Embroidery...help, please

I got a free Brother embroidery machine, and I've never done embroidery before.

What computer program do you recommend to use to download the programs onto your computer?

I found something simple (a heart!) and it's only one color, and it should be simple enough to try for my first attempt.

The website said I have the choice to download in a zipped file or an unzipped file. It's a PES file, and I don't have any idea what's a good and safe program to use for downloading or if it should be zipped or unzipped. I'm not the sharpest knife in the computer drawer!

Does anyone do this kind of stuff?

Thanks in advance.

Wilcom Truesizer is free for resizing.

http://www.wilcom.com.au/PRODUCTS.aspx/TrueSizer.aspx

You can download the PES file unzipped to your computer and save it in a folder (name it so you can find it again later, lol). Put it on a flash drive or whatever media that allows you to transfer it onto your Brother embroidery machine. It should display the file by the name and show its image.

What model do you have?

I have a NV5000, the Laura Ashley Isadore, got it on the 5th - Love it!

I download a lot of designs from http://www.emblibrary.com they have a great assortment. I usually get them unzipped and save them to my computer, then when I want them I download them onto a flash drive as mentioned above. Good luck with your embroidery machine I absolutely love mine.

Hands is right... first thing is... what is your machine... it matters what you use to "stitch out"...
and Hands.... that is one fabulous machine you have...

Embird has a free basic software you can download onto your computer and use it to load designs on a floppy or flash drive for your machine. There are more involved versions as you progress in your new obsession, but they cost $$. Do you have a Brother machine dealer in your area? If so, check with them on Brother software, but it will be costly, I'm sure, but if you purchase from them they should give you classes on how to use it. Did the person that gave you the machine have software? Most software is not transferrable from one owner to another, but they could steer you in the right direction. Keep us posted on how you are doing please.

What model is your Brother machine? I don't think you need software to download the design if it is pes format. That is what my two Brother embroidery machines use. I think you can just click on the design, it will appear on your computer as a download [at least it does on mine] then double click on the design on your download window another window will open and it says "extract all files" and gives you a place to chose the location to save it on your computer. You can set up a folder for your embroidery designs and put it there. I hope this makes some sense, kinda' a computer butterknife myself.

Do you have a method to get the design from the computer to your machine? You might be able to use a usb cord, a thumb drive, PE basic or PE desing lite or others.

I was "gifted" the LB6800 Project Runway sewing/embroidery machine. I should have also been "gifted' another better brain, too!
Today, from about 2:30 until now (7:51 by my computer clock), I watched the CD that came with the machine and managed to make a 1 inch red heart and a 1 inch red diamond. That might not seem like such a big deal (my husband has been laughing at me most of the afternoon), and he's probably right to laugh, but I'm kind of proud of myself. Actually, it is kind of funny to have spent so much time doing so little. (The dishwasher needs emptying, the clothes need folding, and dinner isn't even close to being ready.)

As suggested, I downloaded the simple designs (unzipped) onto a flash drive, but the drive doesn't fit into the computer. I need to use a USB port and couldn't figure out another way of getting the designs into the machine other than copying them from my computer directly into the sewing machine. It's a very basic machine (hey, it was a gift, right?), and it will remember 12 designs.

It's going to be fun, and I'm looking forward to having a good time with this.

Thanks so much for trying to help me.

I have a program on my computer for my embroidery. It is 4D. It works very well for me. I go to the embroidery library also and love all of their embroidery designs. It is very addicting. I send it zipped to my computer and then open it into a file in my 4D. I either then send it right into my sewing machine or I use a usb thingy. Works very well for me. I have had my machine for a couple of years and I can still spend a long time on it and not do much---I think it is the nature of the beast.

Oh yeah! it is addicting and when you get the basics figured out you will be off to the races. You are lucky to be able to get your designs straight from the computer to the emb machine. I have to write to a "card" which then fits in the side of the machine. I ended up paying for an hour of instruction at the local Brother dealer and it was an epiphany. If that is possible in your area it is well worth the $35 to $50 you will pay.
If you have not downloaded Wilcom trusizer, you should get this free software that might help you. I don't know much about it except that when you download it ignore and X out the first window that opens then when the next one opens select PES designs instead of the "EMB" that automatically is chosen. Click at the top left on file and it will access the files that you have on your computer and you can enlarge/reduce etc and then re-save as a PES design. Take a look at http://www.sewforum.com/ and do searches for what you need to know or just read about your machine if there are comments there. That site is fairly user friendly and has lots of embroidery information as well as free downloadable designs. Good luck and have fun.

I have customworks for my software. If you have a usb cord you can send the design to the embroidery machine. I also have what is called a Magic Box. The designs go on a card and I put the card in the machine. Unfortuately the card doesn't work in my new Babylock. Thank God I have a Bernina embroidery machine so I can use the card on that machine. I also download designs from Embroidery Library and once a month you can download free designs.

Grace

I wish someone woud gift me something like that. Good luck.

I forgot to say that there are some free designs on the Brother site, too.