I would say that I am an advanced sewer, however I have never done any embroidery on a sewing machine. I just got laid off this past June from my marketing job and have enjoyed just bouncing around not doing anything, however, I am now looking for a new creative job, something I could do with the skills I have an sell –perhaps on line, and the personalization of products seems really interesting. Your opinion would be gratefully received. TKS
Brother or Babylock are the most user friendly brands.
I have both and would buy none other.
Bernina for example makes a wonderful product, but they are very expensive and proprietary when it comes to software and accessories.
The other brands – I read too many problems – may be the machine and it may be the operator.
Stand alone models are less expensive than the combos.
Hoop size indicates how large a design you can stitch out without the aid of editing software. You want nothing smaller than 5 x7.
Connectivity. There will be designs and fonts already built into the embroidery machine. However, there are thousand on the Internet to download – some are free and some you will have to purchase.
To get those downloads to the embroidery machine you need an embroidery machine with USB ports for direct connect to the PC or to use a flash drive.
Supplies – medium weight cut away and medium weight tear away stabilizer.
Thread – rayon or polyester machine embroidery thread and machine embroidery bobbin thread.
Embroidery machine needles – a small supply comes with the machines.
You can get started for around $1,000. The models with the smaller hoop that uses a memory card is less money and with supplies about $700.
There is a series of books by Jeannine Twigg that are helpful when learning to use the embroidery machine. I started with this one – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873419995/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=087349847X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=13BBF9W6FA3WQB253K4T
Supplies, you can purchase when on sale.
Allbrands, Allstitch & ShoppersRule are a few of many, many sites that sell machine embroidery supplies.
http://www.allbrands.com
http://allstitchembroiderysupplies.com/
http://www.shoppersrule.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=sr
Now that you are "loaded" with info – hit the sewing machine stores and let them show you what they have to offer.
Buy the machine you like best from the dealer you like best.
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