Downloading embroidery files

Barb and I are exploring the wonderful world of downloading digital embroidery files. I have an old embroidery machine, supported by old software, on an old laptop. Updating the software will be an expensive event. So our question is, do any of you know an inexpensive way of downloading and converting generic files to a .jef or .sew extension so we can transfer them to our machines? We need to save to a card, no direct connection from computer to machine. Janome machines.

Inquiring minds need to know!

When you buy the design, you can already select it as a .jef or .sew - down load it to your computer, extract it to a folder, copy it to you card with an external card reader/writer (only about $25 at OfficeMax) if your laptop doesn't have one.

planetapplique has a bunch of cute ones for 1.50 and font sets for 8.00

Ruby,

I have the card, the reader/writer and the adapter to place the card into and then it goes into my machine. I think my card needs to be formatted....do you know how to do this? I tried to format it while in my PC by right clicking on the external drive icon and then clicking on format, but JEF format was not listed as an option. The one time I was able to speak to someone at Janome I was told the card could be formatted while in my machine by calling up one of the embroidery patterns...this did not work and I can't get anyone to call me back to give me help. Baffled....Barb

OK, I'll try that! Thanks!

Here is what I use....I use the software for converting to the format I need and then I save it on the card that goes with the Max box. The box has several slots and you just put the card in the slot for the format you need and write to the card.

http://www.sandscomputing.com/id11.html Software

http://www.amazingboxmax.com/amazingboxmax.html Max Box

Ok, I did it but I needed software to make the computer read the file so I could see it. I have an Anita Gooddesign disk and it had a software program on it for Tajima machines, it recognized the .jef extension and I was able to save with the directions the software "readme1st" file instructed me to do. But I can't get it to do this without additional software. Do you have to have coversion software? If I just try to open the file, I can't see it to see what it is, it is only defined by a crazy code number.

I use software from Sands as Shirley mentioned above among others. Tajima also has free software that will convert your files. My best suggestion? Ask your friend Sandy to send you her 'bookmarked links' to embroidery sites. I have yet to see a site that did not offer all extensions of their files. I must have over 3 million embroidery files - most have been FREE although I do spend on ones that are very special and if I am familiar with the designer. I use 5D software which was made by Husqvarna/Viking for design work - and I can convert files in it. Some others you may want to try: Ambassador, SewIconz, Floriani, SophieSew, EOS Viewer, and SewArt.

.pes files are pretty universal, too - so if you have them your embroidery machine should read them.

If you are desperate for a conversion on a specific file I'd be happy to convert it for you. And, if you want that list of links you need to e-mail me or send a PM with your e-mail address.

Jean, I will ask Mr Daisy to either find one or write a program while he is in hospital to achieve what you want to do if no one can help you. He will enjoy that a lot. He is taking his laptop in with him.

Ok he just said yep no problem if they can't find something free to do it. Asks does it have to be in windows or do you use Linux? I told him windows because only nerdy geeks can get past the on button on Linux. He would like, in email if possible the exact model of the machines you want to use so he can look at their programs. He will write you some software you can use.

Ah looks like Sandy has what you need.

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Originally Posted by Bubby

Ruby,

I have the card, the reader/writer and the adapter to place the card into and then it goes into my machine. I think my card needs to be formatted....do you know how to do this? I tried to format it while in my PC by right clicking on the external drive icon and then clicking on format, but JEF format was not listed as an option. The one time I was able to speak to someone at Janome I was told the card could be formatted while in my machine by calling up one of the embroidery patterns...this did not work and I can't get anyone to call me back to give me help. Baffled....Barb

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What model is your Janome Barb?

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Originally Posted by Divine Daisy

Jean, I will ask Mr Daisy to either find one or write a program while he is in hospital to achieve what you want to do if no one can help you. He will enjoy that a lot. He is taking his laptop in with him.

Ok he just said yep no problem if they can't find something free to do it. Asks does it have to be in windows or do you use Linux? I told him windows because only nerdy geeks can get past the on button on Linux. He would like, in email if possible the exact model of the machines you want to use so he can look at their programs. He will write you some software you can use.

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Like the comment about nerdy geeks, my late DH loved all those difficult to use things and wanted them on our home computer, that is why I had my own laptop. He had Windows NT on our computer and he was the only one who knew the administrator's password--it went to the grave with him, and rendered the thing useless! Had to get a fellow nerdy geek to undo what he did to the computer.

It would be wonderful if we could get something created just for us. I have the Tajima thing that worked, Barb needs something for her new sewing machine. What do you use with your Janome 11000? Or do you just do flocks of sheep and no embroidery on it?

By the way, is he going in tomorrow? Lots of prayers for a successful and not too miserable month of treatments.

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

I use software from Sands as Shirley mentioned above among others. Tajima also has free software that will convert your files. My best suggestion? Ask your friend Sandy to send you her 'bookmarked links' to embroidery sites. I have yet to see a site that did not offer all extensions of their files. I must have over 3 million embroidery files - most have been FREE although I do spend on ones that are very special and if I am familiar with the designer. I use 5D software which was made by Husqvarna/Viking for design work - and I can convert files in it. Some others you may want to try: Ambassador, SewIconz, Floriani, SophieSew, EOS Viewer, and SewArt.

.pes files are pretty universal, too - so if you have them your embroidery machine should read them.

If you are desperate for a conversion on a specific file I'd be happy to convert it for you. And, if you want that list of links you need to e-mail me or send a PM with your e-mail address.

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I can convert on my old laptop, just when it gives out, I'm out of luck. Looking for something that Barb can use for her conversions and saving. Old software will not work on Windows 7.

Sandy, do you send your designs right from the computer to your sewing machine? These Janomes that we are using need it transfered on a card. My machine is old enough that the direct connection thing won't work, without significant upgrades in software, and since we're about 4 versions away from the current version, I'm doublful if I can really update. The only way to update is to spend $10K on a 12000. Not going there!

Truthfully Jean, I havent really got to grips with my Janome embroidery machine. My Horizon is what I am using for now. I got this beautiful embroidery machine and I just can't sort it out in my head. I haven't given it the attention it needs yet because I don'T have the brain space. I will get help once Mr D is through all this and my own pain levels come down a bit.

For now, I am doing what I love best, my art quilts. I have orders so thats ok. I have some tough quilts to do, not least my evening on the reef quilt for my SIL. I am starting a borgello course in a week or so because I want to do a Borgello border before I add seahorses, sea weed and embelishment. It will be a combination of an art and traditional quilt. Meantime Me Heather wants an all white quilt with charcole grey quilting on it and I want to use the embroidery quilt for that. I need to get some magnetic hoops because the ordinary ones struggle with the sandwich of a quilt.

We will see how I do with the new machine, I may have to sell it if I can't make decent use of it. I need to get on a plane and take it to visit Sandy and spend a week sipping wine and sewing. THATS not going to happen lol. shame because I would like to swap experiance with her. My art quilts, her super embridery quilts

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Originally Posted by buckeyequilter

Here is what I use....I use the software for converting to the format I need and then I save it on the card that goes with the Max box. The box has several slots and you just put the card in the slot for the format you need and write to the card.

http://www.sandscomputing.com/id11.html Software

http://www.amazingboxmax.com/amazingboxmax.html Max Box

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And it was meant to be! The name of the software is SewWhat, which is my blogspot name! I've downloaded the trial version, and will give it a go. Thanks Shirley!

I am reading this post in...well disbelief! I could not believe it when Sandy offered me, someone she has never met, a helping hand and now here you all are again ready to do whatever for others. I can honestly say that I have never known a group like this and heck, I don't know many people like you all.
This is an amazing place and I am honored to be a part of it. I just wish to heck I was as darned smart and talented as you all...ah well...haha.

Ruby...It's a Janome Memory Craft 9500

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

I use software from Sands as Shirley mentioned above among others. Tajima also has free software that will convert your files. My best suggestion? Ask your friend Sandy to send you her 'bookmarked links' to embroidery sites. I have yet to see a site that did not offer all extensions of their files. I must have over 3 million embroidery files - most have been FREE although I do spend on ones that are very special and if I am familiar with the designer. I use 5D software which was made by Husqvarna/Viking for design work - and I can convert files in it. Some others you may want to try: Ambassador, SewIconz, Floriani, SophieSew, EOS Viewer, and SewArt.

.pes files are pretty universal, too - so if you have them your embroidery machine should read them.

If you are desperate for a conversion on a specific file I'd be happy to convert it for you. And, if you want that list of links you need to e-mail me or send a PM with your e-mail address.

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PES does not work on my machine, but the Sands software does the trick. Looks like that is the one I'm going for. Love the name, SewWhat--my blog name. Giving the 30 day free trial a whirl, so nothing is carved in stone yet.

Jean, I'm not sure I'm reading your post correctly.Your Janome only takes a card? It does not have a connection for a USB stick? Don't want to give any wrong info. to you.

You embroidery girls just left me in the dust....you're in way over my head at this point!!! Someone will need to take me by the hand and lead me around...my machine is a Janome Memory Craft 9500 if that makes any difference. Jean is being fantastic trying to do what my dealer should be doing but won't! Enough complaining....I just appreciate everyone's help and hope I can understand it when it arrives!

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Originally Posted by Bubby

You embroidery girls just left me in the dust....you're in way over my head at this point!!! Someone will need to take me by the hand and lead me around...my machine is a Janome Memory Craft 9500 if that makes any difference. Jean is being fantastic trying to do what my dealer should be doing but won't! Enough complaining....I just appreciate everyone's help and hope I can understand it when it arrives!

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Barb, use the link that Shirley gave us to Sands website. They have a 30 day free trial to their Sew What software, you can download 60 files to try it out. Then it expires or you pay for the full version. It worked great. And the full version is only $69 for a download. Or you can get the CD for a few dollars more.

Once you download the software on your computer, open the software, and while in it, open your embroidery file. Then you can save it using the .jef extension on to your card. I did two with the .pes extension and the machine didn't recognize it, but I changed one to .jef before I saved, and the machine read it just fine. I think once you do a couple, you'll be on a roll.

Give it a try, nothing to lose on this one! I got the card to you in the mail this evening.

Does your memorycraft have a port on the side by the on/off switch for a USB stick? If it does you can download any JEF design to your computer (remember were you download it to) then pull up the file when you want to do it,plug the stick into your computer and rt click on the file, copy it, then paste it to the file on the stick. You have to use the stick made by Janome only which can be purched by the dealer or in your quilt store, they are about $10.00. You have to initialize the stick before you use it. If I remember correctly I plugged it into the machine then turned the machine on and it was initialized.

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Originally Posted by Bubby

You embroidery girls just left me in the dust....you're in way over my head at this point!!! Someone will need to take me by the hand and lead me around...my machine is a Janome Memory Craft 9500 if that makes any difference. Jean is being fantastic trying to do what my dealer should be doing but won't! Enough complaining....I just appreciate everyone's help and hope I can understand it when it arrives!

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Originally Posted by Cathy F

Jean, I'm not sure I'm reading your post correctly.Your Janome only takes a card? It does not have a connection for a USB stick? Don't want to give any wrong info. to you.

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No USB connection. It uses an oldfashioned Compact Flash card in a card holder that fits into a big slot on the side of the machine. My machine is 10 years old, USB wasn't the biggie it is today.

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Originally Posted by Cathy F

Does your memorycraft have a port on the side by the on/off switch for a USB stick? If it does you can download any JEF design to your computer (remember were you download it to) then pull up the file when you want to do it,plug the stick into your computer and rt click on the file, copy it, then paste it to the file on the stick. You have to use the stick made by Janome only which can be purched by the dealer or in your quilt store, they are about $10.00. You have to initialize the stick before you use it. If I remember correctly I plugged it into the machine then turned the machine on and it was initialized.

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Very strange USB port, it has a connector like a printer has, maybe I can connect directly from the PC. I just found a 10 year old Owner's Workbook with the shrink wrap still on the pages, do you think I should maybe crack that baby open and find out what those ports are for?

Wow! This sounds like conversation at a Geek Squad convention!...And I mean that in the most flattering way. You gals are so techno-savvy! If I ever get an embroidery machine and need help with files, I know where to come to!

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Originally Posted by Bubby

You embroidery girls just left me in the dust....you're in way over my head at this point!!! Someone will need to take me by the hand and lead me around...my machine is a Janome Memory Craft 9500 if that makes any difference. Jean is being fantastic trying to do what my dealer should be doing but won't! Enough complaining....I just appreciate everyone's help and hope I can understand it when it arrives!

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Barb when your card is in your machine you should see a folder named "emb" - any new .jef or .sew files need to be saved into that folder. Do you see anything on your card. Also did your machine come with a CD? Mine did.

Barb, according to the manual your card should have some designs preloaded on it. If you put in into your machine you should press the cue as below

Attachment 27163 Click to enlarge

Don't know if you have this particular manual - if you don't shoot me your email address and I'll send you the PDF. Ruby

Barb, according to the manual your card should have some designs preloaded on it. If you put in into your machine you should press the cue as below

Attachment 27163 Click to enlarge

Don't know if you have this particular manual - if you don't shoot me your email address and I'll send you the PDF. Ruby

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Originally Posted by Divine Daisy

I need to get some magnetic hoops because the ordinary ones struggle with the sandwich of a quilt.

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Have you seen how I hoop the quilt sandwich for embroidering the quilting onto a quilt sandwich? I only use the bottom of the hoop and attach the sandwich with binder clips from an office supply place.

Attachment 27169Attachment 27169

There is a free program called Wilcon Truesizer which might be a help to you for converting from one type of design to another [ie .pes to .jef] http://www.wilcomtruesizer.com

Ruby,

My machine didn't come with a card....I got a blank card and an adapter for the card after I bought the machine. My machine doesn't have a USB port on the side, it has a round port on the side, but this is to acomodate a card reader which I don't have and don't intend to buy. I was told that I can use a reader/writer (any brand) and insert my Flash card into it and download file onto it and then take the card and insert it into the adapter and then into my machine. When I do this I get a message that says FAT Error occured.

Honestly I'm so frustrated and confused I'm ready to scream. Thanks for trying to help. Barb

My email is: oakerbarbie@gmail.com

My machine is now giving me the message: Error occurred while processing. The card cannot be used!


I'm going to have to call it quits for the night - have to get up at 4 am. I mowed after dinner tonight and I'm wiped out tired. THANKS JEAN & EVERYONE...You girls are all terrific!!

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

Have you seen how I hoop the quilt sandwich for embroidering the quilting onto a quilt sandwich? I only use the bottom of the hoop and attach the sandwich with binder clips from an office supply place.

Attachment 27169Attachment 27169

There is a free program called Wilcon Truesizer which might be a help to you for converting from one type of design to another [ie .pes to .jef] http://www.wilcomtruesizer.com

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Claire, do you have to use stabilizer to embroider on a quilt sandwich!

Jean I embroidery with a Janome 350e, hence I have probably thousands of patterns in jef format, is there any thing in particulary that you need that I could email to you for you to put on to your memory card.