Free Embroidery Designs

I’m a student and i work primarily on a tabletop juki machine. They are very fast and i can get allot done in very little time. But I’m going to be moving soon and i will need a machine that can complete all different types of garments at a relatively fast pace.
Can I complete the same in of work at the same pace with a home sewing machine?

Thanks for the help.

Yes, and no. There are a few models of home machines that are designed for pros and do work at a faster speed than others. Janome produces a professional model, the MC6600P machine that sews 1200 stitches a minute straight stitch. The el-cheapo machine at wal mart or Target…not so fast. Or as reliable. if you are used to the speed and the stitch quality offered by a fast machine then the majority of the home machines will be far too slow and you’ll be waiting for the machine to catch up to you.

Since you do so much sewing the professional model is a much better investment. It looks like a home machine on the outside, but inside it has the speed and stitch quality that a professional advanced sewer needs. It will complete a wide variety of garments quickly and efficiently. It has lots of utility stitches and a good variety of decorative stitches too. It doesn’t do pre-programmed hooped embroidery -which is a good thing! You can do free motion embroidery easily. It is a table top home machine with the motor and head in one unit.

If you wish to buy an industrial machine that does a variety of stitches then the Bernina 950 is a good machine. It is a true industrial meaning the table, motor and head are separate. It offers 14 stitches and a semi automatic buttonhole.

Here are the two machines:
http://www.berninausa.com/product_detail-n2-i223-sUS.html and in it’s price for purchase with table, motor, and head: http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp00796-0070.html
The Janome worthy of your talents: http://www.janome.com/index.cfm/Machines/Sewing-Quilting/MC6600P

I have several industrials and I find many home machines far too slow. I run home machines at a "pedal to the metal" speed and I find the Janome is the closest to industrial speed. Most domestic home machines, even the expensive brands, don’t have the same level of speed that a pro is accustomed to. Hope that helped a bit.

I am looking for a simple sewing machine that has an applique and embroidery feature. Nothing too fancy. thanks

I have a Brother 8500 and I love it!! It does a great job at doing machine applique and it’s great for embroidery too! And these days, that machine runs a fraction of the cost that it did when I bought mine back in 1999! You can usually pick up a used one for around $1,000. I know that sounds high, but originally it cost $4400! And most of the newer machines that do both sewing and embroidery will run between $4,000 and $6,000! The fact that I have been able to get FREE embroidery designs for it online for all these years helps a lot!
Now if this is way too high for your pockets, you may consider getting a Elna I think it’s called, or maybe it’s Quilters Dream? Look in a quilt magazine and see what machine it is that Ellenor Burns is pictured with. Hers is for doing applique and all great quilting stitches. And then you could consider buying separately a Brother 150? I think that’s the number, but it’s a BASIC embroidery ONLY machine and it runs around $200. I don’t know what the Ellenor Burns machine costs, probably close to $500 or more since she’s endorsing it. Hope that helps!