Those fancy designs you have planned in your head can be brought to life when you buy one of the best embroidery machines. With a huge amount of features and accessories, the better products are easy to use but can do it all. Your budget might determine the type of embroidery machine you can afford but you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to quality.
This is why we have created the following buyer’s guide. Not only does it clear a few things up, but it can help you make a sensible decision, so you can find the right machine to turn a textile into a masterpiece.
Built-In Patterns
The number of built-in embroidery patterns a machine will give you will often be reflective of the price. Sure, you might have to pay a little more for a bit extra but it does give you lots of potential designs from the word go.
We like to see anything around 100 and above but a beginner might find that they can deal with less. Most brands have a good variety and others will even include the likes of Disney characters in theirs.
Hoops
To keep the fabric in place without it stretching, it is important to use embroidery hoops for your designs. The better ones will be easy to clip on and off and the advanced machines will give you more than one option when it comes to size. For best results, use the one that is most appropriate for the size of the embroidery you are doing.
Large Embroidery Field
To get the most out of an embroidery machine, it needs to have a large enough work area. The embroidery field will determine the size of the designs you can use and how easily the material will fit. Understanding this will help you to know whether the design will fit into the hoop size that your machine comes with.
Large LCD Screen
Not only should an embroidery machine have a large LCD screen, but it also needs to be easy to navigate. Some don’t come in a color option which is less enjoyable to use but many touchscreen options make it easy to navigate between designs.
USB Capable
The embroidery machine you go for must be able to connect to a laptop or PC via USB. This makes it so much easier to upload new designs. The best models will make this easy, some even come with a cable attached whilst others just offer a USB slot.
This means the product you buy doesn’t have to come with a lot of built-in designs, as long as you can upload the ones you really want.
Storage
When uploading new designs you also need to be sure that the machine you buy can store enough of them. It would be pretty unfortunate for you to spend money on designs only for the machine to not have the space to use them.
Fonts
This will be part of the built-in stitches but the more fonts you have the better. This is because you can personalize your designs and add a thoughtful finish to your designs.
Preview Function
Being able to look at your design on the LCD screen before you use it can help you to find the perfect one. There are even some embroidery machines that allow the user to switch between color options to see what the finished result will look like.
Most of the time you will find an embroidery machine is not only capable of making unique patterns and designs but they give you a full range of sewing capabilities as well.
The machine will make patterns and designs, stitching them onto a garment or fabric and can bring a piece of clothing to life or make a uniform stand out.
Some are better than others when it comes to sewing but you will find that if you want a balance between sewing and embroidery, there are some amazing choices out there.
The best embroidery machines also come with a lot of built-in sewing stitches, with a lot of models giving you more options than many standard sewing machines. Whether the embroidery machine you opt for is capable of sewing will depend on the machine.
Some embroidery machines are very easy to use but your experience will depend on what you want to use it for. If you are looking for a new hobby or want to decorate your clothes a little then you will find the basic models are pretty beginner-friendly.
These machines can also be used for decorating larger materials such as quilts and pillows but keep in mind that the bigger the project, the more patience you will need. There is always a learning period but a lot of people will say that using an embroidery machine is easy if you stick with it.
Among the many fabrics an embroidery machine is capable of working on, felt is definitely included. For best results use a blanket stitch or something a little lighter. Many machines will be capable of stitching different fabrics together, including more than one layer of felt.
This is one of the common questions embroiderers have to ask themselves when looking for a new machine.
Although there are benefits to both hoop sizes, the 5 x7 gives you more room for larger designs. However, this comes at a price so expect to pay more for the privilege. Consider your needs before you make the leap. If you can’t decide then you might not have to; a lot of reputable brands include both.
This will depend on your level of expertise.
Anyone looking for an entry-level embroidery machine might find that they have to make do with fewer built-in embroidery patterns and maybe a less powerful motor but there should still be plenty of excellent options for around $350.
Those who need something that gives them a bit more freedom and advanced features will end up paying anywhere between $500 – 850 for something suitable.
Someone who is looking to use an embroidery machine for work should look at a professional-grade product and this will cost $1,000 and above. The most advanced products can cost well over $5,000 but they are impressive machines.
The time you save by using an embroidery machine means you can get more done so a professional would find it a lot easier to use a machine. The process is a lot smoother and there is less room for error with an embroidery machine.
Some people will say that it is hard to beat the personal touch of handcrafted embroidery but using a machine will mean you are left with a professional-looking result every time. Also, a machine is incredibly versatile and can be used for more than the embroidery tasks.
No one machine will suit everyone. From your budget to your level of skill, there are many aspects to consider. However, there is no denying the quality of Brother’s SE1900 Sewing Embroidery.
You get 138 built-in embroidery patterns and a load of built-in stitches making it one of the most versatile machines for embroidery and sewing. With a 5×7 embroidery field and a USB slot to upload new patterns, it has everything going for it.
Also, it is easy to navigate with a clear LCD screen to make it the best all-rounder for beginners and the experienced embroiderer.
