• Brother PE500 embroidery machine and the Windows 7 computer to run it.

Below are Andy's instructions:

Updated 8/Sept/2015

Here are the latest instructions - feel free to improve and champion!

Turn on the monitor and computer, and embroidery machine.

Ensure the bobbin thread is the desired color.

Bobin type needed: any bobbin compatible with this machine, such as model 136492001 from creativesewingsolutions.com (see picture).

To roll a bobbin: Thread the desired bobbin color according to the picture instructions on the top of the machine. If the thread tension is correct, the bobbin thread will only appear on the back of the design. Make sure to use the “thread cap” which helps guide the thread and prevent snags. Ensure the cap is all the way against the thread spool. Make sure to complete step 4: push the spindle to the right. At this point the “Go” LED button will turn yellow, press it. The bobbin will automatically stop winding once it's full.

Thread the bobbin in the machine according to the picture. Once threaded, ensure to pull the end until all the slack is out and the bobbin turns. Then trim the end of the thread using the built in cutter, according to the picture. Replace the plastic bobbin cover.

Ensure to use a needle of the appropriate thickness. The thicker the fabric, the thicker the needle, to prevent the needle from breaking.

If the spool of thread is cardboard, ensure to push all the thread to the end of the cardboard, and ensure the exposed cardboard end is down. Otherwise it will snag. Thread the desired color according to the picture instructions on the top and front of the machine. Make sure to use the “thread cap” which helps guide the thread and prevent snags. Ensure the cap is all the way against the thread spool. Ensure the presser foot is up when threading the machine, this ensures the thread tension guide is open so the thread ends up between the tension plates.

Open the “Layout and Editing” software on the desktop of the computer by the embroidery machine, the icon in the upper left hand corner with a picture of a bird.

If you have an image you want to embroider, continue here:

Bring your image to the computer by the embroidery machine as 4“x4” max. This is the maximum design size the embroidery machine can do.

You can use Paint to resize if needed.

From the “Image” menu, choose “Image to Stitch Wizard”. Navigate to your image file. So far we've only tested .JPG or .PNG, the other formats will most likely also work.

Keep the default selection of Auto Punch.

Play around with reducing the number of colors, and increasing the contrast, to result in the color differences you want in your design.

What's important is the contrast between the different colors you want in your design, rather than the actual colors in your design / wizard. Play around with X'ing out the colors you want to exclude from your design.

If you simply want to embroider text, continue here:

Font # 6 is a nice clean, large font.

A text height of 0.80 inches works well.

Save the file as the default, .PES

Export as .DST

Drag and drop the .DST file to the embroidery machine shortcut which acts as an external USB drive.

On the embroider machine, push the button with the USB symbol.

You'll see the file on the machine. Press the file on the machine, which will then load “into” the little icon at the top of the screen. Once fully loaded into memory, the border of that little icon at the top will change from dashes to solid. Depending on the size of the file, this may take up to 30 seconds or more.

Once the border of the little icon at the top changes from dashes to solid, press that icon.

The machine will sew the colors in the order indicated from left to right. The name of the colors are irrelevant, load the right color based on the image shown on the screen.

When threading machine, make sure the presser foot is up.

Once threaded, put the presser foot down. Press the auto thread lever located on the left hand side of the machine.

Using a seam ripper or other small pointy object, pull the loop of the thread to fully thread the needle.

Press the lighted green button on the front of the machine to start!

To jump back and forth between colors, press the icon at the bottom right of the screen labeled “adjust”.

Then press the icon in the middle label plus/minus.

Then press the plus minus thread icons at the top to change between colors, or the icons at the bottom labeled plus minus to skip ahead stitches within a color.

Clean up the desktops when you're done, thanks! (i.e. in front of the embroidery machine and the desktop of the computer).

• Manual
• Video

• OK

• Andy P.
• Rob M.

• $50 - Andy P (PAID)
• $10 - Paul S (PAID)
• $10 - Have Blue (PAID)
• $5 - Pete (PAID)
• $20 - Tami (PAID)
• $50 - Jason G (PAID)
• $10 - Harvey (PAID)
• $20 - Colleen, and Lexie

TOTAL: $175

• 2013-11-01 - Arrived at Makerspace
  

• You must use polyester embroidery thread with this machine - it will totally shred regular thread.
• We only have the one needle for it at the moment (which is currently installed) - if it breaks, we'll need to buy more.