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hi all...just wondering if anyone out there has ever done any cut work embroidery on their embroidery machines? If so, a few questions for you.

Do I have to use a wing needle or is a regualar needle ok for the embroidery part.

Why are their 4 cut work needles? They all seem to do the same type of cutting...I guess I'm not sure what the purpose is of each needle.

any other info or tips you can give me on being successful with this will be welcomed!!

Thanks much!
Omma

What brand of machine do you have? I have a Pfaff and there are 4 needles used in it (I haven't had time to play with it yet) but in the class we had, they spoke of how each of the needles work, there are two that are beveled for cutting the fabric, one angle and the other angle. I can't remember the particulars of the other two needles but the cutting ones make the trimming out of small areas much easier.

Speaking about the Viking/Pfaff cutwork needles, yes each of the four needles cuts in a different angle depending on the direction of the cut out. |\/_ is the best description I can give on a key board. Cutwork designs are "programed" to use the various directions when "stitching". One of the things that makes digitizing cutwork patterns is determining the direction needed to make the cuts.

As for the Wing Needle or regular needle for the embroidery part that would depend on the emb. design you are stitching. Usually the regular design portion of the emb. pattern is a regular needle, but some heirloom stitches and hemstitching to create an Entredeux trim effect need a wind needle to make them look the way the designer intended the pattern to stitch.

I have a Viking Diamond and the four needle cutwork kit. There are two types of cutwork embroidery, with one you use the a regular needle and stitch out one part of the design, take the hoop off, cut around the stitching, put the hoop back on and do the satin stitch around that cut area. The new cutwork needles do the cutting for you. You must have a design that is digitized for the new cutwork needles. The four needles are cutting needles and are color coded and must be changed with each new direction of the stitching. If you don't change the needle with each stop you'll be cutting in the wrong area and ruin your project. The needles are not hard to use the design has built in stops and tells you what color needle to use, you just have to take your time and think. But, remember you must have a design that has been digitized for the four needle kit to know when and what needle to use.

As far as using a wing needle, it is usually used in heirloom work and fancy edgings.

Julie

There are cutwork embroidery classes on line. They are very good and cost 35.00 a month. The classes are run every 2nd Tuesday for 2 hours. They start PMT at 10am. However, the best part is that they are recorded and you can download the recording after to watch over and over again. Any paid member can also join the skype group and there are a lot of good discussions there. Jacqui, the teacher is in South Africa and it is 7pm her time when the class starts. You can also purchase each of the classes individually. I don't know if this will help or not Jacqui uses Bernina Cutwork, but I do know that some of the girls have Husqvarna machines and cut out the designs. If you are interested her website is www.schoolofdigitizing.com Jacqui also teaches the V6 of the Bernina software.

thanks, ladies. I believe my questions have been answered. I appreciate it. I did a test run today and the design turned out very nice. I work at a Husqvarna Viking dealer....learning different techniques and have been asked to teach a class. Wanted to be sure my answers to the questions were correct. Thanks much!