| Author |
Stitching & Crafting Room:  Embroidery Machine  |
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 07:17:39 AM
|
First of all, I admit I know nothing about them so that's why I'm coming here for advice.
One of the ladies in my knitting group has a like new Brother PE180D model that she's selling, and hubby said if I want it he'd get it for me for Christmas.
Do any of you have experience with embroidery machines and if so, do you think they're a worthwhile investment?
I thought it might be great to do towels, shirts,etc and maybe sell the finished products?
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #272
St. Peters MO
Country Girl trapped in the city!
http://farmgirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 08:04:08 AM
|
Diana, that just depends on how much you think you will use it and the cost of the investment. I hear good things about the Brothers because they use a format (PED?) that is quite universal and you can buy lots of designs in this format compared to Viking and Bernina machines, for instance, which use their own exclusive formats and therefore you can only buy designs in these formats unless you have a fancy converter box which costs a ton and is more to learn.
I think you're right, it would be fun to embellish towels and such. I really desire an embroidery machine for monogramming for the same reasons--but it will have to wait for now. I just took 2 polarfleece hats to the local embroidery store to monogram for Christmas presents and it cost me $14 total...that's 4 letters on 2 hats. I imagine you could either sell the service of embroidery on finished products or sell finished products yourself?
Good luck deciding. I'd do a search on Pattern Review's website to read up on reviews on that particular model.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
 |
|
|
pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 11:44:49 AM
|
Okay
I have a janome memory craft 95000
It is a sewing and embroidery machine
I like it a lot
It has quite a number of embroidery designs allready on there.
Problem
The cards that you buy for the machines are really expensive.
At lest the ones for this machine
Also,
you have to make sure that the cards you buy are complaible with you embroidery machine
Your dealer will tell you which ones.
There is a little black box you can buy to down load( I guess that is the right term ; I am not to smart with comptures)
You have to buy that sperate if you want it.
There are lots of patterns on line
But,
I haven't got the box yet
Be sure to look around and test drive.
Make sure you like the machine.
I wanted a new computer / and embroidery machine so that is the reason I brought this one
I had a basice Elna computer sewing machine
I still have it and love it too.
So,
take your time
It might not hurt to go on line and look at what they have to offer.
Some, of the machines are quite expensive
almost the price of a new car.
I would love to have one of those; but, My pocket book won't allow it
it took me years to save up for my first one and then my second one.
Pinkroses
www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com
http;//www.sheilascreativetouches.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 11:56:18 AM
|
Thanks ladies for your input. I checked Pattern Reviews and this machine got good ratings. My friend is selling it for $195 and it comes with a fancy carrying case, all the paperwork, etc. I don't know if it has the adapter to download patterns online, but she's got a whole shelf of cartridges that she said I'm welcome to borrow at any time.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #272
St. Peters MO
Country Girl trapped in the city!
http://farmgirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2008 : 12:29:56 PM
|
Sounds like a steal of a deal Diana and for that kind of money you really can't go wrong probably...famous last words??? I mean I have priced machines and they usually start (for a real basic machine like you would see at Joann's or something like that) at $600+ up to the price of a used car, as Pinkroses said.
Pinkroses, I think you're referring to the Magic Box which converts quite a few formats to one your machine? I have been plain scared to get an embroidery machine because technology changes so quickly on these machines and I was afraid mine would be outdated before I could figure it all out and I wouldn't be able to get new designs for it. I'll be anxious to see if this one works out and hear more about it if you get it Diana. Does the D in PE180D mean it has the Disney designs in it?
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
Edited by - Jami on Dec 04 2008 12:31:24 PM |
|
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
|
|
pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
|
|
Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2008 : 6:46:40 PM
|
I have a Viking Designer 1 and I love it. The software to convert the patterns to your format is actually very simple to use and most web sites that sell designs sell most in all formats anyway. If you are embroidering to sell tho be sure about the copyright on the design itself. Some companys won't allow you to sell products with their designs and some will. It's best to read the fine print on each design package you purchase. I have found that a really good buy in embroidery designs is Martha Pullen's IEC club. Just 49.95 per year and several designs every month plus two alphabets and quilt block designs. All in all over 300 designs in this year's club. A good buy for the money. Martha Pullen does allow you to sell things embroidered with her designs. Anyway it's at MarthaPullen.com I do have all the software for conversion and to digitize my own designs and it was very spendy. I find that digitizing my own designs is a LOT of work and quite complicated so unless it's something I really want I don't mess with digitizing all that much.
I think you'll really love the embroidery and it sounds like a good buy to me. How big of a hoop does the machine use? I find that hooping is really the most tedious part. |
|
|
|
acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2008 : 05:28:41 AM
|
Diana, embroidery machines are fun. Sounds like a great deal your friend has given you. I have a bottom of the line Elna and although I really like it, it is limited to a 4x4 stitch field. Now that I'm a bit more familiar with machine embroidery I find that the designs I want are the larger stitch field. When I first got the machine you could get a lot of 4x4 designs but now most of them are a 5x7 or larger. Do check that out before you make a decision. The machines with the larger stitch field can stitch out all the smaller ones but my machine will ONLY stitch out the 4x4's.
There are several great website where you can purchase the designs. Someone mentioned Martha Pullen and that's a good one. The one I'm using most often now is www.emblibrary.com. There you can purchase individual designs or whole packs with multiple designs. Nancy's notions also has some good design packs but they can be pretty pricey.
As far as the brand. Brothers are good machines. I quizzed a sewing machine dealer once on why the Brother machine looked just like my Elna and she told me that there are only 3 manufacturers of sewing machines in the world so even though we have many different brands several of them are the same machines! I found that tidbit interesting! I guess you really do pay for the name in some cases. Of course for the life of me I can't remember the names of the 3 manufacturers!
Happy embroidery!
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
|
|
|
katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2008 : 11:45:17 AM
|
I have to agree w/you Audrey,
I have noticed that Brother, Bernina and Singer have some distinct simalarities and certain models use the same design card formats...
I am looking at a used 'Deco 650' by Bernina, I believe this model has been replaced by the Bernina Bernette 340...that's the other problem,,,these companies keep twicking little things just to create a renewed interest in the machines... uugghh! I wish they would leave a good thing alone!
The Brother D270E(if I remember correctly) is a combo sew/embroidery machine, one of the Brother-Disney Series....it has gotton moderatly good reviews(depending on who does the reviews) but I do not like the "Thread Cartridge" system....I think but am not sure that this is the only model that has this type of thread system...
Also, there are a gazillion programs out there for all these delightful machines. I think the best advice was stated above, you should "test drive" the different models. See what is a comfortable fit for you and not to get caught up in the sale pitch/hype, because, let's face it, it's their job to sell you their machine and they are very well versed in their machine.
I am somewhat techo challenged so I want a machine that I feel comfortable with, not one that a has all the bells & whistles and yet is not easy or fun to use! Nothing will make me walk away faster than a complicated machine that is not enjoyable to use! Thus it becomes a 'dusty paper weight'!
Diana, have fun with your soon to be new machine.
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2008 : 9:53:04 PM
|
Ok here goes. I have owned brother, bernina and viking embroidery machines. I sold all of them but the brother i have because I like it the best. they have their own box that you can buy and put designs on to put into the machine. You can take designs on and off and put more designs on again. the brother uses the pes. design format. you can also buy the buzztools program which is not to expensive and it will change any of the other designs for you from one format to another. like from the viking or Hus format to the pes format. it also does other things like prints out all of the designs that you might have on a floppy or cd so you know what you have on their so you can store them and no what is on what. I really like this program. For the price you are getting a very good deal on a what I call first embroidery machine. I think it only does the small 4x4 size and you may eventually want to move up to a larger size but it is a good place to start and a good price to start at. You can learn to use it and the software that you can get for it and then you can make another decision about moving up to a bigger one without spending too much money. one time a did a test and sewed out the same designs on all of my different machines and to be honest I wrote the name of the machine on the back of the fabric and asked different people to tell me which one they likes best and no one could tell the difference between them not even me after I had some one mix them up for me. so those little ones do a very good job. I woudld say go for it and have fun with it....
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2008 : 12:25:34 PM
|
This is great to read what those with embroidery machine experience have to say...glad you all found this post! Still sounds like the Brother might be a great choice for you Diana to get your whistle wet!
Thanks for piping up girls. I learned a lot from your posts.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2008 : 9:39:29 PM
|
ha! I had to run into Joann's to p/u some extra wide ric rac and dragged DH with me, we stopped at the Hasqaverna(sp) center, I nearly peed my knickers when the sales rep told me the price of the top of the line machine,,,$9.000.00 and then she showed me another one that would meet all my needs...with a straight face she said "this one is only $3.200.00"....as if it was no big deal, everyone carries that kinda cash in their billfold!!!! NOT! But the technology sure has come a long ways since just a few years ago, that bing said, I still am not going to lay out that kind of money unless I become a sewing maniac!
I think my por DH is still in sticker shock! he asked what type of gas it uses & does it have a bumper to bumper warrenty!!! LOL!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 09:09:08 AM
|
It's true, you could buy a cheap used car for the price of one of those puppies. That's why when I have something to embroider I support my local embroidery shop and they do beautiful work. I am a gadget person and if I purchased one of these embroidery models I know I would be spending a small fortune on all of the add-ons and threads constantly and the money outlay would just go on and on.
That doesn't mean I don't get starry eyed when I see them for sale however! It's embroidery machine lust. Ha.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 09:12:55 AM
|
Well viking has all kind of gadgets and they are all costly. Brother has a lot less gadgets, they are all package together and they cost A LOT less than viking or bernina. That is one reason I really like the brother.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
|
|
|
Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 09:23:06 AM
|
Beverley, you're so right. I splurged last year and purchased a Viking Sapphire quilting/sewing machine and I have spent a ton on accessories for it but I do sew a lot and I use them all. The cost of their pressure feet alone are outrageous but make the sewing experience so much better when you have the tools for the job you're doing. All of my previous machines were lower end models but sure didn't cost me much after the initial purchase...maybe because there weren't so many accessories available for them and also because my budget dictated that I make do.
I owned a boxed Brother once I purchased at Costco (sewing machine) and was very disappointed in it and I think I got a bad taste in my mouth about the Brothers due to this but I've heard great things about their embroidery machines and if I remember right, these are all combo machines?? Straighten me out on this if not. Thanks.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
|
|
|
Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 09:33:43 AM
|
| You are right. Top of the line embroidery machines are very expensive. I was lucky when I got mine as I got a floor model at a good discount but even then it was very expensive. Mine was a gift or I wouldn't have one either. However, I must add here that even though they are expensive and I believe excessively so, the Viking can be updated as new features come out. So even though they have two newer versions than the one I have, they are constantly adding new features that I can download and install on my current machine. I also like having several hoop sizes to choose from. With only the small hoop available ( my first machine only did 4x4) there are a lot of designs that you can't do or you spend a lot of time re-hooping all the time which is tedious and difficult to get things perfectly lined up. I guess a lot depends on what type of embroidery you want to do and what type of sewing you do. I do a lot of vintage reproduction work and heirloom sewing - late Victorian and Edwardian is my passion so for me the features of the Viking were important to me. I think that any machine that will do what you want it to for a good price is worth it. My family used to joke that I spent more time with my sewing machine than with my husband!! I think it's kind of like learning to play an instrument - you start simple and then graduate to a better instrument when you've out-grown the one you started on. I hope you will jump in and buy the machine they are a lot of fun. |
|
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
Posted - Dec 09 2008 : 12:37:25 PM
|
I get my embroidery machine tonite and I can't wait!
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #272
St. Peters MO
Country Girl trapped in the city!
http://farmgirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 09:21:54 AM
|
| Did you get your machine? How is it going? I hope you get many hours of enjoyment with it. I know learning hoop placement can be a challenge in the beginning. Any questions and I will be glad to help if I can. |
|
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 11:29:24 AM
|
I got the machine last night. I guess it would help if I got some thread though! Hubby is already wanting me to monogram hankerchiefs for him. I told him he'll have to wait til I read the instruction manual and then get the thread...oh and the hankies too.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #272
St. Peters MO
Country Girl trapped in the city!
http://farmgirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 2:42:27 PM
|
Oh have soooo much fun!!!! and yep you need to get some thread!!!! hehehehehe
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
|
|
|
Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 2:44:47 PM
|
Don't forget the stabilizer!!! You can't work without that either. Wash away for hankies...
Have fun. |
|
|
|
katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 6:03:24 PM
|
Diana,
congrats on getting your machine....I got mine yesterday too!
So I guess you and I will be learning together....I am practicing on a piece of doubled up cotton fabric, and regular thread. I had to fiddle with the tension to figure it out. I have 'monogramed' a couple of pieces of fabric to make for lavender pouches....I think I will take some embroidery classes at the quilt store the next time they offer them.
Next trip will be to town to get embroidery thread & stabilizer....
wahoooo! we are on a journey to the next level of sewing...isn't this so way cool!!!!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
mjf#72
Sisters on the Fly#472
www.katmom4.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2008 : 06:11:30 AM
|
Well I got some embroidery thread, read the manual, and already have some stabilizer that my friend gave me with the machine, but I haven't gotten to play with the machine yet. I'm busy making fleece blankets and trying to finish up some gifts I'm knitting. I have to work on the one for hubby whenever he's not home.
I can't wait to use it though!
Hey, speaking of thread, who has the best price? I got some at Joanns yesterday and it was about $5.50 a spool.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #272
St. Peters MO
Country Girl trapped in the city!
http://farmgirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
| |
Stitching & Crafting Room: Embroidery Machine |
|
Embroidery Machine
