USEFUL INFORMATION--PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU CALL FOR HELP

FILE TYPES
Our designs are available in the following formats for home embroidery machines:    .art*, .jef, .hus, .pcs, .pes, .sew, and .xxx

EACH DOWNLOADABLE DESIGN INCLUDES ALL SEVEN FILE TYPES.

* Bernina .art files are available in Version 4.0 only. If you have an earlier version, please order .pes files.

Note : Not all designs are available in all formats due to hoop size limitations.

OVERSIZED DESIGNS
Many of our designs are oversized (5” x 7”) for use with large hoops, so please BE SURE THAT YOUR MACHINE CAN STITCH A DESIGN THIS LARGE BEFORE PURCHASING!   Due to the nature of software, we do not offer refunds for downloaded designs or for CD packages that have been opened or for software purchased incorrectly.

Please be aware of your embroidery machine’s sewing field size limitations or maximum hoop design size and limitations of your embroidery software program, if applicable, when choosing a design. To determine if a design is appropriate for your machine and/or software, check your computer and/or machine manuals.

OUR REDWORK DESIGNS
Many of you are probably asking yourselves, "Why don't I just buy the black Kats by Kelly™ designs and change the spool of thread to red and I'll have the same thing as purchasing redwork designs?  They don't look very different to me!" 

Well. . .  the answer to that is, Yes, you could certainly do that if you wish.  However, our redwork designs are digitized with a completely different technique than our black designs to enhance the redwork outline effect.  The black design outlines are stitched over twice but our redwork designs are stitched FOUR times.  This gives the outlined designs a much bolder look which makes it "pop" out on your fabric!  Some of the bits of color on the black designs are not "filled in" on the redwork designs. And of course, as you can visually tell, the borders on the black designs and the redwork designs are quite different, too.   Try one of each of the black designs and the redwork designs and the difference will be very evident!

FABRIC
We recommend test sewing our designs on a medium-weight muslin or similar fabric.  We use white super muslin hooped with two or three pieces of poly-mesh cutaway stabilizer, depending on the density of the digitized areas. Our Kats by Kelly™ designs have been digitized for optimum results on a medium-weight fabric with medium-weight stabilizer.  Be aware that using other types of fabric may require changes in backing.  Always test sew the design on a similar weight fabric as that of your final project.  We don’t recommend sewing on felt as it is not very stable and will distort on designs with directional fills unless, of course, that is the fabric you are choosing for your project.   Test sew your design to decide whether or not a design is appropriate for your application.

SEWING SPEED
Some machines are designed to operate at higher sewing speeds. Our designs are test sewn at the highest speed on our machine, but when we sew lettering, we always slow down our machine to half speed. The appearance of the small lettering will be enhanced as there is much less pulling on the fabric. We highly recommend slowing down the speed of your machine when sewing the small lettering on our Kats by Kelly™ designs.  We're sure you will be much happier with the results.

DESIGN APPLICATIONS
Many of our designs are large designs (5” x 7”). Best results will be achieved when they are stitched on medium-weight fabrics with medium-weight stabilizers. This makes them ideal for quilt applications, wall hangings, pillows, shirt backs, aprons, framed artwork, etc.  Uses on other fabrics may deliver varied results.  Always stitch out a trial sample on similar fabric before putting the design on your garment/item.

EDITING AND RESCALING DESIGNS
Many home software programs allow you to scale designs. However, we recommend that you stitch out all Calico Crossroads® designs at their original size. If you have altered the design in any way, such as editing or rescaling, we will not be responsible for any changes that may negatively affect the sewing of the design.

COLOR DISPLAYS
Please note that the design colors will display differently on each machine. Even if a color is listed as “green” on the color stop list, it may not display on your machine as “green.” It will be displayed in the default color in your specific software. The important item to keep track of is the Color Stop Number. Always check your screen to see which color needs to be stitched next. It will help to mark off the color number as it is completed on your color stop printout.

HOOPING
Good hooping techniques are essential to good quality embroidery stitch outs. The fabric should be smooth and taut with no wrinkles, but not stretched or distorted. Hoop fabric and pull in the direction of the grain to tighten within the hoop. Always tighten the hoop screw with your fingers, never use a screwdriver as you may damage the hoop. Remember to rotate your fabric for designs that are rotated in the hoop to match the grain of the fabric. Use the smallest hoop possible that will accommodate your design, i.e., you want to use a hoop that will leave as little space as possible around the design.

STABILIZERS
It is essential to use backing/stabilizer products for embroidery on most embroidered items. Backing helps stabilize the fabric and support the stitches. It assures proper registration and evenness of stitching. It also helps prevent slippage of fabric after hooping. Stabilizers make ripping out stitches much easier, if necessary. Additional ways to stabilize fabric can include spray-on stiffener, water-soluble topping, and fusible backings. Experiment with the many types of stabilizers on the market for one that will be right for each project.

TRIMMING EMBROIDERY THREADS
Trim top threads close to embroidery being careful not to clip the design threads. On the back side, leave a short tail on the bobbin thread to prevent the knot or lockdown stitches from pulling out.

TEST SEWING
It is highly recommended that you test-sew a design using the same type of fabric and backing as will be used on the item or garment the design will be applied to.  Document any changes and save the information with the sample sewout for future reference.

NEEDLES
Using a size No. 80 /12 or No. 75/11 embroidery needle will work best for most of our embroidery designs. Change your needle with each new project or after 4 to 6 hours of stitching.