In the design above I chose two different locations and only used designs from my "Fantastic Flora" collection to create this huge design because they are specifically designed with very low stitch counts. I tried to create a diagonal flow with both designs by placing them on both the top left and the bottom right of the blouse. Again because the individual designs have such low stitch counts, I was able to create this large and imposing design with only 49,378 stitches. You can see the entire collection at www.kenparsonsdesigns.com

In the design above I used the running stitch digitizing function to create the stippling in the background of the design and combined that with my new to be released "Abstract Add-ons" to create a fifties inspired abstract embroidery design that was not only fun, fast and easy but was accomplished with an economy of stitches.

It doesn't matter how great your embroidered design looks if it doesn't look good on the garment upon which it is being placed. In the example above I had to completely change the composition, color scheme and placement four different times to get a design that looked fine on its own and also looked good on the taupe t-shirt. This is a battle I'm sure you are always facing. That is the reason I built 25 different garment and home decor patterns into Compositions project based embroidery design software. Using this software you can always try your embroidery on you garment before you sew it out and possibly solve a problem before it's too late. To see a full demo go to http://www.annthegran.com/kparsons/SWF/KP%20Compositions%20Web%20Final.html

A monogram is as much decoration as it is a depiction of the owners initials. So why not delegate the monogram to the background and let the decorative elements of your monogram design take center stage, as I have in the example above. I merely combined the standerd circle monogram with two coordinating designs from my "Dress Up Your Designs" collection and I think the example speaks for itself. To see the entire collection go to www.kenparsonsdesigns.com

In the images above you can see how quckly and automatically the new split wizard divides up large designs into two speparate designs which can be sewn sequencialy in the new Janome 11000 Macro hoop. Creating huge embroidered masterpieces has never been easier or more precise.

When you are planning your upcoming embroidery projects don't ignore your teenage relatives. Although the designs available for them are few and far between, they do exist. In the design above I combined four different designs from my "It's A Boy's Life" collection. Have a look at all of the designs in this collection at www.kenparsonsdesigns.com where you can pick and choose the perfect designs to create anything from a t-shirt to a jacket or even a backpack.

It is quick and easy to create a left chest design for any club or organization with Compositions project based embroidery design software. To create the logo above, I combined the wreath from my "Create a Crest" collection with the fly fishing basket from my "A Sporting Life" collection with lettering in the standard Bellagio script. To see how you to can create logo for any occasion you can see the demo at http://www.annthegran.com/kparsons/SWF/KP%20Compositions%20Web%20Final.html

Using the circle template within Compositions project based embroidery design software you can automatically create a wreath from any design you have in your library. You could choose a pumpkin from my "Perfect Produce" collection to create the perfect Fall wreath design or a pine bough for a Winter wreath. I chose a pink soccer ball from my "Flash and Fantasy" collection to create a uniquely personal Holiday greeting card design. I simply added the bow from my "Dress Up Your Designs" collection to finish it off. Use your imagination, the possibilities are endless.

Sometimes adding a simple absract shape behind your design will contribute a unfying property and take a drab ordinary design and make it look unique and interesting. In the example above I simply added a triangular shape behind the plum design from my "Fresh From The Grove" collection, which I then duplicated, re-sized and reflected. To see the entire collection go to www.kenparsonsdesigns.com

Above you will see how embroidery is used in some examples from Spring 2008 collections

Knowing which details to include and which to omit are probably the most difficult decisions you will encounter when designing embroidery. In the design above I limited the colors to just 3 shades of gray and gold. I also focussed on the major construction of the bag and angled the bag to exaggerate the perspective of the different details, and used the darkest gray to define edges of the different shapes and bring out the shadows. All of these techniques work together to give the illusion of a real three dimensional object in embroidery.