It’s been a bit, so we are sharing the next installment of machine embroidery terminology with plenty of tips thrown in!
Licensing
Copyright is a legal protection for all artists and is particularly important to the safety of electronic files, like those we use for machine embroidery. That means not selling copies to others, not sharing files with others, and not passing the works of others off as if it were your own.
Digitized images are considered artwork. We’ve all seen sites that openly sell copyrighted files like Disney icons, licensed characters, and professional sports team logos. They do so at a great risk of legal repercussions.
Most, if not all, digitizers include licensing agreements with each design purchase. Often, buyers must check a box acknowledging such an agreement before purchases can proceed. These documents typically also spell out if users are permitted to sell items embroidered with their designs.
Some digitizers do not allow any project sales using their designs without purchasing an additional license, some don’t permit selling items with their designs embroidered on them at all, and some allow embroiderers to sell a certain number of items using their designs.
Magnetic Hoops
Just when we think things can’t get better, magnetic hoops come along. Contrary to what you may have heard, they are not harmful to embroidery machines. They are a modern marvel, making hooping easier and multi-hoop positioning effortless.
There are several companies out there who produce magnetic hoops. Bonnie and I both use the Snap Hoop Monster from DIME, Designs in Machine Embroidery (no affiliation). Read about the Snap Hoop Monster here.
Magnetic hoops make machine quilting so much easier, too, by easily securing two layers of fabric with batting in between. Hooped pieces hold tightly together but release easily to adjust for quilting edge to edge with your embroidery machine.
Bonnie has a couple of great blogs (with video links) showing you everything from how to use a quilting template to the technique of how to use your embroidery machine to quilt your quilts. Magnetic hoops also make it easier to embroider on fabrics that would be damaged if hooped by traditional means, like cork or vinyl.
Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
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