Who doesn’t like a personalized gift that is useful to boot. I have been asked a lot about how to create these little jewels, so this month we will dive into this project. As you can see from the image, I created two versions of the project. I used the same settings for both in the software, so no extra effort was required. I just thought you might like to see what can be done with both materials. I have to say my favorite look is the cork one and cork is a dream to cut with the ScanNCut machine. The marine vinyl cut easily as well, there is just something about the cork that is fun. Either material works great. If you are planning on using scissors to cut around the project, I would use the cork material as it is much easier to cut with scissors.
Materials needed
- BES 4 with Power Pack 1 Add-on
- Scraps of marine vinyl or cork fabric – I loved the look with the cork
- Embroidery thread to match your project
- SA540 Water Soluble stabilizer – You can use a tearaway, but I like the water soluble better because I get a clean edge once I wet the edges to remove the stabilizer
- 5×7 inch hoop – this will depend on the size of your name. If you have a longer name and you used the Celestial font, you may need a bigger hoop. The smallest size the Celestial font should be embroidered is at the default size of .98 inches (25mm).
- A Set of KAM Snaps and KAM Snap Setter (you will need a male and a female with two pronged pieces/tops)
- Optional ScanNCut Machine
Open the BES 4 software program.
- Click on the Pacesetter pulldown menu and choose New and then New Project.
- Select Vinyl from the Fabric pulldown menu.
- Click on the Hoop down arrow and choose Select hoop.
- Choose the 130 x180 mm hoop (7.09 x 5.12 inch), place a checkmark in front of Rotate 90 and then click OK. You want to make sure you stay in the 5 x 7-inch hoop. Any larger and you will have a huge key fob.
- Click on the Normal Text tool.
- Click on the design page to activate the text tool.
- Type in the Name you want to embroider on your key fob.
- In the Properties window, click on the down arrow next to the font style dropdown menu.
- Click on Add Design.
- Choose Monogram Designer Frames from the Folder list.
- Select the rectangle, BMF-BN-0005.
- Left mouse click and drag to draw a small rectangle.
- Click on the Select tool. The rectangle should automatically be selected since it was the last item drawn. If it isn’t, click on the rectangle.
- Place the cursor over the center x of the rectangle.
- Hold the left mouse button down and drag next to the C release the mouse when it is slightly touching the C.
- In the Sequence View window, click on the word All Items. This selects All.
- Click on the Arrange Tab and choose Vertical Center.
- If your unit of measure is inches, change to metric by right mouse clicking on the page ruler.
- Click on the Tools Tab.
- Press Nap Control. Leave the distance at the default setting, place a checkmark in front of Add Finishing Run and then press OK.
- In the Sequence View Window, click on the plus sign next to the Nap Control segment. It will be the first segment in the window.
- Click on the segment that has the word fill next to it. This is the Nap Control, we just want the outline, so press Delete on the keyboard to remove the fill.
- In the Sequence View Window, click on the rectangle that you drew. This was a place holder to create the shape for the tab of the key fob. We don’t want it to embroider. Press Delete to remove the rectangle.
- Now I want to create the shape for my ScanNCut to cut and the placement stitch to place it on my stabilizer. Click on the first segment in the Sequence window. This is the Finishing Run stitch that went around the Nap Control.
- Click on the Tools Tab if it isn’t active and then Press Nap Control again. Change the Offset to 3mm, place a checkmark in front of Add finishing run and then click OK.
- In the Sequence View window, click on the fill in the first color segment. This is the second Nap control that was added. (The software didn’t require me to click on the plus sign this time. I think it is because Nap control is the same color as the first, so it automatically expanded the segment.) Press Delete on the keyboard. You are left with the name and two outlines.
- If you don’t have the Brother thread palette selected, click on the Thread chart pulldown menu and choose Brother Embroidery.
- In the Sequence window, click on the Second Run Stitch.
- Click on the Home Tab and Choose Copy and then Paste. (The keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl+C for Copy and Ctrl +V for Paste.)
- The pasted segment will be selected. In the Properties window, change the Style from None to Bean. This will stitch a heavier stitch. It is what is commonly known as a Triple Stitch.
- You can select colors for the different elements if you want to do so my clicking on the individual element and then clicking on a thread tile. I am going to do this at the machine instead to save time. I just pick colors that I want to use if there are color stops for each step. (Each step is a different color.).
- Click on the Pacesetter button and then choose Save As. Save the design in your machine format. If you have setup your preferences to Auto Save the brf file, you don’t need to save twice. (The brf file is the editable file format that allows you to go back and make changes.).
- If you have setup your wireless card and your machine is powered on, you can send the design to the machine wirelessly. If not, or if your machine doesn’t support the wireless card, save to a usb media device and take that to the machine.
ScanNCut Machine
The Next Steps are for precutting the key fob with a ScanNCut machine. If you don’t wish to precut, you can skip this section.
- Click on the First Run in the Sequence window.
- On the Tools Tab, press the ScanNCut button. An artwork tab will generate with the cut file shape. You can print this out to manually cut the shape. You can Export the file as an FCM or SVG file, or you can send wirelessly to a wirelessly enabled ScanNCut. If you don’t want to precut your shape, after the design has embroidered, you can cut along the original stitch line instead of precutting the shape. If that is your choice, you can skip the ScanNCut step entirely.
- The key fob needs a front and back. Click on the artwork shape either directly in the design window or in the Sequence View window.
- Click on the Home Tab and press Copy and then Paste. Move the second file beneath the first.
- Click on the Arrange Tab and then choose Flip Vertical.
- Make sure the files are separated and Click on the Tools tab.
- Export the Files as a Fcm file or go to the Pacesetter dropdown menu and choose ScanNCut machine Send to ScanNCut machine.
Directions for Precut Fabric
- Hoop a piece of water soluble stabilizer in your hoop (I used the 5×7 inch hoop) and stitch the first segment onto the stabilizer. This is your placement stitch for the vinyl or cork fabric cutouts.
- Remove the hoop from the machine and tape the top cutout onto the stabilizer with medical paper tape (I use medical tape).
- Place back into the machine and embroider Tackdown stitch.
- Remove the tape, insert the hoop back into the machine and then embroider the name.
- Remove from the machine and tape the back cutout onto the back of the project with medical paper tape or Washi tape. Be careful not to press the stabilizer out of the hoop.
- Place the hoop carefully back into the machine making sure the back stays in place and stitch the last segment. This is the Bean Stitch.
- Remove the hoop from the machine and the project from the hoop.
- Remove the tape from the back and trim stabilizer close to the design.
- Insert KAM Snaps with a KAM Snap Setter (You will need two tops and a male and female part.) The tops/caps will be on the top side of the project.
- Insert a key ring and snap together.
Directions for Cutting after Embroidering
If you chose not to precut your fabrics, place a piece of vinyl or cork that fits inside your hoop on the top of the stabilizer.
- Embroider the design through the name segment. You should have one step left.
- Remove the hoop from the machine and tape a piece of the material to the back of the hoop.
- Embroider the last segment.
- Remove from the hoop and trim to the inside of the outer stitch line.
Super sharp Cindy! Great tutorial!!!
Great project Cindy!
Cindy thank you so much! This is a great tutorial. Also special thank you for your answering questions on the Bes4 Dream Edition Help and Support group. We would be lost without you. You are always so helpful. One day I hope to meet you in person. It would be such a treat.
Is there any way to do this without the add on pack?
HI Janice,
Thanks for reaching out!
In regards to your question, you can go to the tools tab and select the line drawing tool and draw around your text. After that, you will choose Convert to Appliqué. You would then choose a Bean Stitch as the covering stitch.
Hope that helps!
Happy Sewing!
The Brother Sews Team
Hello Cindy,
I have followed your instructions and have run into an issue. I have BES4 ver 2.0 which I just updated and I do not have the option of the bean stitch under Type. The properties under Run are: Type > Single Run or Double Run; Style>None, Bean or Half Bean; Bean repeats; and Stitch length. I selected Bean under the Style Options and when I save the file as PE Design 10, the last stitch is not a Bean stitch. In PE Design 10, if I convert the file to block stitches, I am able to change the last stitch as a triple stitch. I have done this with three different names with the same results. Have I missed something? Thanks. I want to make these for a group of ladies for the holidays.
I tried this but when I went to change it to bean stitch all that was there was
Single run
Double run
**help I have all the upgrades so why doesn’t it show BEAN STITCH like in your instructions????
When are you guys supposed to get the BEAN STITCH working again in bes4????
Hi Kassie,
Thanks for reaching out!
We anticipate an update to the BES 4 platform very soon – as soon as we hear of a date, we will certainly pass it along.
Hope this helps!
Happy Sewing!
The Brother Sews Team
Thanks for answering. I plan on buying the 2nd bes4 upgrade but want to make sure the BEAN STITCH is working correctly before i purchase that so please correct it soon. i use the bean stitch a lot
It is now June 2019 and no update yet for the BEAN STITCH to be fixed. I am currently using the instructions and than bringing the design into PE Design 11 and “fixing” the bean stitch. Not sure I want to spend all the extra money on Power Pack 2 if they cannot get Power Pack 1 fixed.
Hi Cherry,
Thanks for reaching out!
We apologize for the confusion. When the software was updated to correct the bean stitch, the location of it changed as well – here is where the bean stitch is located for this particular operation;
From the type pull down menu, select Single Run. Below the type menu there is a Style menu. Choose Bean Stitch and then click apply.
Hope this helps!
Happy Sewing!
The Brother Sews Team
I need help but cannot leave a comment as an error appears saying too many comments
I have followed instructions several times and do not end up with the same pattern as you show and it also has a square before the name. What am I missing?
Alice,
I am not sure exactly what steps you have missed without a better description of what your design looks like. You did miss the step where you delete the rectangle. That was the step right after deleting the nap control fill. If you want more assistance with this, please reach out to me via Facebook @cynthiasembroidery1 you can follow the link on my website to get there.
http://www.cynthiasembroidery.com
You can share pictures with me through that interaction and we should be able to get you on track.
Happy Stitching,
Cindy