Here’s something else you could be experimenting with and stitching out during those precious Saturday sewing moments! ………Acustitch is a stand alone software program that can be used with most of our Janome embroidery machines***. I think it is rather overlooked which is unfortunate as it offers some very clever and interesting embroidery effects you can achieve in a flash to add to your embroidery projects. In a nutshell, it allows you to create funky new effects by bringing sewing machine stitches into your embroidery hoop and arrange them super easily in a variety of pleasing shapes.
Now, let’s get things straight before we continue: there is a tab on our Horizon Link Suite software in version 1.31 (for Janome MC15000 ONLY) where you will find some features in this AcuStitch software program. This was a bit of a teaser and was part of a FREE update to Horizon Link Suite – is called AcuStitch Tool. If you have the Mc15000 AND you updated your machine to the MC15000 v3 Quiltmaker, then you should also have received an email with the link to the update for the Horizon Link Suite. Yes, I know, not everyone seems to have this – unfortunately. We did make it very clear at the time of launching MC15000 Quilt maker that previous Mc15000 owners (v1 and 2) could access the updates. We gave this information to our dealers and we also published the information here on Janome Life: there were THREE parts to the update: (1) was to take your MC15000 V1 or 2 in to your dealer to have a new needle threader added + exchange your P foot and foot holder (for the clip on feet) for 2 NEW ones. This was 100% FREE but your dealer had to do this. It could not be done anywhere else. (2) You could decide to buy the Quiltmaker upgrade kit which gave you a bunch of new feet including the HP foot and plate, and QR rulerwork foot. This was the only part of the upgrade which was not free. (3) WHEN you went in to your dealer to get (1) done, you were to give them your email address and your dealer had to register the update with your MC15000 Serial # and that generated an email to you with the link to update Horizon Link Suite to V1.31.
So that is the clarification of the steps you were supposed to have followed in order to update Horizon Link Suite to V1.31 so that you can access this AcuStitch “teaser” called AcuStitch Tool . See below for what it looks like on the applicable Horizon Link Suite screen. If you don’t see this, check what version of Horizon Link suite you have – 10 to 1 you never updated way back when we offered the opportunity? Needs to be v1.31. ONLY available through your dealer at the time of doing the upgrade to MC15000 Quilt Maker. Be warned that many dealers may no longer have this information about how to register you to get the update as so many years have passed by. You may have to contact Tech Support in the country where you reside to find out how you can get the link.
The yellow arrow Points to CONVERT TO STX which is where you can access the AcuStitch tool.
And please note: If you purchased your MC15000 v3 Quiltmaker, the above steps to update are NOT necessary as it has already all be done and included in the box! So ignore above if you are one of these MC15000 Quilt maker owners.
A short while after this AcuStitch Tool “teaser” aka Convert to STX was made available to MC15000 owners, it became available as a stand alone box of software which you can purchase at ANY of our Janome dealers for most of our Janome embroidery machines***. This is called AcuStitch and it looks like this:
Please check with your dealer and on the box of software that both your Janome embroidery machine and your computer have the correct spec’s for this software. It is not a huge program but do check nonetheless before you buy as once you open the box, it is NOT returnable.
And before you ask between clenched teeth: it is Windows based for PC’s. Sorry, not for Mac. Yes, we continue to report your requests for Mac compatibility frequently on your behalf. HOWEVER, our Janome Embroidery Apps are for iPads; our AcuSpark App is for both Apple and Android phones and tablets; and our Artistic Digitizer software is for both PC and Mac. So even if “we can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time”, we ARE moving in the right direction!
Vertical wall hanging or table runner with 4 different embroidery hoopings using AcuStitch software
Close up of one of the above hoopings
With AcuStitch, by arranging stitch data in succession, you can create embroidery designs using various shapes.
The software includes functions to easily make stylish shapes such as Polygons (corner alignment), Radial shapes (centering), Circles and ellipses (joining start and end points) etc. So you have the option of :
- Various kinds of shapes – Create designs from a selection of 17 different shapes.
- Easy-to-use functionality
- Abundant stitch patterns
- Create original embroidery data
- Designs can be created automatically with simple settings: Corner alignment, center alignment, start point and end point alignment can also be performed automatically
- By simply changing the angle setting, you can create arcs and variations of your design.
This panel may have you feeling like you have been drinking a little?! lol but it was a great canvas to play with more AcuStitch software embroideries.
and lastly a close up of part of this panel which was quilted in the hoop using AcuStitch embroideries.
*** Compatible Embroidery machines: Janome MC15000; Mc14000; MC12000; MC9900; MC9850; Skyline S9; Mc500E; MC550E; Mc400E; MC450E; MC11000; MB7; MB4S