Stitching, Stitching

.PCS VS .PCQ

Can you use a .pcs file in a 1475?

Someone wrote me and said that she downloaded a file which came with a small .pcs file that was loadable into her 1475 and could she stitch it as a one color design on her machine? I was really glad she wrote me about this as I think this is something that you 1475 owners need to understand. So listen up. I know it’s really tempting to believe that if it comes into your machine you can stitch it, but that isn’t necessarily so.

My best advice is don’t bother trying to stitch a .pcs file from the 1475 even if it goes into your software or machine. If the machine allowed the .pcs file to go in the machine even though you have the software configured for the 1475, it was *only* because the size is right for the maxi and the number of stitches for the design aren’t too many for a P-Memory. I know some people on the net have assumed that if the .pcs files go into a 1475 that they are stitchable, and they may be *just barely* stitchable, but you won’t like the results in 99.9% of the cases. I strongly urge you to rethink using them. I don’t think those people understand how maxi stitches work. They are NOT like .pcs files.

Even though the file goes in the 1475, there are still a lot of things wrong with using a .pcs file as a maxi. (I don’t know that this is a comprehensive list of dangers, but it’s enough for starters, and will, I hope, kill any idea of using them that way.) For instance, the density of a .pcs file is likely greater than the feed dogs can handle, and that may bog the machine down–big bird’s nest time may be the least of your worries. There will likely be problems with moving the feed dogs correctly for the pattern to sew because the .pcs files don’t have to use the feed dogs, and they do not have the directional stitches for the machine to move the fabric. The machine only stitches straight up and down for a .pcs design. You can’t stitch a feed dog design that way. Even though the machine will sometimes automatically supply the directional feed stitches, the design probably won’t work.

Those of us who have designed .pcq files know that you can draw very elaborate designs on the maxi screen, but that doesn’t mean the machine will stitch even them. The machine is quite particular how it needs a maxi design written, and the .pcs files are far from being what the 1475 needs. The .pcs files move here, there and everywhere and expect the fabric to be in the same place every time a move is made. The feed dogs can’t hack that. It can move fabric only so far in any direction before it loses its way and the pattern falls apart.

The feed dogs’ largest stitch can only be 6mm forward and back and 9mm side to side, and long jumps in a .pcs pattern would likely be a problem as would some of the satin stitch lengths on .pcs files. The machine may try to make a long sideways jump, and you could break a needle really fast thatway and maybe harm your machine. The direction of stitching of the .pcs files just asks too much of the feed dogs. The .pcs files are just NOT written for the feed dog driven embroidery. It’s possible one might be small enough and just happen to be written so that the 1475 could hack it, but it would be an extremely rare .pcs file. I wouldn’t bother with them. Stick to what you know should work for your machine.

Believe me, if I thought the .pcs files would work on my 1475, I’d use them, but I’ve written thousands of maxi patterns since I’ve been in business, and I think I pretty well know the pitfalls of them. The .pcs files are a whole different breed of designs. Don’t mix apples and oranges.
Glynda Black