uploaded the Love applique directions for you to the Dropbox file that we used in class.  You will want to download them by mid next week.  After that I will remove them.  Please respect the copyright :)
Enjoy,
Cindy

Computer issues

Wow, even the experts can sometimes totally mess up their computers!  Sunday night I realized I had not done my Sales and Use taxes and they were due on Monday.  Since I was traveling Monday, I knew I had to get it done that night.  I had just turned off the computer to pack it (it was 10:30 pm).  So I turned the computer back on and tried to open Quickbooks.  Unfortunately, my computer had different ideas.  It wouldn't load and made me reinstall it.  I knew updates had loaded to the computer when I shutdown, so I thought I would just roll back the clock and restore the system to before those updates were installed.  Well, that didn't work.   So I tried reinstalling the program.  That didn't work.  I tried repairing the program, that didn't work.  I tried removing, shutting down and reinstalling, that didn't work.  I tried removing, turning off the virus protection, removing all traces of the program from the registry (you probably haven't had to do that ever) and reinstalling…..that didn't work.  I tried a clean install from the Quickbooks website, that didn't work.  Bottom line is I tried everything and never did get my Quickbooks to work, so I purchase a new version.   I had been working in Quickbooks earlier in the day and had done a lot of work and no I didn't backup before closing the program.  My last backup was in December.  One of the messages I had received while trying to install the program was where the files were saved.  They were saved in the App Data folder and luckily the auto backup had clicked in, however the App Data files are hidden files on the computer.  I really couldn't remember where I was supposed to choose to show those files, but I knew they were hidden files.  So I right mouse clicked on my main identity, chose Properties and press the incorrect button.  I thought I was choosing to show hidden files on my computer, evidently I selected to hide my main identity.  By 4:30 am I was too tired from trying to install programs that I gave up and pulled files from my backup thinking I could limp through the seminar until I had time to work the problem out.  Best laid plans and all of that…. we got to one section and low and behold I had hidden all the files in My Documents from myself and couldn't reach those files.…..Good news is at lunch, I was able to fix the computer in the Control panel.  By choosing Folder option and show hidden files.  Then in Windows explorer, I selected the hidden identity, right mouse clicked on it and selected Properties.  I then removed the checkmark from in front of Hide folders and files (something to that nature).  It was the square that I had activated.

Just goes to show it can happen to everyone!

Tonight I was able to get everything back in place where they are supposed to be located.  Whoo Hoo!

Thanks Baton Rouge for bearing with me and the computer today.  Since even the Mac had issues!  See you tomorrow!  Come back in with bells on!

Cindy

It's Sew Easy show

The 600 series of the It's Sew Easy show has begun airing.  Below is a link to the two segments that I will be appearing in during the series.



http://www.cynthiasembroidery.com/Its-Sew-Easy-Show-Videos_ep_58-1.html
 

 

Enjoy!

Cindy

Newsletter correction

Evidently in my excitement to finally get a newsletter out on time this month, I put the sale price of the NEXT workbook in incorrectly.  Therefore, you will receive the newsletter twice one with the correction.  I can't possibly sale the workbook for 19.99.  I pay way more for it than that.  As much as I love you guys the sale price is 139.99.  Sorry for the mistake.  I guess I could sell it for 19.99, but your shipping would be $139.99 LOL.
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing January 2014

The Knowing in Sewing for January has been mailed out.  I finally got one out in the correct month!  Yeah!  Once again there are some kickbacks from email addresses.  If the newsletter doesn't make it into your inbox, send me an email at cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com.  This newsletter has a couple of videos for the tip of the month.  Enjoy and remember to keep the link.  These videos are hidden for my newsletter subscribers.

Those of you with these addresses in your email are blocking the newsletter this month.  There are also a few business extensions that are blocking the email as well.  Some of you have exceeded the number of emails that you account can accept.

zoominternet.net
embarqmail.com
wowway.com
mail.com
gbta.net

Have a great weekend!
Cindy

Discovery in BES® Embroidery Lettering- The light bulb went on this weekend

Hi All,
I hope your new year is starting of nicely, if a bit cold.  I was in San Antonio this past weekend teaching BES® Embroidery Lettering, BES® Monogramming and PE-DESIGN®  NEXT.  After the BES class, while talking with some of the students,  I started to think about the Optional Fonts (the fonts with an O in front of them) that have the Applique function.  We had discussed how with these fonts, the covering stitch for one letter is the placement stitch color for the next letter, which is somewhat of a bummer because you couldn't sort and put all the placement stitches, tack down stitches and covering stitches together.  After class the light bulb in my head lit up!

Remember the Tilde key ~ it allows you to have multi colored lettering.  Well guess what, it also breaks up the colors for the Applique letters to allow the covering stitch to be a different color from the placement stitch of the next letter.

What does this mean for you?????  When you are using the Optional fonts for Applique put a ~ in between each letter.  After you Apply the ~ each letter will be broken apart.  When you have the lettering the desired size with the attributes you desire, click on the Select tool.   Right mouse click on the lettering and Choose Preserve as Stitches.  In the Sequence window, click off of everything.  You can then change the colors for placement stitches, the tack down stitches and the covering stitches so that each of the stitches has its own color (use the Applique colors for ease) and then Color Sort.

Click on the Select tool and then right mouse click and choose Preserve as Stitches.

 

The Applique with Preserve as Stitches applied

 

 

Change the colors and then choose Color Sort if you have BES2 if you have the original BES you will need to match the colors manually. 

 

You may still find the optional method we discussed easier, but I thought I'd put it out there for everyone that it can be done this way as well.

 

 

Have fun playing with the software,

Cindy

 

 

For those of you interested, I will be in Baton Rouge next week.  The seminars scheduled are for BES Embroidery Lettering, PE-DESIGN Kick Start and PE-DESIGN Advanced Techniques.  There are a limited number of spaces left if you still wish to sign up.  The advanced class has to be kept small so that you can get the most out of the class.

PE-DESIGN NEXT Videos

Updated PE-DESIGN NEXT video links:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8DAC3849E0C5FD8F

The above link will take you to all 12 of the NEXT videos that were completed a few years ago.  The YouTube channel links were changed from my original post and no longer work.

The Knowing in Sewing

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope you are having a joyous and stress free season and are celebrating the reason for the season!  The Knowing in Sewing for November and December has been emailed tonight and continues with the monogramming theme.  In addition, instead of another tip, I have uploaded new design files on my website for your enjoyment.

I would like to hear from you about tips that you would like to see in the coming year.  Any and all will be considered.  You may post here on the blog or send me an email at cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com.

I don't know about you, but I have been having fun playing with the New Scan N Cut machine.  I have been creating Christmas banners.  They have been lots of fun.  It is SEW easy to create free standing double sided appliqués with this machine just by printing out the appliqué design out and scanning it into the machine.  No resizing required.

What have you been creating lately?

All of the best to you and your families!
Cindy

It's Sew Easy

The 600 series of the It's Sew Easy show will begin airing his week.  I appear in two of the episodes.  These are the first TV appearances that I have done and I had a wonderful time learning the process.   I will try to post the to my website and will send out a link when they can be viewed through my site.

Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing Newsletter was sent out last night.  Verizon customers seem to have blocked me at this time.  I received notification that your emails are delayed.  Check your spam folders.

Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing Newsletter - FINALLY!

Hello all,
The Knowing in Sewing has finally gone out tonight.  Be sure to check your inboxes.  As always if you don't receive it, send me an email cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com and I will forward it on to you.  This month's has tips for June-September.

Happy Stitching,
Cindy

The Joy of airline travel!

Delayed once again!  Monday I had the pleasure of spending the day and most of the night at the Detroit airport, hoping in vain that my plane would take off to Newark.  Can I say same song different verse?  I am sitting at the Newark airport trying to get to Buffalo.  The plane was supposed to take off at 9:30.  They have delayed it 3 times now.  The plane is here, we are now waiting on a pilot whose plane was diverted to DC.   They say 12:15 now.  Do I dare believe???:). Oops just kidding, 12:25 now:).  Just kidding again evidently.  Now 12:40am.

PE-DESIGN NEXT issue Mandy

Hi Mandy,
Yes that means your editing options have changed.  If you need to make changes, you will have to convert the design to block and then make the changes that are allowed for manual punch.  In the future if you save a V9 copy first and then save a second copy with a different name as a V6 file, you will be able to edit the V9 file completely.

For future reference, to write multiple designs to your card, you use the Design Database.  There is a sample lesson for Version 7 on my website that would walk you through the process.  It will work for NEXT as well since they haven't changed the process for writing to the card.  Follow this link.  http://www.cynthiasembroidery.com/assets/images/Writemultipletocard.pdf 

Cindy

Hi Mandy,
Since you created the design in Layout and Editing, at any time did you Convert to Stitches or save it as a lower version?  Both of those activities would lock it into stitch format where you would see the edit points instead outline format (editable format).  The only other thing would be if you sent it to the machine via card and are trying to read that back into the computer.  That would also put it in fixed stitch format.
Cindy

Problem editing design

Mandy,
Where did you create your design?  In Design Center or Layout and Editing?  I need the answer before I can advise you.
Cindy

Newsletter update and Date correction

Hi All,
My shopping cart has changed email servers and I have had many more bounce back emails from the newsletter this month.  Much more that usual.  Please check your spam folders and add me to your approved senders list.
I have also been having issues sending mail.  If you haven't received a response from me recently after submitting a question, please check your spam folder as well.

Please be patient as this change in email is completed.  Hopefully, the server issues will sort themselves out.

The Date correction is the one I announced in the beginning of the newsletter.  However, I forgot to put in the change.

The Buffalo Sew On Sew Forth Seminar is not on the 21st and 22nd.  It is on June 28th & 29th, 2013.  I apologize for the error.

Thank you All Sew in Flint for allowing me to come and share the Brother software programs with you.  I enjoyed meeting all of you and hope you came away from the event with more knowledge about what each of the programs can do (as much as I can pass on in 3 hrs anyway).

Happy Stitching,
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing

The Knowing in Sewing has been sent out today.  If you do not receive it please let me know via email and I will check to confirm that you have entered your email correctly.  cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

Seems like I have been on the road for a long time.  I have just returned from an Oregon, Louisiana and then Florida trip.  It was a long one but tons of fun.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures except for at the Anita Gooddesign event in Portland.  I will post those when time allows. 

There are also some machine updates out there.  The DreamMaker TM, Dreamweaver TM VQ and Dreamweaver TM XE.  Also the NV1250, NV1250D, NV750E, NV780D, PE-770 and PE-780D have updates as well.  Go to www.brothersews.com and choose support and then Software updates.  Follow the onscreen directions to view and download the updates.

I am off to Michigan tomorrow to visit All Sew in Flint Michigan. 

Happy Stitching,
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing

If you have a wowway.com or embarqmail.com email address, I received a lot of kick-backed emails from your server this time.  Please check your junk mail folder.

Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  In honor of the Mexican holiday, I cooked turkey taco salad tonight.  We thought about going out, but the Mexican restaurants around here were full.

Just a little note to let you know the Knowing in Sewing was emailed tonight.  As always if you don't receive it, send me an email (cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com) and I will make sure you are added to the list correctly.  Be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder first.

I would love to say I have been doing a lot of embroidery, but alas not so much lately.  I did make a wall hanging top that I think turned out pretty cool, but I haven't quilted it yet.  I have been more focused on spring cleaning and finishing up the PE-DESIGN® Plus workbook.  I will be totally excited when that is finished.

My husband did take me out last night on a date night (my Christmas present).  We went to a Jeanne Robertson performance.  If you haven't heard of her, she is a great clean comedian/public speaker.  We had a good time and she had a great show!  Google her and watch a few YouTube videos.  If you have an engineer for a husband you will probably be rolling in the floor before you know it, because you have a Left Brain for a hubby as well.

Have a great week!
Cindy

Font Creator Program

I have had a couple of requests lately to put up a video for the Font Creator program.  I will consider this for a future newsletter.  The Videos are not very quick for me to do, I am a bit of a task master with myself and end up recording many times for a small video.  Once I finish the PE-DEISGN PLUS book I am working on, I will try to make time to create a short Font Creator video for the tip of the month.  You will need to be signed up for my newsletter to receive the link.


Cindy

Font Question

Anonymous asks:
Hello, I can't seem to figure how to digitize some fonts right. Where do I go for help? I have a font and the box around the font is bigger so how do I get the box to fit right around the font besides making it an outlined object because once I do that I get the font right but my satin stitch isn't nice?


Answer:

The fonts parameters (the boxes around the outside edge) are determined by all the characters in the font.  So many times the black boxes will not be right along the outside edge of the font.  This occurs most often with True Type Fonts.  You can convert the Lettering to Blocks.  It allows you to edit each individual letter without loosing the nice satin stitch.  You can then view the black selection boxes in the correct location.  However, your text is no longer text it will have been changed to blocks of stitches.  These can be edited with the Select Point tool.

For the complete lesson on Converting Lettering to Blocks, view pages 262-271 of my Digitizing's Sew Easy Next workbook. 

Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing March 2013

The Knowing in Sewing has been emailed.  If you did not receive it, send me an email: cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com.

Another one will go out later this month :)

Cindy

Cutwork upgrade

Darlene,
The Cutwork upgrade will only work on the newer PR 650 and 1000 machines.
Cindy

Candy's Patch

Candy agreed to let me post her patch she created after attenting the San Antonio Training.  Great Job Candy!

Cindy

Hi Cindy,

So glad your dad is doing well.  Here is a picture of the patch that I made for my father-in-law after taking your class. He served in the Korean War and has been looking for this patch from his infantry.  After attending your class I was able to make this for him by getting an image from the National AF Museum website and digitizing it using my PE Design NEXT software.  It really made his day.  Thanks for the training. His happy smile was well worth the price of the class and I’m continuing to experiment with this process.  Candy

Squirrel on my back porch

I have a cute little pesky squirrel in my back yard that has decided he should take apart my carpet string by string.  I saw the little critter earlier today and was able to catch a small picture of him, ripping it apart.  He has just about shredded that edge of the rug in the past few months.   I wonder what he is going to stitch with that string!  I had to laugh at his industriousness.
Enjoy,
Cindy
www.cynthiasembroidery.com
cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

Knowing in Sewing for February 2013

Hello all,
The February Knowing in Sewing has been emailed today.  As always, if you did not receive your email, check your spam and junk mail folders.  If it is not there, send me an email.  I will look to see if your email is on the mailing list and forward the newsletter to you.
Have a wonderful if Chilly day!
Cindy Hogan
www.cynthiasembroidery.com
cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

MacBroidery software and PE-DESIGN Cutwork upgrade

Hi all,
I need to ask a favor today.  If any of you have either MacBroidery or the Cutwork upgrade for PE-DESIGN and the PR machine will you contact me ASAP today! 
Thank you,
Cindy

By the way, Candy, you did a great job on your first project!  I will post pictures of it if you are OK with it being on the blog.  I have been meaning to post all week and haven't had the opportunity.

San Antonio, Buffalo and Software update

Hello all,

Candy in San Antonio, thank you for posting.  I know others who are thinking about coming to a seminar appreciate hearing from those who have attended a one and share their experience.  I am extremely please to hear you enjoyed the San Antonio seminar and that you have been able to put some of the information to use already!  I love to be kept informed of your successful projects.  Do you have a picture to share?

Anonymous in Buffalo, I appreciate your comments as well.  You could have held off on the SNOW though.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting and sharing my knowledge with you.  I hope to be able to return in the near future.  Karen and I are talking about a June date for possible project based seminar.  Looks like June 21st & 22nd.

Many of you know my father underwent surgery last week.  I am happy to report he is doing well and anticipating his last surgery next month.  I appreciate you keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.

For those of you with PE-DESIGN NEXT,  there is a new update to the software available.  Open Layout and Editing.  Go to the help pull down menu and then choose Check for updates.  It will download and install the update for you.  Close the software and reopen it to run the most current version.

For illustrated instructions, go to the first lesson in the Digitizing's Sew Easy NEXT workbook.

Happy stitching,
Cindy
www.cynthiasembroidery.com

Hello Buffalo and San Antonio!

It has been a crazy past two weeks.  Last weekend I was in Buffalo in time for a winter wonderland of snow.  This weekend I was in another wonderful location on the opposite end of the weather spectrum.  San Antonio welcomed me with much warmer temperatures and held off on the rain until today.  I am so glad I was able to share the Tennessee snow with the Buffalo crowd.  If you could have just held off on your snow, you would have made the trip fantastic.  However, I do enjoy a good snow for one day and you definitely offered a lovely one.  I understand you were slammed with another snow just after I left.  Thank you all for welcoming me into your lovely area!  Below are some pics from both events.    Thank you for allowing me to share my passion with you.  Please post any comments you wish to share with others about your experience.  I love hearing from you!

Cindy
www.cynthiasembroidery.com


Buffalo - Sew On Sew Forth

Buffalo Snow 

Tennessee Snow 

San Antonio - Creative Sewing Center

Lettering's Sew Easy Addendum

Reminder....The BES additions are posted for a limited time for free on my website!  If you have purchased Lettering's Sew Easy, please go and download your additional pages to for the BES 2 software.
Cindy
www.cynthiasembroidery.com

Wow it is cold here in Buffalo!  Especially since it was 70 degrees yesterday in Murfreesboro.  I am here for the next two days doing a Kick Start Seminar at Sew on Sew Forth. and I am looking forward to sharing PE-DESIGN tips with everyone here.
 
Just to update you....The Knowing in Sewing January 2013 edition has been emailed tonight.  If  you do not receive it, please feel free to contact me and I will forward it on to you and correct your email address.
As always, if there is something you feel is a worthy tip of the month, please email me the question or post it here.


Have a wonderful weekend!
Cindy
cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

What have you done recently

I get a lot of questions about when I fit things into my schedule.  I must admit, I am not the best planner and Christmas time hits me faster each year.  I am usually working on things the last minute.  I have been know to stay up all night the night before Christmas finishing presents.  Just ask my Aunt Pat.  She has been known to be my Co-conspirator in the adventures.  However, this years travel schedule and my father's surgery required a bit more advance work (not that advanced though).  Between the Brother education meeting and my last event, I knew I had to make some aprons for my nieces.  They rarely ask for anything, so when they do, I try to comply.  The request was for aprons.  They just love to bake. 

I had no pattern, but they loved their reversible embroidered aprons.  I loved my ruffler foot!  It made the job Sew much easier and quicker.

I hope they don't mind me posting the aprons......

Happy New Year!
Cindy

Photos from recent events

I have been totally remiss in posting photos from the last events.  I am sure Debbie from Allbrands has more from the Baton Rouge classes as I relied on her to take the ones from the first few days, but I do have some from Hattiesburg, Memphis and the last days of Baton Rouge.

I have to apologize to those of you in St. Louis and Louisville.  I didn't take any photos we were Sew busy!

I want you all to know how much I enjoyed our time together in each of the classes.  All the groups were absolutely delightful to work with. 

I am sure others would love to hear from you guys.  Give a shout out!

Enjoy!
Cindy

The Hattiesburg crew!

 

The Memphis Crew!

  The Baton Rouge Crew!

Happy New Year Everyone!
The Knowing in Sewing December 2012 edition was emailed last night.  Just under the wire! 
Enjoy,
Cindy

Wow, it is Christmas time already!   I really can't believe how the year has flown.  I have a gift for all of you.  The BES © Lettering 2 addendum is finally complete and is available for free download for a limited time.  I will leave the lessons up on the free side until the end of January.  After that time they will be moved to a paid download.  They are copyrighted, so please respect that and only download for yourself.  Direct others to the site to download.  The addendum is currently on the BES 2 Additional Lessons page.

As the year comes to a close, I have to count my blessings.  One of those has been the pleasure of meeting you through my travels.  It is truely a blessing to be able to make a career out of something you love to do.  It has been my pleasure to provide you quality instruction.

While this is a time to reflect and be with our families, it is also a time to recognize the tragedies that have happened in the past year.  The most recent happening last week.  To all of you who have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you.

I will finish my travel for the year this Saturday and then off to spend time with my family.  I hope you all have a special holiday season with your loved ones.  If there is time, I will do my best to get the tip of the month done before the end of the month (LOL).


This was supposed to go out to you before Christmas, but evidently, I saved it as a draft instead of publishing it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing October and November

I have just sent out the newsletter for October and November.  I hope you enjoy the videos along with the tips! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I hope you and your families can enjoy your time together.
Create something fun!
Cindy

Hello Memphis!
I really enjoyed my time with you this weekend.  Both of the groups were great to work with!  I hope you enjoyed your time and felt you learned more about your software.

This afternoon one of you purchased the silhouette and wanted all the accesories with it (I believe it was Jennifer).  I forgot to get the Rhinestone kit out for you.  If you still want it, please email me ASAP.  I will try to meet up with you in the morning before I leave town.  I apologize for the oversight.  If we don't get together tomorrow, contact me by email and we'll work it out.  Not sure if it was on your receipt or not as I can't get hold of John at this hour.  I'll touch base with him Monday when the store is open.

I'll post pictures Monday!
Have a great rest of the weekend,
Cindy

Hi All,
I have had an great past two weeks.   Last weekend I was in Hattiesburg, MS at Sew Select.  What a great group of people.  Joan and Phil even came down from Michigan to attend our event.  The Sew Select Staff was great!  Thanks so much Allison for making the event possible.  Below are pics from the event. 

 

This weekend I have been at Heyde's Sewing and Vac in St. Louis, MO.  Another Great group of ladies to work with.  Thanks Karen for providing a greate event as well.   She and her staff are wonderful as well.   I have really enjoyed the time with both groups of people.  Photos from the MO event will follow as soon as I recieve them as I forgot to take my own :(.  

I really have to say I have enjoyed sharing my passion for embroidery with all of you and love it when I see a light blub spark in your eyes with ideas to implement the techinques I have shared with you.   It really makes my day!  I am so blessed to have the opportunity to share my passion for embroidery and software with you. 

Stitch something fun this week!
Cindy

Creating Bold Lettering/Fonts

Hi Nancy,
I did post this answer on May 18, 2012.  If you click on the 2012 arrow and then scroll down to May, you should be able to read.   However, to make it easier for you today, I'll just repost the answer.

The easiest way to create bold lettering is to add Pull compensation. Pull compensation is found on the Sewing Attributes tab of the Integrated Sewing Attributes window. The default location is on the right side of the design window. At the bottom of the Sewing Attributes, click To Expert Mode. If you are already in Expert Mode, you will see To Beginner Mode at the bottom of the window. Pull compensation is toward the bottom. This is best increase in millimeters, not inches as you can increase in smaller increments.

If you are using a TTfont, on the Text attributes tab at the top of the window, under the font pull down menu, there is a tiny arrow. If you click on the Tiny arrow, the options for that font appear. If a bold option is available for that TTfont, it will appear in this location. Choose bold and then click OK. This option only works for TTfonts with bold as a selection.

Cindy

Moving a color Chart

Hi Mary Alice,
Wow, a voice from the past.  How are things with you?

I noticed you removed your comment before I could reply.  The answer if you didn't find it already is yes.  You can create a thread chart on one computer and move it to another.  The created thread chart is Chart2.btc.  It is found in Program Files\Brother\PE-DESIGN(version #)\Color.  Copy chart2.btc and then put it into the other computer.  When asked if you want to replace the current chart, choose yes.  I realize that you know most of this, but it was a good question and others may be interested as well.  Would love to hear from you!
Have a great Day!
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing September 2012

Hello all,

The Knowing in Sewing for September went out this afternoon.  I hope it was worth the wait.  If there are tips you would like help with, submit them to me and I 'll see if they can be added to a later newsletter or on a blog post.  Coming up with the tips that are useful are half the battle of writing a newsletter.

I do think you will like the September tips.  Especially those PE-DESIGN NEXT users who can't keep their Attribute Windows docked.

I had the pleasure in September of teaching a group of Kentucky teachers.  They have a very unusual program where they are teaching embroidery and software to their students as a part of their curriculum.     I really loved the concept and applaud the school system and their teacher for providing the classes to their student.  A portion of the curriculum focused on fashion and design as well.  

I am really looking forward to starting the fall travel season.  I hope to see you soon!

Create something fun today!

Cindy

Hello everyone,
It has been a while since I have written and I do apologize.  You will finally receive a newsletter tonight.  It will cover June, July & August tips of the month.   I will write more this week when I have a bit more time.  I have some new pictures to post.  There is an updated teaching schedule on my website as well.
Have a great week,
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing May 2012

The May Newsletter was sent out tonight.  If you did not receive it please check your Junk mail folder or your Spam folder.  If you need it to be forwarded to you, contact me at cindyhogan@cynthiasembroidery.com

Cindy

Louisiana

Happy Memorial Day to you all. 

I have bee very tardy in my posts this month.  I spent a wonderful week in Louisiana teaching in Lafayette and in Baton Rouge.  The weather was wonderful!  I appreciate how attentive each group was!  Lafayette was a bit of a tight squeeze for you all, but you hung in there like real troupers.  Since I haven't heard from any of you, I hope all is going well with your software adventure.  Unfortunately, my pictures did not turn out well!


I have been talking with John and Debbie at the Baton Rouge store about the Advanced Techniques in Appliqué Class.  We may be able to schedule it in early December.  Stay tuned!

Create something for yourself this week!
Cindy

Hi Jo,

In answer to your question about a Redwork font, there is not currently a Redwork font built into PE-DESIGN.  I will pass on your request to the engineers who write the software.  Who knows, we may get one in the future.  We can always hope.

You can have lettering without a fill with a Redwork outline, but I don't think that is the style of lettering you want.  However, just in case here you go.

Any of the built in or TTfonts can have the fill stitch turned off and the outline turned on with a triple stitch as the outline style.  In the Sewing Attributes window, you would change the Run Pitch (stitch length) to 3.0mm.  You would have a Redwork style outline. 

Cindy

Tammy,
The easiest way to create bold lettering is to add Pull compensation.  Pull compensation is found on the Sewing Attributes tab of the Integrated Sewing Attributes window.  The default location is on the right side of the design window.  At the bottom of the Sewing Attributes, click To Expert Mode.  If you are already in Expert Mode, you will see To Beginner Mode at the bottom of the window.  Pull compensation is toward the bottom.  This is best increase in millimeters, not inches as you can increase in smaller increments.

If you are using a TTfont, on the Text attributes tab at the top of the window, under the font pull down menu, there is a tiny arrow.  If you click on the Tiny arrow, the options for that font appear.  If a bold option is available for that TTfont, it will appear in this location.  Choose bold and then click OK.  This option only works for TTfonts with bold as a selection.

Cindy

Sew Special Studio and the Knowing in Sewing

Hello all!
I hope this week finds you safe and well.  I apologize for the tardiness of my posting.  I kind of took the week off.  I was a bit under the weather last week.

The Sew Special Studio class was a lot of fun.  I really enjoyed you guys and hope you are having fun creating your own appliques now.  We were so busy I didn't remember to take pictures.  How are your inking projects going?  Having fun with your Silhouette yet?  What a great little machine!

The April Knowing in Sewing has been sent out tonight.  Just under the wire one more time.  What can I say????

If you can think of a topic you would like a tip for, let me know and I'll see if it is something that will fit in a newsletter. 

If you have attended one of my seminars, please feel free to comment here.  Others would like to hear the feedback!

Enjoy!
Cindy

getting ready

Boy do I hate Tax time.  Bookkeeping for me is the ultimate mind sucking activity.  I think I despise it so much because I remember having to balance my first checkbook to the penny with my mother who was a bookkeeper.  It is an activity that I dread each year.....However, I have finally finished balancing the books this week, so I can go on to other activities.

If you are planning on coming to the Sew Special Advanced Techniques in Appliqué seminar, you are in for a treat.  I have found a new exciting way to create complex appliqués with PE-DESIGN NEXT.  It is the "Easy Way".  I am also experimenting with a different method of cutting appliqué pieces that I think you are going to love.  I can't wait to finish all the instructions and show you what I have discovered in class.  When you put Terri and I together to come up with an idea, things are always fun!

That's all for now.  I have to get back to instruction writing.

I hope everyone had a great Easter with your families.
Cindy

The Knowing in Sewing March 2012

The Knowing in Sewing March newsletter was sent out on Saturday night.  If you did not receive your copy via email.  Please check your spam folder.  If the newsletter is not there, please contact me.  You may have typed in your email address incorrectly. 
Enjoy!
Cindy