I think I need one. I'm looking for the best machine to fit my needs for the cheapest price. I just got a new regular machine, so I just need an embroidery only. Let's discuss the other costs involved as well, so I can get an idea of the whole picture.
Thing is, I don't really know a whole lot about what's involved. My eyes kinda glaze over whenever ya'll talk about embroidery machines. LOL So, you need the thread, that's a big cost, in addition to the machine itself. What about software for the 'puter? Does that usually come with the machine? As far as options for the machine itself, again, I don't really know. Field size?
Please help a mutha out.
Thanks!
__________________ ~*Meagan*~
Mama to my Sweet Pixie, Sophie Elise
I am no expert since I just really started using mine. lol I have a brother pe 180 and wish I had spent moe money on one with a bigger embroidery field. Mine can only do 4 x 4. the thread is pricey. I stockedup last time JA hadit 1/2 off.
You need a smart, amazing or magic box so you can put the designs on the memeroy card. Otherwise you are stuck with what is built in to the machine or buying the very expensive cards for the machine. Those are between 150 and 250. Mymafic box just and is out of warranty so I am currently looking for a new one,. thank goodness the car repairs weren't too expensive!
I have a PE-150 (right now Allbrands has them for $299 including shipping and a warranty) and I have yet to find a need for a bigger field, but that is me and it seems that many others desire bigger fields.
I also have yet to find the supplies pricey. The thread is the same as buying Coats and Clark for the most part. I usually use Mettlers for abround $2 a spool. I have yet to find a need to buy HUGE spools of thread for embroidery. Some people buy prewounds, I wind the bobbins myself. The cards I find on eBay, I hunt them and watch them $20-$40 a card. Did splurge on the PE Design software, that too I bought on eBay and got for a steal, but I bought it MONTHS ago and have yet to use it.
I guess it depends on what you need and how hog wild 'ya go.
It really does add up. I think 5x7 is plenty big enough embroidery field. That's the hoop size I normally use.
Thread cost me about 150 to get a nice array of colors and 1000m spools (anything less is a waste of $ in my opinion). I think it's going to last me a long tme.
Unless you get the Ellageo which takes floppy disks, you will want to buy the ultimate box or amazing box which are around 170-200 bucks. This will allow you to download files off of the internet onto a card you put in your machine.
Software is additional. my machine didn't come with any, unless you buy a really expensive machine (ellageo, esante by babylock) during a special month, you wont' get anything with your machine.
My machine allows me to put words together and rotate - shrinks and increases between 90-110% only, and arrays words/sayings into an arc.
Still, I need to get embird which is about 85 bucks and allows you to put words together in 1 file, shrink and edit embroidery designs. And then digitizing softward is another 150 once you have basic Embird. Someday maybe.
It really adds up b/c then there's also prewound bobbins and stabilizers. You kinda need to have a few different types.
I have a subscription to this site - the designs stitch out beautifully: costs $5.00 a month to download as many as you want http://www.embroidery.dk/
I think if I could do it all over again I may not have started up on embroidery. But once I had the machine (which I saved up for by watching my friends daughter 1 day a week for 9 months last year), I felt like I needed to use its capabilities. I don't enjoy doing embroidery too much b/c I've had some hiccups that didn't work. It seems like I have to sit there and be there in case I get a jam - because if I don't, it can go all out of whack. I think alot of mommas don't sit there with it though. I should post about that some time, because some designs are like 45 minutes!!!! And color changes takes time too - so it's not like it doesn't take your time to do it.
However, for biz purposes it might pay for itself as embroidered covers are pretty popular!
__________________
Alison - mom of
Brian 5/28/02
Ruby 6/2/04
When looking at ebay for amazing boxes, etc, the cards looked like the same ones used for cameras. Can you use the same card for the embroidery machine, and even the card reader? I know my card reader acts just like another hard drive, and I can put any format of information on it. Anyone know? That would save me quite a bit of money when I get my machine!
__________________
Allison mama to:
DH (lol), Chrissy 15, Mikhail 12, Kiera 10, Kivett 8, Aislinn 6, Alannah 3, and fresh from the oven Kian Oliver-Bell 11/15/07
Allison I don't think so since each machine type requires a different format of cards y/k? You normally get the blank card with the amazing box and you really only need 1 though because all your designs are saved on your hard drive and you write what you need onto the card.
Originally posted by Maiden Comfort Adding my question:
When looking at ebay for amazing boxes, etc, the cards looked like the same ones used for cameras. Can you use the same card for the embroidery machine, and even the card reader? I know my card reader acts just like another hard drive, and I can put any format of information on it. Anyone know? That would save me quite a bit of money when I get my machine!
The technology is similar, but the cards are not the same. Different size, slightly different pin hook-up. And card readers are not really interchangable with embroidery boxes. I heard a *rumor* that the new TOL Babylock/Brother coming out may support a flash card, but again, who knows??? They are being really quiet about the new machine lines.
Can you upgrade your machine? You could probably trade up your machine for one that does embroidery also, for only a few hundred more, and most do 5x7. I really love my ellure, I haven't found that I need it to do anything that it isn't capable of.
As far as thread, I bought a kit of ARC from melcomart.com for around $75, plus shipping. It had 50 1000m spools, and they last forever!! Marathonthread.com has similar kits for similar pricing. I prefer poly thread, it is colorfast, less threadbreaks, yada yada.
For backing, I bought the precut stuff from marathonthread.com
__________________
Mary,
momma to Tyler 5-14-03 And Maya 1-19-2001
And Ciara 1-14-06
waiting in line! (for some reason that smilie cracks me up)
sigh. Let's talk about embroidery machines...
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