Jun 122017
 

Brother SE-400 Embroidery & Sewing Machine

Brother SE-400 Combination Embroidery and Sewing Machine

How To Transfer Embroidery Files To the SE400 using Your Android Smart Phone

I want to tell you about something I just learned recently, and it’s made the world of difference for me when it comes to transferring files from my computer to the embroidery machine.

You see, the SE400 does not have a USB port for a flash drive, or USB stick as some call it. It only has a port for a cable that attaches the machine to your computer. This cable has what looks like a square printer connector at the end that plugs into your machine and a USB (male) connector that plugs into your computer.

So, here is a simple explanation of the basic computer devices. You have the computer hard drive, and you have USB ports to add other devices. In my case I have several devices on my computer. C: is the main hard drive, D: is my DVD drive, and E: is my wireless mouse. When I plug the cable from my SE400 into an available USB port it shows up as drive F:. Yours may be different depending on how many devices you have attached to your computer.

Then, there are a couple of other devices that can be used to store my embroidery designs – a USB flash drive and my LG G2 smart phone. I mostly use my phone for calls, text messages, photos, and maybe a game of Candy Crush. I use a cable that attaches my phone to my computer so that I can transfer my photos back and forth.

So, for the last five months or so, I have had to transport my laptop to my embroidery machine, which isn’t always that convenient. I thought, “There has to be a better way to upload my files to my SE400!”

Well, there is! I may be slow, but the train eventually arrives at its destination…most of the time, that is 😀

Until now, the only way that I knew to transfer files to my phone was by connecting the phone directly to my computer via the phone cable. What I didn’t realize was I can store my embroidery designs on my phone and then transfer them to my SE400.

Okay, so it started with me trying to figure out how I could transfer my files from my computer to my flash drive, and then from the flash drive to my machine. Well, one, or several, of the ladies in my embroidery Facebook group mentioned that there would be no way to tell my flash drive to upload the files onto my machine, and my machine wouldn’t be able to see the files on my flash drive. Hmmm, that made sense, so back to square one.

So, then I started searching YouTube for videos on how to do it. I found one that showed a guy using an OTG (On The Go) cable to move music and photos from one smart phone to another. So, I felt like I was getting closer. However, moving photos and music is still quite different than PES files. Then, someone mentioned using a File Manager on their phone to transfer files. Oh, my goodness, I’m really close now.


Eversame OTG Cable Adapter, [2-Pack] 6 Inch USB 2.0 A Female to Micro B Male Converter On The Go Charger Cable For Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge/Tab A, HTC, LG, Nexus 4 and More

Next, I downloaded a File Manager app from the Google Play Store. I also found an app called Embrotailer. This was supposed to be the app I needed to transfer embroidery files, but it really fell short of completely the tasks and there was very little support for it. There is a YouTube video, but honestly, it wasn’t much help to me. I did see which storage directories it was looking for files, which helped a little. Another nice thing about Embrotailer is it allowed me to view PES files, which you just can’t do with a regular file manager.

So, basically, there are four things you need to transfer files from your computer to the SE400 – a USB flash drive, a smart phone, a File Manager app, and an OTG cable.

Here’s what I do to transfer my PES files from my laptop to my SE400.

What you need:

  • A computer with an available USB port.
  • A USB flash drive.
  • A smart phone – mine is the LG G2.
  • A File Manager app for your phone. Mine is ZenUI, ASUS Computer, Inc. from the Google Play Store.
  • An OTG (On The Go) cable. As you can see, the OTG cable has a small male phone connector on one end and a female USB connector on the other.
  • The SE400 embroidery machine.

How to Transfer Files from Computer to the SE400:

  1. Download PES files from computer to USB flash drive.
  2. Connect the phone side of OTG cable to your phone, and the USB side of the OTG cable to your flash drive.
  3. Run File Manager app. You should soon see two drives, Internal Storage and USB Storage.
  4. Press USB Storage and navigate to the file on your USB flash drive.
  5. When you find the file you want to transfer, press and hold down the file name. You should see a check mark. If not, you didn’t press it long enough. Then, on the upper right of the screen you should see 3 dots, press and select “copy to”.
  6. A menu should pop up showing where to copy the file to. Select Internal Storage and navigate to the directory you want to copy it to, then press OK. Now, your embroidery file is in your phone’s internal storage.
  7. Turn on the SE400 (make sure embroidery unit is attached), and plug in the SE400 cable. You can go ahead and press the file transfer icon on your SE400 to get it ready for the file transfer.
  8. Now, leave the OTG cable attached to the phone, but unplug the flash drive from the other end.
  9. Plug the SE400 cable into the USB side of the OTG cable. The File Manager will now consider the SE400 as USB Storage.
  10. Go back to the main menu of the File Manager and press Internal Storage.
  11. Navigate to the embroidery file you want to transfer. Press and hold file name and then select “copy to”.
  12. A menu should pop up showing where to copy the file to. Select USB Storage and press OK*. Now, your embroidery file is in your SE400 machine. You may not see it right away. It usually takes a few minutes of “Transmitting” for it to show up.

This may seem like a long process, but with practice you will be transferring files from your phone to your SE400 in no time. And, as far as I’m concerned, it sure beats having to lug my laptop back and forth to my machine.

* Do not create any subdirectories on your SE400 storage drive. This was the part that really confused me when trying to use Embrotailer. You do not have to select a directory. Just copy to USB Storage, and it will appear on the SE400.




Here are some really cool flash drives that I found by SmartNeedle. They have so many sewing and embroidery themed flash drives. So far, I bought the pink scissors, and I also want the vintage sewing machine and embroidery hoop. These are great for storing all of my embroidery and sewing files.


Jun 112017
 

I have the Brother SE400 combination Embroidery and Sewing Machine, and I love it!

When my 35+ year old Kenmore sewing machine broke down, I was in the middle of sewing all of my Christmas gift projects. These mostly included denim stockings made from used blue jeans, which also involved lots of decorative stitches.

The timing was actually perfect because Amazon was having a lightning deal on the Brother SE400 Embroidery & Sewing machine. I had always wanted an embroidery machine but really couldn’t justify the expense. The Brother SE400 does both, embroidery AND sewing! So, since I really did not have time to bring my old machine into the repair shop, my husband was kind enough to tell me to go ahead and order the Brother SE400 as an early Christmas present. He’s such a great guy! This was on December 8, 2016, and with Amazon Prime I had my new machine in two days.
Brother SE-400 Embroidery & Sewing Machine

Brother SE-400 Combination Embroidery and Sewing Machine

It’s a great machine for someone who needs a sewing machine and would like to try their hand at embroidery, without having to purchase two separate machines and, more importantly, without having to spend a lot of money. I consider this to be a starter embroidery machine, but many people can get along for years with this small machine.

So, as I was sewing and embellishing my Christmas stockings, I decided to give the embroidery a try. By the way, before I even get into the embroidery, I want to mention that this is a wonderful sewing machine. It has 67 built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader (what a joy that is!), and with the start/stop button I have yet to attach the foot pedal. I am also learning how to quilt, so this machine is getting a lot of use.

UPDATE:

Brother has recently come out with an upgrade to the SE400. It is the Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery Machine. There are several enhancements, including the expanded 6.4″ W x 4.1″ H needle-to-arm workspace, which is great for quilting and other larger projects. It also comes with more on-screen editing features, 103 built-in sewing stitches, seven quick change presser feet, and a USB port.


Brother SE600 combination Embroidery and Sewing Machine



Anyway, back to the embroidery:

I started by joining a Facebook group for SE400 Users and Newbies. Everyone was so helpful and helped me get started. There are so many things to learn about machine embroidery. Whether to hoop or float. What stabilizers to use. Where to find embroidery designs. It can be mind boggling.

I found some really cute holiday designs to add to my stockings. When I was done with that, I thought I would embroider some kitchen towels to give to my family and friends when we saw them during the holidays. Then, came the handkerchiefs. By now I was totally addicted.

The SE400 has a small embroidery field, only 100mm x 100mm (which is a little less than 4″ x 4″, more like 3.937″ x 3.937″, which is a big deal when it comes to uploading designs to the SE400. You see, if the design is an even 4″ x 4″, the machine won’t be able to read it). But for the price, and the fact that it is also a great sewing machine, it was more than I needed.

To start with, I ordered the 12 spools of Winter/Holiday Embroidery Machine Thread by Embroidex. This set included all the colors I would need for my holiday projects. Little did I know how many colors of embroidery thread there are. I’ve since purchased the 63 spools of Embroidex, which includes all of the colors in the color chart that came with the SE400. I wish I had done that to begin with. I have been using Embroidex embroidery thread since I got my machine (December 2016), and I love it. I have had a few problems with thread and needle breaking, but I blame that on the way the thread comes off the spool. It would sometimes get tangled around the spool rod. I have read that it helps to use the net that came with the machine. Instead, I placed my spool on the spool extender for my bobbin winder, and the thread comes off smoothly with no problems.

Thankfully, with a week to spare, I was able to finish denim Christmas stockings for my sister by adding Christmas embroidery designs to the decorative stitching. I embroidered men’s handkerchiefs with monograms for my brother, brother-in-law, nephew, a family friend, and my husband and two sons. I also embroidered kitchen towels and ladies handkerchiefs for my sister, sister-in-law, best friend, niece, and a family friend. I had so much fun, I kept trying to think of things I could embroider. I bought the kitchen towels, men’s handkerchiefs, and ladies hankies on Amazon. It was great!.

Mind you, I did all of these while using the free trial of Embird embroidery editing software within just a few weeks. I learned how to open an embroidery design and merge embroidery fonts to add names. I learned how to join, split, change colors, and resize. I had already loved working with graphics programs, such as Paint and Photoshop, and this was very similar to that. Only I was working with PES files rather than JPG’s.

Since I got my machine in early December, I’ve done quite a few projects, mostly for Christmas and baby gifts, and I’ve had so much fun doing it. I’ve embroidered kitchen towels, ladies and mens handkerchiefs, finger puppets, and baby clothes, bibs, and a minky blanket that I love. I’ve also done some embroidery machine applique, which is really fun. Currently, I am working on lap quilts for family members, and the SE400 is great for that.

Some of my projects:

These are the Christmas stockings that I made for my sister, her husband and their two dogs.

Christmas stockings embellished with decorative stitches and embroidery designs

These are some of the handkerchiefs I did for my sister, niece, and friends

Ladies’ Handkerchiefs

Men’s Handkerchiefs for family and friends:

Men’s Handkerchiefs

And kitchen towels for family and friends:

Embroidered Kitchen Towels

*Note that I took some of these photos before removing the WSS (water soluble stabilizer)

These are some of the In The Hoop space finger puppets I made with the SE400. They are so cute and the kids love them. I found the embroidery design at BowsandClothes.com:

Space Finger Puppets

The space ship was intended for a 5″ x 7″ hoop, so I had to reduce the size to fit my large re-positional hoop. The large hoop can do a larger embroidery area, which is approximately 4″ x 6-3/4″. The hoop has two sets of connectors that allow you to stitch two sections of the hoop without having to re-hoop your fabric. You do require embroidery software to split the design into two separate files. I prefer to use Embrilliance Essentials for splitting my designs. I’ve used other programs, but this one just seems less complicated for me. How it works is, you stitch one file, move the hoop from the top two connectors to the bottom two connectors, and then stitch the second file. This is especially nice when you have a lot of words that can be split within two letters or words, so you don’t really notice where the split took place. Some designs are more difficult to split and line up properly, so it does take some practice.

Fabric I purchased for the toes on my Christmas stockings:

Cotton Jersey Knit Christmas Plaid Fabric By The Yard

Merry Christmas Glitter Red Fabric

Just Be Claus Stitched Snowflakes Red Fabric By The Yard


I purchased the following handkerchiefs and dish towels and they all embroidered very nicely. I hooped them using a medium weight tear away stabilizer.


Geoffrey Beene Fine Handkerchiefs 100% Cotton

I personalized these men’s handkerchiefs for male family and friends using the Classic Style Monogram Font from Stitchtopia on Etsy. They stitched out beautifully.


Plain White Cotton Handkerchiefs Women Solid Wedding Hankies
I personalized these ladies’ handkerchiefs for my sister, niece, and friends I visited during the holidays. These handkerchiefs stitched out so nicely on my SE400. I used the #129 embroidery font from SewFunFonts on Etsy.


Kitchen Dish Towels with Vintage Design for Kitchen Decor Super Absorbent 100% Natural Cotton Kitchen Towels (Size: 25.5 x 15.5 inches) White with Red, Green and Blue, 13-Pack
I embroidered these kitchen towels for my sister, niece, and friends. I got the designs from DesignsByJuju. They stitched out very nicely.

Embroidery Supplies:


63 Brother Colors Embroidery Machine Thread

This is my favorite embroidery thread set. The 63 color set of Embroidex matches the Brother color numbers in the thread color chart that came with my Brother SE400.


25 Prewound Bobbin Embroidery Thread Size A with Bobbin Holder Box – Fits Brother SE400

To be honest, I got tired of winding bobbins. Since I only use white bobbin thread I find it so much more convenient to buy pre-wound bobbins. Plus, I find that these pre-wounds hold more thread and last a lot longer than my regular wound bobbins.


100 Precut Sheets Medium Weight Tear Away Machine Embroidery Stabilizer – 8″ x 8″ 1.8 Ounce Fits 4″ x 4″ Hoops

I use tear away stabilizer on most of my embroidery projects that aren’t too dense or have heavy stitching. It tears away easily from the back of the design, and the rest will wash out. The stabilizer under the stitches for support.
If you want a softer stabilizer, switch to a no show poly mesh cut away.


World Weidner Self-Adhesive Sticky Peel N Stick Tear Away Embroidery Stabilizer Backing 8″x10 Yard Roll

I have since found this sticky tear away that works great for floating items that can’t be hooped, without having to use adhesive spray or pins. It came in handy when I embroidered a floppy straw hat.

100 Precut Sheets Medium Weight Cut Away Machine Embroidery Stabilizer – 8″ x 8″ 2.5 Ounce Fits 4″ x 4″ Hoops

I use cut away for stretchy knits that require more stability, or when designs are too dense, with a lot of stitches. The rule of thumb is, “If you wear it, don’t tear it.” For a softer stabilizer I would recommend a no show poly mesh.


No-Show Poly-Mesh Plus Cut Away Machine Embroidery Stabilizer Cut Away 20″ x 10 Yards Roll

This is a soft, sheer, stable and translucent cut away Stabilizer.


Fusible/Iron-On No-show Poly mesh Plus Cut Away Machine Embroidery Stabilizer – 8″ X 10 yards

This is a soft, sheer, stable and translucent fusible/iron-on cut away Stabilizer.


Sulky Of America Cut Away Tender Touch Iron-On Backing White, 8″ by 9 yards

Tender Touch is a lightweight, permanent iron-on covering that is ideal to put on the back of finished embroidery. It protects sensitive skin from scratchy stitches. It is ideal for baby and child garments.


DMC 61253 Peacock Embroidery Scissor, 3 ¾ inches

I love these little scissors. I use them for snipping jump stitches on my embroidery.


Dec 112011
 

Janome MC9500 100-Stitch Sew, 5.5x8

Janome MC-9500 100-Stitch Sewing & 5.5″ x 7.9″ Embroidery Machine

The Memory Craft 9500 brings together all your favorite sewing and embroidery features in one hard-working machine, combining the power and precision of a superior stitch mechanism with the sophistication of computerized Touch Screen control.
Continue reading »

Dec 112011
 

#1 Amazon Best Seller
Brother SE-400 Sewing and Embroidery MachineBrother SE-400 Combination Computerized Sewing and
4″x4″ Embroidery Machine

The Brother SE-400 Combination Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine is still the #1 best selling embroidery machine on Amazon.com. It was designed to help you give your projects a customized, high-end look — all while being priced to fit your budget!

Special Features:

  • Computer Connectivity with Update Capabilities
  • Large 4” x 4” embroidery area
  • 70 built-in embroidery designs
  • 5 monogramming fonts
  • 120 frame pattern combinations
  • 67 built-in sewing stitches with 98 stitch functions
  • Easy-to-view back-lit, touch screen LCD display
  • On-screen reference guide in 16 languages
  • Quick-Set™ drop-in bobbin and automatic needle threader
  • Built-in push button thread cutter
  • Brightly lit LED work area

SE-400 Built-in Designs

Brother embroidery customers can easily purchase thousands of fabulous exclusive, downloadable embroidery designs on www.iBroidery.com. Choose from a multitude of selections, including licensed characters from Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Disney, Disney-Pixar, plus limited edition designs from the Brother design library. All at your fingertips at a price you’ll love. Thousands of designs you can have anytime you please!

Great Selection of Built-In Sewing Stitches

SE-400 Built-in Stitches

Brother SE-400 vs. Brother LB6800PRW

I have been asked if there is a difference between the Brother SE-400 and the Brother LB6800PRW Project Runway Embroidery Machine. According to Brother Customer Service, “The only difference is the LB6800PRW comes with a rolling bag and has the Project Runway branding and the SE400 does not. ~Susan”

Check out the Brother SE-400 Embroidery Machine – Click Here!



Nov 172011
 

Brother CS6000i 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine We have attempted to find the best deals in sewing machines. Some you can find in chain stores, most can be found online. We have found that the basic mechanical sewing machines are a little more difficult to use than the more expensive electronic models. With the basic models, most reviewers note that it may take some trial and error to adjust the tension of the thread just right. They may not have some of the nicer features, such as up/down needle with the press of a button, as opposed to turning the wheel to raise and lower the needle. These features are more important to some than others, but if price is a major factor most can do without these features.

We have broken down our sewing machine reviews into several categories, as follows:


The Right Stitch has teamed up with Allbrands to expand our product recommendations. Allbrands is one of our sales affiliates and offers not only a huge line of sewing machine products, but also embroidery, knitting, quilting, commercial & industrial machines, accessories and much more.

Even though Allbrands sells many different products, such as appliances and vacuums, they definitely know about sewing machines and are always there for support and to answer any questions you might have. Use our link to below to access Allbrands.




Happy Sewing!

~~~~~~~~~~

Sep 292007
 

30 day money back guarantee on New Singer Quantums!

6″ x 10″ Embroidery, Auto Tension and Thread, Continuous Hoop and 4 Cards, Conversion and Cable, DVD & Workbook, 3700 Designs and 25/5 Year Extended Warranty

Updatable PC Board, Automatic Thread Exchanger switches, rethreads and continues sewing 2 spool colors – FREE Silex Wireless Stitch Link. Continue reading »

 Last Updated by on February 17, 2014
Sep 272007
 

Juki LZ-391N High-speed, 1-Needle, Lockstitch, 12mm Zigzag Industrial Freemotion Embroidery Machine, Power Stand & 100 Free Organ Needles.

The JUKI LZ-391N can be used in three different ways: Embroidery up to 1,700 s.p.m., zigzag and straight stitch up to 2,000 s.p.m. Continue reading »

Sep 252007
 

Xpressive II Digitizing Software, PC Cable, Serial/USB Converter, Continuous Hoop/Card, Bag

As you’ve experienced, sewing renews your spirit and lets you express yourself in many ways, whether it’s embroidery, wearable art, quilting, couture, bridal, heirloom, western wear, carnival, home decor. Just start with a length of fabric or purchase something and add your own special touch. Continue reading »

 Last Updated by on October 21, 2013
Sep 232007
 

An embroidery only machine with a 5″ x 7″ embroidery area! Easy to learn, fun to use! Personalize family gifts or create one-of-a-kind fabrics. The PE700 recognizes all Brother memory cards (Disney Memory Cards excluded) that work with a maximum 5″ x 7″ design area. Now you can embellish everything from home d?cor to T-shirts with one of 136 built-in embroidery patterns which include delicate scrollwork, intricate florals, classic quilt patterns and so much more. Continue reading »