ODDS & ENDS

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Granny Goose Designs

Solution Graphics

Where some good things come together!


		Every Emboridery machine you look at has its OWN software that you simply MUST have to use it properly. Perhaps so, but what if like me you cannot afford that high priced software? You learn the shortcuts. When I purchased my Janome 300e, I had NO software, zilch. nada for a Janome machine. My dealer at that time was ignorant too of what was needed. So I set out to expand my horizons. I found free patterns for download...WOW... I now had 100's of patterns to sew on my machine...BUT... how do I see them, how do I convert them, how do I load them on the disks, how do I put it in the machine. I had a lot to learn and had fun doing it and made a lot of booboos along the way. All Embroidery machines have their own FORMAT or computer form in which their machine will read the design and colors etc. Some can read the formats of others. Mine could only read ONE... so I first got the free downloadable converters from Wilcom and from Tajima... both had their strengths and weaknesses. But still I was not satisfied. What I ended up with after spending more then I could afford was a simple program that I do my editing of ALL embroidery patterns with .. SewWhatPro. I can open any format, convert it to mine or others, change the colors, change the stitchout order, delete stitches, do a virtual sewout..add lettering. I had tried other editors and was not happy with the glitches and lack of support I could find for the product. With SewWhatPro I found not only an outstanding product but great technical support. And best of all, very affordable.

	I started off buying thread where ever I could. And like all I had problems with the wacky colors of the designs. But we all need to remember there is NO standard by which all programs must adhere to on their color charts. No company is going to give up THEIR ways in favor of a standard out there. It is dog eat dog in the digitzing world, with each company saying theirs is the best. Thread is much the same. I buy in bulk when I can and look for largest selection of colors. I found Radiant threads on Ebay and the quality is great and really affordable. I buy at Wally World when I need basic, I buy at craft stores when I am there. I do not tout one brand as superior to another. I use what works for me. And in a pinch when I need a specific color and can't get out to buy?...I dig into my regular sewing thread and pull out a spool and use that..


	When I first got a digitizing program I was so dumb as to how to use it. I put it on the computer, opened it up and after trying to do something with it, I uninstalled it and put it back in the box... for one year it lay there. I asked the Lord what could I do to help my husband maybe take it a little easier. HE showed me that box. I had sketches and ideas, but I didn't know what to do with them. I searched and found a Yahoo list for the program. EM2 or Embroidery Magic 2. I quickly learned how to use my program with all the wonderful assistance I got there. Now I had to learn some skill with the use of it. I started to outgrow its capabilites and moved up to the next level. FancyWorks Studio. When I purchased my new 4 needle machine I got the software that went with it...Janome Digitizer Pro and have switched to that now. It is an excellent and very professional program to use. Had I not had the background in the other software I don't think I would be doing as well so quickly. But I still have much to learn.

		I do not recieve any compensation for any product I name here. I only mention what works for me.