Hoop size refers to how big an embroidery hoop is, while the embroidery field represents the maximum stitching area available inside a given hoop size. Because the machine cannot fully reach the edges of the hoop, your embroidery field will always be a little smaller than your hoop size.

Kimberbell fabrics are made by Maywood Studio and are carried by quilt shops that carry Kimberbell products.

Find your local quilt shop at the Kimberbell Shop Locator

For most embroidery purposes, we use a 75/11 embroidery needle.

When stitching wording we use a topstitch needle in a 80/12 or 90/14 size.

When stitching foam, zippers, or a heavier fabric we use a Sharps 80/12 or 90/14. The topstitch needle has a bigger eye and is better when using a thicker thread.

If your thread is fraying or breaking, it’s time to change your needle. The needle may be slightly bent and is causing the fray or break.We recommend changing your needle after every eight hours of embroidery.

We use CDs instead of USBs for several reasons:

• Older embroidery machines may not have the ability to read a USB.
• Some machines do not work well with USBs because of storage limits.
• When PDF instructions are added to a USB, the files can be quite large.
• A machine will often try to read all file types on a USB, which can cause problems.
• Many computers no longer have a CD OR a USB drive. An external drive is inexpensive and the surest way to transfer files from a CD to a USB.
• As technology constantly changes, we will continue monitoring and implementing the best way to provide designs to you.

Kimberbell discs will be formatted in one of two ways depending on whether the design is newer or older.

For older CDs:

• Insert the disc into your computer. The first window will show all the designs (e.g., a Mug Rug CD may list Cardinal, Cupcake, Heart, etc.).
• Click on the design you want to stitch (e.g., Cardinal). You’ll then see another folder with that same design in ALL file types.
• Select the correct file type for your machine. Please note that the name of the file will end with a period and then the file type (e.g., .art or .pes). You can also see the file type by looking in the “type” column in the folder.
• Drag the file to your USB device. (Only drag the file ending in the correct extension for your machine.)
• Remove your USB without opening the files.
• Insert the USB into your embroidery machine.

For newer CDs:

• Insert the disc into your computer. The first window will show a folder containing all embroidery files, a folder for SVG files, and a folder for directions.
• Click on the folder labeled “Embroidery Files.” You’ll then see folders for all file types (e.g., .art, .pes, .dst, etc.).
• Click on the folder that matches the file type used by your machine.
• Drag the files you want onto your USB.
• Remove the USB without opening the files.
• Insert the USB into your embroidery machine.

No – Kimberbell Certified Events are exclusive to Certified Shops and the designs are not available to purchase outside of an event.

Shops around the world host Kimberbell Certified Events, both in-person and virtually! You can find participating shops at https://kimberbell.com/events.

To determine when a scheduled video will start in your time zone, please find the advertised start time in the far left column of this chart and use that to find the corresponding start time in your time zone.

Provided chart link.

Yes. As with purchasing from any business online, you’ll need to set up an account with Kimberbell.com. Through your account, you’ll be able to access your Digital Library and see your purchasing history.

If you’re having trouble accessing your account, you may reset your password, or contact Customer Care for help.

All orders placed through Kimberbell.com will be shipped. If you want to pick up Kimberbell products in person, please shop at a local quilt shop.

No. If you’d like to preorder Kimberbell products, we encourage you to do so through your favorite quilt shop.

Orange Pop Rulers are phenomenal rulers that let you visually center embroidery and applique designs before you cut. Thanks to extended corner channels, squaring up quilt blocks is simple and accurate.

Orange Pop Rulers are fantastic for all types of quilt blocks—sewing or machine embroidery! The open frame allows you to not only see your block, but also keeps the ruler flat and level for precise cutting. No-slip grips on the back of the rulers prevents the tools from slipping while cutting.

Once you’ve experienced the Orange Pop Ruler difference, there’s no going back to the guesswork and math calculations of yesterday! But they’re not just handy for Kimberbell projects; you can use Orange Pop Rulers with great success on T-shirt quilts, denim quilts, and so much more.

Orange Pop Rulers are made of acrylic and they are the same thickness as a typical quilting ruler.

We use straight scissors.

Clear Blue Tiles are a complete system for quilting on your home embroidery machine. The stitching goes through all three layers of a quilt sandwich (back fabric, batting, and top fabric), with traditional, continuous quilting on both sides of your project. Clear Blue Tiles help you (easily!) achieve the look of custom quilting in-the-hoop, without having to worry about math formulas or carefully lining up the elements of a design. It all just flows, like you’d used a long-arm machine!

And all you do is place your tile(s), mark your fabric, and choose the embroidery file to match the size. Clear Blue Tiles have the same scale as all of the coordinating embroidery designs, so you can use a variety of tiles on the same project for professional, finished results.

To use Clear Blue Tiles, simply:

• Prepare your quilt sandwich with top fabric, batting, and back fabric.
• Choose a tile and place it on the top of your fabric.
• Use the included water-soluble pen to mark the center dot, crosshairs, directional arrow, sides, and corners of the tile.
• Write the size of the tile in the little window (as shown above).
• If desired, continue marking your entire top with a variety of tiles.
• Pick the embroidery file that matches the tile size and load into your machine (make sure orientation matches the directional arrow).
• Hoop and quilt your project in-the-hoop! (Note: Each tile will need its own hooping.)

Yes. Both the Expansion Set and the Expansion Set 2 are add-ons to the Essentials Set. You will need the USB and User Guide from the Essentials Set.

Many have wondered which background quilting patterns on kimberbell.com will work with Clear Blue Tiles.

To answer that, let’s talk about block-by-block vs. allover quilting.

Block by Block Quilting

Block-by-block quilting is when each block of a project is stitched with its own quilting design. Blocks are quilted separately, sewn together, and then quilted with a stitch-in-the-ditch method. When quilting block-by-block, the stitches do not show on the back fabric; only the top fabric has been quilted. (Note: Background quilting is done before any applique or embroidery designs are added.)

Kimberbell’s block-by-block quilting designs include batting and tack-down lines and do not work with Clear Blue Tiles. Ideal for use with Orange Pop Rulers, these designs are often directional and include travel lines that are sewn into the seam.

Repeated Allover Quilting

Repeated allover quilting is using one background quilting design throughout the whole project. Kimberbell’s Clear Blue Tiles quilting designs do not have lines to match up, but they still look continuous. Background quilting will go off the edge of the quilt top and onto the excess batting (which is just fine, as you’ll be cutting that off anyway)

Large-scale background quilting designs have larger design elements and aren’t as dense as our smaller background quilting designs.

Yes. You can use large-scale background quilting designs with any Clear Blue Tile sized 4×4 and larger.

No. The tiles from Expansion Set 2 can only be used with large-scale background quilting designs (shown in dark blue on Kimberbell’s website).

To remove pen marks, we recommend using a spray bottle to completely soak the ink with cold water. Do not use a towel, brush or cloth to rub in the marks, as that may make it harder to remove them. Avoid ironing or applying heat.

Sometimes mylar sheets can cling together, which can make it difficult to separate or appear as if there are fewer sheets.

For best results separating your mylar sheets, we recommend pulling from the middle of the sheets, rather than the corners.

You can also use a tiny amount of water by barely touching the mylar with a damp cloth. Avoid using your fingers as that will leave smudges.

• Sew a tight running stitch as a placement outline on the project.
• Cut a piece of Glitter Applique slightly larger than your design.
• Peel back the clear plastic sheet from the glitter page and discard.
• Lightly spray the back side with a temporary adhesive and place on the project.
• Embroider the design with a simple running stitch to tack it into place
• Remove from machine, but not from hoop. Cut away the excess material with applique scissors.
• Press from the backside with firm, even pressure for 15-20 seconds (330 to 390 degrees F) to fuse the glitter sheet into place. Do not use steam.
• Place the hoop back into the embroidery machine and finish your design.

We recommend covering your vinyl with Wash Away Topper or thin paper. By doing so, the topper or paper will help the presser foot glide smoothly over the top of your project without sticking to the vinyl.

Spot cleaning or hand-washing is recommended for most cases. Alternatively, projects with vinyl can be washed in cool water on the gentle cycle. Vinyl CANNOT go in the dryer. Instead, lay flat to dry.

We recommend a sharps, topstitch, or teflon needle. The smaller, the better! We often use a 75/11.

Kimberbell’s Autoship Program is the no-hassle way for shops to stay current with Kimberbell products!

Simply sign up and we’ll automatically ship you our newest releases so you have them in stock when the product launches.

There are no fees to join and no minimum time commitment required. Just set it and forget it with Autoship!

Learn more and sign up in the Autoship Portal! Certified Shop Portal!

Become a Certified Shop through Kimberbell Event Academy! As a Certified Shop, you will be qualified to host Kimberbell one-day, two-day, and four-hour Spark Events. You’ll also learn how to increase your business through effective marketing strategies and teaching techniques!

Each event has a clever theme and includes a specific set of skill-building projects, such as stitching over-the-edge applique, creating texture and dimension with Applique Glitter, Vinyl, and Mylar, and making finished projects entirely in-the-hoop. All projects are completed during the event, giving your customers a productive and satisfying experience they’ll love.

All of our events may be hosted in-person or virtually, giving you the opportunity to expand your reach as never before!

ME Time is a machine embroidery subscription service that delivers complete projects to your doorstep. You can learn more about ME Time and its offerings at metimedelivered.com.

Kimberbell is ME Time’s parent company and they are separate brands.

Yes. Your Kimberbell account will be completely separate from ME Time.

No. ME Time and Kimberbell purchases are processed and shipped separately.