When I got my Brother SE400, it had so many functions and features that I was a little bit overwhelmed. So I wanted to start with the easiest, simplest possible thing just to try out the embroidery.
I decided to start with one of the built-in designs – the large, fancy initial “A”. A for Audrey, the name of my baby grandniece. I choose the easiest fabric I could think of – a medium weight, cotton twill – that would be easy to hoop, not too heavy and not stretchy. I used Sulky Soft ‘n Sheer, cut-away lightweight stabilizer behind the fabric and hooped both of them.
This video of that first embroidery shows how to select the pattern and stitch it out. The embroidery came out very well. But there’s a lot more to learn.
This is also my first video about my new Brother SE400 Sewing and Embroidery machine. I shot it with my iPhone 4s and edited it with iMovie on the iMac. Amazing how good the iPhone camera is now.
I hope you enjoy it.
I having problems trying to export designs it keeps saying my pattern is to big for the frame when I know it isn’t plesse help.
Hi Kamala,
I just recieved my se400 embroidery machine earlier today and have been on your blog for the last hour. I am enjoying the wealth of information you have posted here. I am about to try it out now. Thanks for the video, very helpful. I will let you know how my 1st try went.
Hi June,
Welcome! I’m so glad you enjoy the blog; it’s a fun outlet for me. Good luck with the machine, looking forward to seeing what you create. Can you post photos? I’d love to see them.
first let me say my name is Kimala I have never heard Kimala but have heard Kamala twice. Enjoying your site. Just learning to use this machine and I learn better by watching it first.
Hi Kimala, that’s a pretty name and the first time I’ve heard it too. I’m glad you’re enjoying the site. Thanks for visiting.
I am so happy to have run across your site. Thank you I book marked for future reference. I am wondering because of the embroidery area to work with is there a way to put names instead of initials on everything? Can you shrink the name down or characters? Thanks
Hi Jennifer, I’m happy you visited my site, too.
Yes, I really need to show this in the review. I only used an initial in the video to keep it short. Using the built-in fonts, you can spell out names and words. You can have three sizes: small, medium, and large. The small size is approximately 3/8 x 3/8 inches, the medium size is 5/8 x 5/8 inches and the large size is 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 inches.
I would like to know where the space key is in the alphabet font menu . Need to do a series of words but cannot figure out where the space is. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Julia, go through the screens until you see the underscore character ( _ ). This key actually creates a space. It won’t stitch an underscore.
So happy to find your site!
Kamala, I am having trouble downloading a PES file that was created for me. The company says it is a PES and it should fit into a 4×4 hoop. My machine won’t show me the file, but the memory used on the machine shows there is something there. I see a DST version of the file but my machine says it’s too big for the frame. I guess I just can’t figure out why I don’t see the PES file? It’s a company logo I had digitized by a company I found online.
Any suggestions?
thanks
Donna
Hi Donna,
Did you ever figure this out? I sent you an email a couple of days ago offering more help if you’re interested.
Test out my designs. I’ve just started creating some embroidery designs. They’re available at cgblend.etsy.com – comments welcome, also let me know what you’d like to see created, I do custom orders too :)
Hi,
According to your guidance I have bought SE 400 from amazon.com to the UK. Thanks very much. I need to use it with a power converter could you please guide me in this case also. How can I choose one?
Also please let me know how to use our own colors without using what machine says to a embroidery design? (as you did in this video)
Thank you
Hi Mafa,
Sorry for so long to answer. I got tied up with a lot of family stuff. I don’t have any recent knowledge about power converters. When I moved to Italy 14 years ago, I just went to a local travel store and asked for a transformer for an electronic sewing machine. Maybe there’s a store in the UK that can help. You need a step-down transformer from 220v to 110/120 volts and at least 80 watts. If you don’t have a store, AllBrands.com used to sell one.
How to use your own colors is a lot simpler to answer. ;-) The SE400 doesn’t really know what thread you have loaded. So for example, if you want red instead of blue, just use red when it asks for blue. I usually make a chart if there are several colors.
Regards,
Kamala
Thanks for all your great info. I have a question. Kinda new to embroidering and was in the middle of a design when my machine malfunctioned. I would like to finish the design but dont know how to start in the middle of the design. The design has 18 steps and I need to start on #11. Any ideas??? Thanks in advance! :)
Hi Amanda,
By steps, do you mean colors? The machine can be moved forward or backward by colors or by stitches. Select the pattern, press Adjust. You can move forward one color by pressing the icon that looks like a spool with a plus on it. Or by stitches by pressing the icon that looks like a needle. Have a look at page 149 in the Operation Manual to see diagrams. Good luck, Kamala
Kamala,
I got my Se-400 for Mother’s day last year 2011. I tried using it and had a bad experience so I put it back up. Then I found a class for beginners and started Embroidering. I love this machine. The only question I have right now is how do you enlarge a design that you downloaded. Also can you enlarge the preloaded designs. I just found your site and love it keep up the good work.
Thanks
Susie
Hi Susie,
Sorry for not replying sooner. Your comment got lost in my overflowing inbox. :-(
I’m sure you’ve found the controls for enlarging designs by now. You can enlarge both downloaded and preloaded designs up to the maximum embroidery area of 3.93×3.93 inches. Select the design, then press the Adjust key. You’ll see the keys for changing the size and position of the design. Have a look at pages 143 and 144 in the Operations Manual for all the options.
Blessings,
Kamala
Great job on your first video.
Thank you, Amber.