A native BX font is a lettering style that I draw and digitize by hand, stitch by stitch, directly inside Embrilliance software. A regular BX font is often just a collection of pre-made, rigid stitch files grouped together so you can type with your keyboard. A native font is "smart" because it is built using Embrilliance's own rules.

That means when you type a word, you can scale the lettering up or down significantly and the software recalculates the stitches to keep the density right, prevent bulky overlaps, and maintain clean stitch quality. It's a premium, flexible keyboard font that behaves smoothly because it speaks Embrilliance's "native language."

For a detailed explanation, see the Embrilliance blog post on native BX fonts.

Especially if you're new to embroidery, I'd recommend learning to use BX files. They make working with text so much easier, and the software is free (Embrilliance Express).

• Stitch-based files: you bring each letter into your software as an individual design, combine them, and place every letter in position.
• BX files: you simply type the text on your keyboard, and the software has easy tools for adjusting spacing, changing size, and even arching or curving the letters.

This is a native BX font, just like the fonts built into Embrilliance (such as "Block"). You only need one file because you can resize it inside Embrilliance to whatever size you need.

If you resize far outside the range I've set, do a test sew first.

1. Click on the text to select it.
2. Drag a corner handle to resize while keeping the proportions.
3. Release the mouse. Embrilliance automatically recalculates the stitches.

You don't need to worry about stretching the text too far. The handles simply stop moving when you reach the safe minimum or maximum size built into the font.

The BX files are designed to be used as "keyboard fonts" in Embrilliance software, including the free Express version. You don't need that program to use my designs, though. Your download also includes the standard stitch-based formats.

To use the files without Embrilliance:

1. Unzip the downloaded folder on your computer.
2. Open the folder that matches your embroidery machine's format.
3. Open or import the individual letter files in your preferred embroidery software, or transfer them to your machine by USB.

You won't be able to "type" with the BX file in other programs, but the individual stitch files work well for manual placement.

Each native BX font also comes in the standard stitch-based formats: DST, PES, EXP, VP3, HUS, JEF and XXX.

Check your embroidery machine's documentation to see which format it uses.

Embrilliance Express is free software made for BX files. With it you can:

• Install a font by double-clicking the BX file.
• Type your lettering on the keyboard (much faster than loading individual characters), then adjust spacing, change the size, and arch or curve the letters.
• Save the finished design in whatever format your machine needs (PES, JEF, DST, etc.).

It's available for both Mac and PC at embrilliance.com/express, which also has a manual and videos to help you learn.

Double-click the single BX installer file, or drag and drop it into Embrilliance, and the program installs it for you. The PDF included in your download explains how to access all the extras that come with the font.

All of this works even in the free Embrilliance Express.

Watch my short video on how to access the alternate font extensions.

Each font's zip file also includes a chart showing all the alternates (if available) and a PDF explaining how to access them for that particular font.

Make sure you're on the latest version. To check, click Help, then About. (Don't use "Check for Updates" – it doesn't work.) You can download the latest version at embrilliance.com/downloads.

Seeing a little fabric through the stitches is common, especially on cotton. Because these are native BX fonts, you have full control over the settings right inside Embrilliance.

All my native BX fonts are digitized at a standard density of 4.5. That's a middle-of-the-road setting for the "average" fabric at the "average" size, with cutaway stabilizer and secure hooping (not floating). It's normal to tweak it for your fabric.

1. Click your text to select it.
2. In the Properties panel, open the Stitch tab.
3. Increase density: change the density from 4.5 to 4.0 (or even 3.8). A smaller number puts the lines of stitching closer together. Try not to go much lower than 4.0, or the thread will start to overlap itself.
4. Adjust compensation: raise the pull compensation from 0 to 1 or 2. This widens the satin columns and makes the letters slightly bolder.

For smaller lettering, you can also remove the satin underlay and use just the edge run.

Above all, do a test sew on scrap fabric. The result is a combination of the font, the fabric and the stabilizer.

After adjusting density and compensation (see the question above), check your stabilizer. Cotton tends to absorb stitches, so use a solid stabilizer underneath, such as a medium cutaway. You can also lay a piece of clear water-soluble topper over your fabric to keep the thread sitting nicely on top.

Knits are stretchy and "thirsty": they pull and swallow stitches if they aren't held firmly. To get a cleaner result:

• Use cutaway stabilizer. It's a must for knits. If you have an iron-on stabilizer, applying that first gives extra security.
• Hoop, don't float. Hoop the garment and the stabilizer together, rather than floating the fabric on top. This keeps the fabric from shifting or stretching during stitching.
• Add a topper. Water-soluble stabilizer on top of the fabric keeps the stitches from sinking into the knit loops.

Because there are so many types of machines and software programs, I'm not able to offer technical support for machine or software questions. Your machine manufacturer's manual or your software's help feature is the best place to look.

I'm always glad to help with questions about my own files, such as installing a BX font in Embrilliance or getting the most from a design.

Once your letters are arranged, color sort the design so your machine sews all the placement lines for the whole word first, followed by all the tack-downs, rather than finishing each letter one at a time.

1. Go to the Utility menu at the top of the screen and choose Color Sort.
2. Uncheck "RHS presort." Check "Force" and "Position."
3. Save the newly sorted file and take it to your machine.

1. Open the design. Open your appliqué file in Embrilliance and select your desired size.
2. Open the thread palette. Click the design to select it. In the Object Properties panel, click the first color chip (the placement line). If there are two of the same color for the placement line and the first doesn't work, try the second. Embrilliance tech support is aware of this issue.
3. Set the appliqué style. Click the Appliqué tab and choose Appliqué Position from the Style dropdown.
4. Adjust the inflation value. Choose a value, or leave it at 0 to cut exactly on the placement line. Your cutting machine may have specific recommendations.
5. Save the SVG. Click the Save button inside the Appliqué tab to generate the cutting file.
6. Select the DPI. A dialog box asks for the DPI for your cutting machine: 96 (standard), 72, or 90. Make your selection to finish the save.

Your files are delivered as a compressed .zip folder using the download link in your order confirmation email. A few common browser quirks can get in the way:

• On a phone or tablet: open the link in your regular web browser (Safari or Chrome) rather than inside an email or social media app.
• Downloading multiple files in Safari: Safari often blocks automatic downloads after the first file. Right-click (or Control-click) the download button for each remaining file and choose "Download Linked File As…"
• "No application can open the file" error: this just means Safari tried to open the file automatically. The file downloaded correctly and is in your Downloads folder. To stop this, go to Safari > Settings > General and uncheck "Open 'safe' files after downloading."
• Try another browser: Chrome or Firefox often work when Safari doesn't.

Still stuck? Contact me with your email address and I'll email you the .zip file directly.

Files download as compressed .zip folders, so you need to extract (unzip) the folder on your computer before importing the files into your software.

If you see an incomplete list of files in a Google Drive preview, that's a quirk of Drive's web preview. It can't display all the individual stitch files and formats in a font, so it cuts the list off. All the files are there. Don't use the preview: download the complete .zip to your computer, then extract it.

If a download seems to have failed, try downloading and unzipping again. If you still have trouble, contact me with your email address and I'll email you the zip file.

You'll need embroidery software to add your own text. I use Embrilliance because it makes this so easy. The free version, Embrilliance Express, is made just for adding text. Get it, with directions for use, at embrilliance.com/express.

Sometimes, yes. I start with a TTF or OTF file and draw the characters by hand, so it's time-consuming (most of my fonts take several days to digitize). A few things to know:

• Licensing: I need a license to digitize a font, which can be expensive (commonly $50–$100). I can use Google Fonts freely, so it may be worth looking there first.
• Suitability: not every font converts well to embroidery (line thickness is one factor).

Contact me with the font you'd like digitized and I can tell you more.

Each design is hand-digitized to give the best possible stitch quality on embroidery machines. Because it's significantly modified from any original source for this purpose, the font name is treated as a proprietary part of my design process.

Because these are digital files that can't be returned once downloaded, I'm unable to offer refunds after the files have been accessed. Please check that you have the right design and format before purchasing.

If you have any trouble with your files, or need help working with them, contact me and I'll be glad to assist.