How To Pick Up Decent Embroidery Machine

[catrina]

How To Pick Up Decent Embroidery Machine

- Comparison Chart Included -

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Embroidery Tips from A.B.C.

December 29, 2005

 

 

 

 

Because we've received quite a lot of questions on this

subject, current newsletter issue will be dedicated to

selecting embroidery machine.

 

So if you don't plan to purchase a new machine in the near

future, you may skip on this letter. Just be sure to save it

somewhere for the future, because the research we've made

can save at least 2-3 days of your valuable time once you

decide to get a new machine.

 

Also, if one of your friends is thinking about a new

machine - you're welcome to forward this email.

 

P.S.

Don't worry - we've tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Enjoy!

 

Anna Bove Collections, Inc. Team

 

 

 

How To Use Our "Machines Comparison Chart":

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Because we communicate with other machine embroiderers

a lot, we had a chance to learn what is most important

for home machine embroiderer when choosing, and Using

an embroidery machine.

 

Based on this knowledge, we've sorted over 50

embroidery machines by key features, and prepared an

easy-to-read chart. You may download this chart for

free. It's in printable PDF format.

 

Before you go to the chart, you may want to know more

about it.

 

First - the chart was built with Machine Embroiderers in

mind. The features that we've paid most attention to are

embroidery area size, what kind of media each machine

can read, etc.

 

We didn't include much information about regular sewing

& quilting features. Why? Because expensive machines have

too large number of bells & whistles. We physically couldn't

insert all these features into a compact, easy to read chart.

 

So if you do lots of sewing or quilting - please compare

the models that look similar on our chart Again, and

read manufacturer info from their web sites. You will

definitely find some nuances important personally for

you.

 

 

General Impressions, Based On On-line Reviews:

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Let's start with the manufacturers. After all, it's

very important, because some make their machines in

Sweden, some in Japan, some in Germany and some in

China.

 

For precise mechanisms, that "move" and are supposed

to work well for years, it might be reasonable to pick up

your machine not only by it's features list.

 

As you surely know, Sweden is commonly accepted to be

the queen of precise mechanisms that work troublessly

for many years.

 

Our search for reviews proved this point. We've found that

all embroidery machines manufactured by Husqvarna Viking

and Bernina, tend to have Excellent reviews. No matter what

model it is - owners indicate that they work well, as advertised,

with almost no maintenance, for many years.

 

Machines manufactured in Germany, like Pfaff, and in

Japan, like all Janomes and some Singer models, also

have exceptional reviews and very little complaints.

 

We've even got hooked up on Janome 300E model, while

searching. It's an "embroidery only" machine, that you

can buy new for about $1000.

 

It has a 5x7 inch sewing area, and it reads Dirty Cheap

rewritable flash memory cards that you can get (blank) for

about $15.

 

People are just raving about it. We've found endless praising

of it's stitching quality. But it's biggest advantage is probably

the ATA PC port.

 

This port allows to download designs from the internet

easily, without spending $200-$400 on regular card

writer and memory card. It only needs a $15 adaptor

with $15 flash memory card.

 

If you sew, you may get another machine only for sewing,

to enjoy both worlds simultaneously. While the little Janome

embroiders, you can sew. It makes sense because 300E

costs less than 1/3 of "sewing & embroidery" Janome machine

prices.

 

It also works great with Embird that costs $99. Therefore

you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive

software produced by the machine manufacturer.

 

OK. Stop. We're not Janome dealers, and don't have any

interest in advertising this Janome baby so much. Just

got overexcited. Let's move to "Machine Comparison Chart"

columns.

 

 

Embroidery Area (in common language - hoop size):

---------------------------------------------------------

This term is confusing. And machine manufacturers try

to make it even more confusing than it already is.

 

Each machine has a very definite, and Not Upgradeable,

mechanical property that indicates The Largest single

design you may embroider on it at once, since each

machine's needle can move only X inches vertically &

Y inches horizontally.

 

X and Y of course vary from model to model.

 

Because people tend to call embroidery area "hoop

size", a lot of misunderstandings arise.

 

For example, if your machine can only embroider a 4x4

inch design at once, and you will try to measure it's hoop

rings, you will measure something close to 5x7 inches.

 

Yet, if you see that certain digitizer offers designs for 5x7

inch hoop, this means that your actual hoop rings must be

of larger physical size than 5x7 inches.

 

The maximum size of design that your machine can

embroider at once should be 5x7 inches. If it's not -

you can't use 5x7 designs without splitting them.

 

Be sure not to fall into this trap. When buying your

machine, ask about it's actual embroidery area, NOT the

size of various hoops that you can get with it.

 

For example, when purchasing our first Husqvarna Viking

Designer 1 machine, we asked about it's maximum hoop

size. The dealer told us that it's 300 x 150 mm (14.2"

x 6").

 

Naively, we assumed that we can just embroider a 14.2" x 6"

design all at once using this hoop.

 

To our great surprise, it appeared that this is a "moving"

3-position hoop and you must split a 14.2" x 6" design

into 3 parts to embroider it. It's not difficult, but

of course plenty of extra color changes add up.

 

This story doesn't mean that we have something against

Husqvarna. The opposite. Love our D1. The poor machine

worked like a horse for 3 years, without problems. We

only took it to maintenance twice - to clean and oil.

And it continues to embroider well.

 

We've mentioned this story to show that you'd better ask

what is the largest size of design you can embroider Without

splitting it, Before you buy any machine.

 

By the way - in our chart, there might be some not very

precise information about embroidery area sizes.

Especially with the machines that seem to offer huge

embroidery areas.

 

We've gathered all this info from manufacturers' web sites.

It is supposed to be correct. But be sure to re-check this

important issue with your dealer, because manufacturer

descriptions are often confusing. Some of those huge hoops

might easily be with the "moving" and "splitting" technique.

 

 

Media Recognition:

----------------------------

The type of media that your desired machine can read is

very important. Both in terms of convenience and price.

 

Some machines take floppy disks (wonderful feature,

because floppies are cheap).

 

For example, Brother ULTs take floppies. Babylock

Ellageo's too.

 

Husqvarna Designer 1 also reads floppies, which is great,

but you MUST purchase their expensive software to use the

embroidery unit to it's full extent. Why? Because almost no

digitizers offer SHV format for Designer 1 (we do). And you

don't want to be limited when shopping for designs, especially

while having such an expensive machine.

 

Most of the newest high-end machines can also be

connected directly to PC using USB cable. Some can even

read designs from regular USB memory sticks.

 

The more simple machines tend to read memory cards only.

So to be able to use designs from the internet or CDs,

add the cost of card reader/writer and blank cards to

your future machine's price. See if the total makes sense.

 

We don't suggest to build your plans on constantly buying

prewritten memory cards, because they are terribly expensive.

Also, your choice of designs will be limited. Only the largest

companies offer their designs on cards. And most often these

aren't the designs you'd like to purchase.

 

 

Format:

-----------------

This column exists to tell you what designs you will be

able to purchase. The most commonly available format is

PES, because it's used by several machine brands (all

manufactured by Brother).

 

Don't worry - you may convert from almost any format to

almost any format using $99 Embird software. Except of

Bernina's ART, Husqvarna Viking's SHV and Pfaff's VIP.

 

In order to convert other formats to SHV & VIP you'll need

Husqvarna's software, and to ART format - Bernina's.

 

 

Move Stitch By Stitch:

---------------------------------

Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't mention if you

can move stitch by stitch while embroidering, or not.

 

We've left blank spaces for all machines where it's

not clear. So when buying, be sure to ask your dealer

this question.

 

Also, if you know this parameter for sure about one of the

machines with missing "Move Stitch By Stitch" column,

please let us know.

 

Why the ability to move stitch by stitch is so important? Because

when you embroider, something may go wrong. Thread can

break, for example.

 

You should be able to get a few stitches back after cleaning

up the mess. Usually 5-10 stitches "reverse" is enough to make

your embroidery look beautiful and flawless after unexpected

thread break.

 

 

In-Hoop Basting:

-----------------------

In-hoop basting is a very nice feature that some

machines offer. Not crucial, but useful feature. With

in-hoop basting you may sew your fabric to stabilizer

and prevent it from moving.

 

Of course you can do the same using temporary spray adhesive,

or even with a single line frame embroidery design. But it's a

pleasure to have it automatic, built-in. If you are looking at the

high-end machines - make sure it's there.

 

 

Design Rotation:

------------------------

All expensive machines tend to offer rotating & mirroring

options via their touch-up screens. Most can rotate by 1

degree increments. Some - only by 45 or 90 degree

increments.

 

This function is nice, especially if you haven't hooped

the fabric correctly and want to make a quick fix by

rotating the design. But you may do the same thing

using your embroidery software (Embird is great).

 

 

Sewing:

------------

Many embroidery machines can also sew. If you plan to

sew or quilt a lot - pay attention to sewing features,

and investigate them in depth.

 

The high end machines not just sew, but can really do magic

with their hundreds of decorative stitches, utility stitches,

ready buttonholes and eyelets in different styles.

 

From the reviews we've been reading, garment sewers

seem to prefer Husqvarna Designer series and greatly

praise multiple Husqvarna buttonholes. Advanced

quilters like Bernina machines, because of Bernina's

great freemotion features.

 

 

Decorative & Utility Stitches:

-----------------------------------------

This column describes how many built in decorative

stitches, utility stitches and buttonhole styles each

machine offers.

 

Unfortunately Singer's website offered very little and

incomplete information about their machines, so we couldn't

write the exact numbers for Singers. But they do offer various

stitches and some buttonholes.

 

 

Updaiteable Online:

---------------------------

If you plan to get an expensive machine, you'd probably

want it to be "new for many years". And you can, with

online updates. The hardware of course won't change,

but most manufacturers offer upgrades with new

decorative stitches and other software enhancements.

 

 

Endless Hoop:

---------------------

This is a cool feature for borders. A couple of machines

come with such endless hoops. Instead of rehooping, you

can just scroll the fabric to correct position, and enjoy

embroidering endless borders with ease. No rehooping

will be needed.

 

 

Takes L-size prewound Bobbins:

-----------------------------------------

99% of home embroidery machines can use factory wounded

bobbins, so you don't need to spend a minute of your

time for winding them.

 

We started using prewounds over 2 years ago, they are a

blessing. Their price is similar to regular bobbin thread that

you need to wind yourself.

 

And factory bobbins are winded better than home-made

ones. Factory bobbins also include a lot more thread due to

the way they are winded. So, instead of changing bobbins

every 5 minutes, you can sit down, drink coffee and enjoy.

 

 

Download The Chart:

---------------------------

That's probably all about the chart. It's also printable.

You may download it in PDF format here:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?Qd9vkcgMSBvEmn0W1FSOeA

 

The chart can be opened using Adobe Acrobat Reader

program, available for free download from Adobe's

site.

 

 

 

P.S.

Free Advice.... If you can afford a machine that

embroiders 5x7 inch designs in one hooping, go for it.

 

You will be irritated to see all those 5x7 designs

that you can't use after purchasing a 4x4 hoop machine.

 

The price difference isn't that large. Look at the

earlier mentioned Janome 300E, for example. You'll pay

for it perhaps $200 more than for the cheapest 4x4

hoop machine with all it's card writing devices.

 

 

P.P.S.

Almost forgot. Make sure that you purchase from a

knowledgeable, helpful dealer. You will need his help,

no matter how great your machine is and how technically

advanced you are.

 

Everyone have troubles from time to time, or just need

expert advice. Your dealer must be the person who knows

everything about the machines he sells. At least about the

machine YOU purchase from him.

 

After all, service is enormously important. Good dealers

also offer classes to help you get started.

 

 

Wish you a wonderful day & happy machine shopping!

Kindest Regards,

A.B.C. Team

 

Anna Bove Collections, Inc.

[Knappkantig]

Hallo,

 

diese Infos stammen aus den kostenlosen Newslettern der Firma ABC Embroidery, die man hier abonnieren kann.

[catrina]

Hallo,

 

diese Infos stammen aus den kostenlosen Newslettern der Firma ABC Embroidery, die man hier abonnieren kann.

 

 

ja ellen, da hast du recht. ich habe ja auch nix anderes behauptet. und wir können ja nicht davon ausgehen, dass alle diesen newsletter erhalten haben, oder?

 

viele grüsse

catrina

[Knappkantig]

Hi Catrina,

 

meine Antwort sollte auch in keiner Weise kritisch sein, sondern nur ein Hinweis, wo man mehr dieser hilfreichen Infos finden kann.

[catrina]

Hi Catrina,

 

meine Antwort sollte auch in keiner Weise kritisch sein, sondern nur ein Hinweis, wo man mehr dieser hilfreichen Infos finden kann.

 

 

dann ist ja alles fein. liebe grüsse catrina