Home embroidery machines have been popular since their introduction to the home market in the 1990’s. These machines can be used for personal projects or to start a business. If you are considering purchasing an embroidery machine, then consider the following when making your selection.
There are many brands of embroidery machines available in all price ranges for the home market, ranging from several hundred dollars to over $22,000 (yes, you read the zeros correctly!). Home embroidery machines can be one of three types: embroidery only, combination sewing and embroidery, and multi-needle machines.
For a beginner with no sewing experience, consider an embroidery only machine. This will only embroider – it will not perform any sewing functions. The entry-level machines will generally come with a 4”x4” hoop – you will not be able to make your designs any larger than this. The mid-level machines will generally offer at least two hoop sizes and more editing abilities than your entry level machines.
Sewing and embroidery combination machines are a popular option, as well. These work well when space is limited or only one machine is needed. Be aware, though, that you will need to switch between the sewing and embroidery functions – you cannot do both at the same time! These machines are available in a wide range of features, functions, and price.
Multi-needle machines are usually the choice of users who are operating a small business. These machines will stitch faster than the home machine and can accommodate items such as caps, boots, backpacks, etc. that are almost impossible to fit in a standard home embroidery machine.
Questions To Ask
-What size hoops are available?
First, have a clear idea of the item(s) you plan to embroider and the size of designs. Most entry-level embroidery machines will have a 4”x4” sewing field. You cannot sew designs that are larger than this. A 5”x7” hoop size is good to work with and most monograms will fit nicely in this size hoop. Oversize letters, however, will require a hoop larger than this.
-What kind of lettering fonts are built-in?
Letterings vary from machine to machine. Most of the home embroidery machines will make monograms no more than 2” tall. If you want larger lettering, you will need to purchase a lettering program. The Brother BES Lettering program has a wide range of fonts. These will be larger than the built-in fonts with your machine. You will need a USB drive to transfer the designs from your computer to the embroidery machine.
-What type of designs does the machine have?
Designs will vary depending on the machine and hoop size. Additional designs can be downloaded from many Internet sites and may be free or available for purchase. Most machines today have a USB slot for file transfers and some upper-end models are Wi-Fi enabled to allow for easy transfer. To create your own embroidery designs, you will need digitizing software such as PES Design by Brother or Floriani Digitizing Software. If you purchase the software from us, we do one-on-one lessons to acquaint you with the software.
-What type of support will I get with the purchase?
This may be the most important question to ask. Lessons on the machine that cover not only the machine operation but types of stabilizers, needles, and threads for successful embroidery will give you the tools needed for beautiful creations. We have quite a few people who have purchased machines from an Internet site and then have no clue how to proceed. If you purchase from The Sewing and Vacuum Center or another reputable dealer, owner classes should be included. We offer one-on-one unlimited, free lessons on most of the machines we sell. “Brush up” lessons are also available as long as you own the machine. The lessons contain valuable information on the machine itself, as well as the best threads and stabilizers to use. We also provide one year of free service on the machine.
Machine embroidery still continues to be an enjoyable hobby or satisfying home-based business for many. We, at The Sewing and Vacuum Center, are ready to assist you in choosing the correct machine as well as how to use it. Come by and see us!
-submitted by The Sewing and Vacuum Center
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