Date: 3/3/03 6:34 PM

Hi there...
I'm new here and I'm happy to find this board.  I was wondering if anyone can recommend an embroidery only machine to me.  I just got a Pfaff 2042 a week ago for all my sewing, quilting, decorating stitches.  I struggled between the Bernina QPE 170 for $2100 and the Pfaff 2042 ($1300) plus a separate embroidery machine.  As you can see...I opted for the Pfaff as my main interest is quilting and I really wanted the dual feed.  But now...I'd like to look at separate embroidery machines.  I figure I'll start slow and if I really USE the machine like I think I will...I can trade up as I go and still keep my Pfaff for my other projects.  What do you all think?  I've sewn all my life but this embroidery thing is ALL NEW to me.  Any recommendations are appreciated.  I want to keep things as inexpensive as possible initially...but want a decent machine.  Is there such a thing?

Thanks...
~Cathy

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Date: 3/3/03 7:13 PM

Cathy, check out this thread on embroidery - only machines.  It might answer your questions.

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With a great wardrobe that's still in the flat-fabric stage.
Fabric = clothing (some assembly required) (from Re Becca's DH)

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Date: 3/5/03 12:40 PM

Thanks Anne...that was very helpful...I've got lots to look at!  Tomorrow I'm going to a sewing/craft convention for a few hours...I'm hoping they have several of the embroidery machines there to look at!  I also picked up a magazine on machine embroidery...I think it was Sew News Machine Embroidery...it was very interesting!  I'm feeling better about getting a machine.  I was wondering if it would really be used that much.  I'm looking forward to seeing it all tomorrow.  Thanks again for your suggestions.  

~Cathy

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Date: 3/12/03 4:10 PM

Cathy,  I thought I would let you know my experiences so far with my embroidery machine that Santa brought...

I've used it three times with great pleasure and success, but only three times.  Twice I embroidered initials on garments and the other time I embroidered a heart with the birds name on a birdcage cover I made.

So what's stopping me?  Several things:

1.  I haven't yet purchased any sort of device (Ultimate box, Amazing box, Magic box) that will allow me to download designs off the web, so I've only got the built-in designs and cards available.  

2.  Lack of time to practice.  I think I'd like to embroider some towels and baby blankets for gifts.  My full-time job gets in my way, and garment sewing takes priority over anything else for my play time.

3.  Money.  Those threads and stabilizers are pricey.  Not to mention more designs or auxiliary software and hardware.

All that said, I do like it a lot and I want to use it more.  I'm learning to think of the embroidery machine as an accessory to my regular sewing.  Santa would like to see me get more use out of it, I think, so I'll soon have to take the plunge into something more involved than what I've done so far ...  I wouldn't want him to think I don't appreciate his wonderful gift!

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Beth H in Georgia
Dolls: http://rustybobbin.com/photos/index.php?cat=4
Blog: http://www.rustybobbin.com/blog/

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Date: 3/13/03 12:31 PM

Quote (Rustybobn @ Mar. 12 2003,17:10)

So what's stopping me?  Several things: 1.  I haven't yet purchased any sort of device (Ultimate box, Amazing box, Magic box) that will allow me to download designs off the web, so I've only got the built-in designs and cards available.   2.  Lack of time to practice.  I think I'd like to embroider some towels and baby blankets for gifts.  My full-time job gets in my way, and garment sewing takes priority over anything else for my play time. 3.  Money.  Those threads and stabilizers are pricey.  Not to mention more designs or auxiliary software and hardware. All that said, I do like it a lot and I want to use it more.  I'm learning to think of the embroidery machine as an accessory to my regular sewing.  Santa would like to see me get more use out of it, I think, so I'll soon have to take the plunge into something more involved than what I've done so far ...  I wouldn't want him to think I don't appreciate his wonderful gift!

Rusty, you make some good observations that I'd like to comment on...


1. An embroidery machine with a serial port that connects to a PC will solve this problem.  We have a laptop, so I download the designs into the laptop and then hook it right up to the PC.  My decision to go with a Bernina 180E had to do with my desire for this capability.

2.  I try to incorporate embroidery into the garment design process, and I also stick with a limited color palette so I won't have to buy cones of colors that I'll use only once.  Some designs have 12 or more color changes!  The cost of thread can really add up...  As such, I try to avoid "motif" designs (which have a lot of color changes) in favor of designs that that more scalable and modular.  An example of a motif would be a design that is a basket of flowers - there's not much you can do with it except embroider it smack in the middle of an item.  However, a single flower, or string of flowers, can easily be repeated, reversed and incorporated into a garment in different ways.  When you see a design you like, be really critical about assessing how flexible it is. My Bernina came with almost 200 built-in designs - but most of them are motifs, and thus not really useful.

3.  No argument here.... I always buy the larger cones of thread and don't even bother with the ones that are regular sewing machine size.... also I buy stabilizer in the largest packages I can find.  The auxiliary software is indeed expensive (like $600 for Bernina) so for now I carefully choose my designs in the first place

One way to get great designs free is to visit the various country sites for your machine (such as the German Bernina site or Australian Bernina site)...you'll see lots of great designs that are free that are not available in the US, and the file format will match your machine because it's the same manufacturer.

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Sewing = Fashion
http://coudremode.com/

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

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Date: 3/17/03 3:20 PM

Phyllis, I was talking to a lady at the Sewing Expo last week about my embroidery (or lack of).  She suggested that I design a special garment incorporating some embroidery that wasn't already on my machine--really get worked up about it!  Perhaps even *purchase* a design that I can't use without getting the converter box.

I think that would do it!  Some of those Threads designs, perhaps ...

LOL!

I've got some lovely sheer metallic linen that would be very pretty with some monochromatic designs on it.  Hmm.  I'm starting to get excited about it already.

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Beth H in Georgia
Dolls: http://rustybobbin.com/photos/index.php?cat=4
Blog: http://www.rustybobbin.com/blog/

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Date: 3/17/03 5:34 PM

I need to get a converter box, too. I can see where this would ultimately be much more practical than buying cards--I could purchase just the designs I want and be able to download designs that are not generally available (such as church linen designs).

Unfortunately, buying technology stuff kind of makes my eyes glaze over. But I can see where this would be very useful, and seeing as I already have the embroidery machine, I need it to get the designs I want.

I am definitely interested in some of the Threads designs--they are not "cute" and appear to be versatile.

The supplies can be expensive! But I managed to find some basic colors in large cones at a dollar store so they're getting me started. Sometimes I will use these to stitch out a design even if the colors aren't right, to check density and so on. I also have other sewing friends and we trade threads and stabilizers back and forth. This way we can try a variety of products without having to buy an entire package.

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Now blogging at http://sewwest.blogspot.com

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Date: 3/18/03 12:15 PM

Quote (Rustybobn @ Mar. 17 2003,16:20)

Some of those Threads designs, perhaps ...

I've used some of the designs from Threads - they're really versatile - definitely a good value.

Also - you probably already know this when it comes to incorporating a design into a garment - it’s much easier to embroider the design first and then cut out the pattern piece.....you may have to add a bit of yardage to do this, but if you want to place designs exactly it's much easier and more precise than hoping the finished garment.

Trace around the pattern piece in any way that works, and then hoop and embroider.

------
Sewing = Fashion
http://coudremode.com/

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

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Date: 3/26/03 6:30 PM

Hi if you are looking for a less expensive (as if embroider is pricy) way to go this is kinda what I did...

The Brother embroidery only machine is about $500 us (700 to 800 if you spring for the 180 Disney machine) and NOW (came out after I bought PE design for $1000) you can get the PED which allows you to download stuff from the internet and write it to the card that fits into your machine it cost about $250.   You cannot digitize with the PED but if you get Buzz tools or Embird you can modify designs and then write them to your card (they cost in the $100 to 200 range each)

PE design is a full digitizing software that allows you to do anything! and can save to *.pes files which work on brother, babylock and the bernina deco (which is made by brother) I think it can also save in viking formats (hus ) as well.

So as some one who has gone through the ropes that to me was my best buy for my buck but it was over a year ago so who knows what is out there now.  

Plus get your dealler to throw in some stuff,  I got mine to knock the price down b/c I got the machine and software together and $100 of thread.

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Date: 4/5/03 8:15 AM

I just bought my first embroidery machine today (used)...fully aware of what I was getting into with additional costs and all...but I have a question about converter boxes...

What's the difference between a four slot and a two slot box?  I just saw an mini Amazing Box for $88...but I'm wondering if I really need the four slots and should wait a few months until I get comfortable with the machine or jump and get the "deal" before it's gone (I've only seen the mini box for almost as much as the regular one before this)...

Also, once I have the box, so I still need additional software to use download designs etc.  or am I good to go?  With the download designs, will I be able to resize or am I stuck with what I have?  I know I can't modify or add text, but I don't need to do that sort of thing right away anyway....

Thanks!

Rebecca

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