Thread color? Could you use whatever?

[New to this]

This may be the stupidest question ever asked BUT I dont even own a machine yet and I am trying to learn before I do some basics.
I am looking into the Brother PE700II. This seems reasonable for my first time, anyway my question is - lets say I like a design that has 4 different for example colors in it. And lets say it gives you the # of the color threads to use. If you dont like that color couldnt you use whatever color you want?

I read on someones post that they didnt like this machine cause they never knew what color thread to use. Why couldnt you just use whatever you wanted to? Is that stupid?

[susank]

This is not a stupid question. I OFTEN change the colours on a design and I don't think it matters. You can do what you like. I have bought a number of colours and usually I just use what is close -- or -- if I am trying to match a fabric I use what matches. It's really up to you.

That being said -- I don't know the machine you are using. My machine just shows colour changes and between the machine and software I can use whatever I want. Maybe someone who knows this machine can advise you more but on mine it just shows colour "stops" and you just change to whatever you want.

[NJMo]

I rarely follow the color recommendations exactly. Sometimes it is because of what I am making; sometimes it is because what I like or what the person likes; and sometimes it is because a certain color is closer to me and I don't have to get up to get a new one. Whatever color you choose - go for it.

[ElaineR]

On most of my embroidery, I do use the colors recommended. I wouldn't use them if I didn't like the way the design looked with those colors, BUT, yes, if you are trying to match something with that design or don't like the colors the pattern suggests, it is no problem to change them. I always feel that designers have worked hard to decide on the colors the patterns come in, and if I change them, I want them to be just as pretty as the original design was to me. Sometimes a color doesn't look like you think it is going to on a design. Also, machine only tells when it is time for a thread change ex. #3. But the embroidery that is programmed into my module has the color names in Isacord thread, but what I download and put onto my memory card that clicks into my machine does not have the color name on it. It is really no big deal, as long as it tells me what # thread change it is!
Elaine

[StitchinGrandma]

I think the comment you are concerned about is about never knowing what color to use with that machine is something very common. I have a Viking D1 and the colors are not going to always show up on the machines as they do in the software or a picture. They just aren't as advanced in that way and can't show actual colors like you'd see on your computer. I know there could be some machines that do, but mine is never showing the actual color the design I'm using tells me to do. I just always write down the colors in order of stitching from the design, or you can print out the color sheet too if you want to and go by that. I personally don't like wasting that much ink and don't have all my designs printed that way so I write them down in order from the software before stitching them out. Doing it that way I can also make changes each time if I feel like doing so.

As far as following the color charts exactly as the digitizer has created them ~ nope, I don't always do that. Most of the time I do but I do tweak them as well. There's no color cops that are going to come knocking on your door if you use pink instead of red or light blue instead of darker blue. :D The colors are always up to the interpretation of the one looking at the design and what the digitizer thinks looks good may not be your exact way of seeing a design.

[Sew 'N Sane]

There's no color cops that are going to come knocking on your door if you use pink instead of red or light blue instead of darker blue. :D

It's a good thing there are no color cops, cause if there were I would get arrested. :p

I use Marathon thread, so none of my color numbers match up with anything. So, I just print out a color chart and go through my threads and find what I like and use that. I've never really had a problem with the way anything has turned out....at least not at this point in my experience. Trust me, there have been a lot of failed attempts over the years, but I threw away the evidence. :alberteinstein:

[StitchinGrandma]

It's a good thing there are no color cops, cause if there were I would get arrested. :p

I use Marathon thread, so none of my color numbers match up with anything. So, I just print out a color chart and go through my threads and find what I like and use that. I've never really had a problem with the way anything has turned out....at least not at this point in my experience. Trust me, there have been a lot of failed attempts over the years, but I threw away the evidence. :alberteinstein:
This may help you speed up the color decisions. I'm not sure if you are aware they do make conversion charts. Usually you can find them on the brand of thread website you use. If not, then just do a search for "thread color conversion charts" and you will find lots of them.

Marathon however, has a wonderful site with conversion charts too all the brands of threads you can imagine. Click here (http://www.marathonthread.com/rayon1.shtml)and you'll find them all listed. If you are wanting to convert designs from this site you can do it as you download the design since, I believe most are capable of having the conversion done here. But, if not, or you forget you can save these pages as bookmarks. Then just open the site, click on the thread brand you want to convert to your Marathon colors and you can do it very quickly. For example, click on the "Isacord to Marathon" link on their site and when you see the page open for example, say you are wanting to convert the Isacord thread color 10, look for that on the list in the first column under Isacord and then follow over to the right under the correct column you use whether it's the Rayon or Polyester and you'll see the conversion from Isacord 10 to Rayon is 1179 and to Polyester it's 2149.

Hopefully that will help you and maybe you were already aware of these charts but it didn't sound like maybe you were.

[Sew 'N Sane]

Hopefully that will help you and maybe you were already aware of these charts but it didn't sound like maybe you were.

Thanks for the info.! I actually wasn't aware of that site, because I usually just go to my local Marathon Thread website when I need to look something up.

I guess you can teach this old dog some new tricks. :marchmellow:

[danamom4]

Marathon however, has a wonderful site with conversion charts too all the brands of threads you can imagine. Click here (http://www.marathonthread.com/rayon1.shtml)and you'll find them all listed. I

Hopefully that will help you and maybe you were already aware of these charts but it didn't sound like maybe you were.

I certainly wasn't aware of it. Thanks for the tip.

[StitchinGrandma]

You're both welcome. Glad I could help. :)

[lotto64]

No, I just use the colors I like that are on hand...if I bought the exact color #'s each project recommends, I'd have $1000 in thread!! My Bernina lets you go in and reassign colors, so if you have a design with like 10 or 15 colors, it would make it easier for you to change out. Also a color equivelency chart is very handy to transpose from one brand to another.

[mythreesons92]

I change colors often, that is part of the "fun of it"- being creative with color.

[twin mom]

I like to change colors, too. I think it gives it a bit of something more personal, also. I recently stitched out a sunflower that was digitized with bright yellows and greens and true browns, into pastel yellows, sage greens, and grays to match some sunflower fabric that I matched with it. It turned out even better than the original. I have Bernina software, so I can "see" what different colors will look like on the computer screen before I stitch it out, so it gives me a bit of confidence to really play with colors. I was at a fabric store the other day and complimented a lady on the embroidery on her jacket, and it turned out to be a simple rose design that I had, but she had stitched the entire rose in a color that was a half shade lighter than the background color. It looked really cool. I like to think of thread as a paint color, and play with it like an artist would. This hobby is sooo cool! Have fun playing!

[Granny313]

I always change colors on things that I want to match with something. Have never had a problem. Some things I do exactly like the design calls for, IF I already have the # thread. But I don't have some of the thread colors and can't afford to buy them all!

[Embroidables]

Here are a couple of examples of how changing the colors can give the designs an entirely new look:

The Cow and Chicken designs from the Farm set: http://www.embroidables.com/store.php?page=product&collection=69
http://www.embroidables.com/Embroidery-Design/Embroidery-Designs/Cow-Embroidery-Design-639.jpg http://www.embroidables.com/Embroidery-Design/Embroidery-Designs/Chicken-Embroidery-Design-642.jpg

By Fun2Sew
http://www.embroidables.com/Project-Ideas/Images/Extra-Big/Cow%20Baby%20Gifts.jpg

By Luciana
1193

[ElaineR]

Very Nice examples of "changing thread color". The results were so pretty! Thanks for showing us more ideas!
Elaine

[grniys]

Oh wow... those are pretty!

I'm new to embroidery, but I just use whatever thread I have on hand that will look good with the design. If I don't have the exact shade I don't stress. No one else is going to know that I wasn't supposed to use gold instead of yellow, ya know? ;)

[dixiechicken]

OMG!!!! That "got milk" is too cute! Might have to steal that idea! And those color changes do make it look totally different. Thanks for the examples!

[ElaineR]

I also love the "got milk" in the pink and black and am thinking how cute that would be for my little 3 year old gd! on something! Love the examples!
Elaine

[Crab]

:D i will never think of using a cow n then 'got milk' hehehe. but its a cute and nice idea!

[Material Girl]

Those are wonderful examples of color changes and they are awesome. I have a lot of fun pulling out colors and trying them together before I begin a project. I set money aside each month to add thread to my stash. It is taking me a while to get this thread stash built up but that is just part of the fun of being creative. For me it is all about the color. By the way, I love this forum!

[ElaineR]

Material Girl,
It has taken me awhile to build up my thread stash too and I love to look at them. There are such beautiful colors. I use mostly Isacord, and every time I drove 30 miles one way to get a color or two, the shop I went to rarely had that particular color. Now a lot of the specialty shops are going from name brands to generic thread so they make more profit on each spool. I was paying about $5.50 per 1000 m spool, then I saw on this forum some websites to buy thread from and have been purchasing it at about $3.50 per spool. You have to pay shipping but no tax, so I have only ordered twice, but have gotten 10 or more spools and have really saved money! Thank you to all of you who have told us about your favorite web sites to order thread and stabilizer from. You have cost me!!!! and saved me money too!
Elaine

[chrissyw]

I too use colors that I have on hand----and of course the colors that I like the best!!!