I'm with Quilty-Louise BUY the biggest hoop size you can afford. I have Husqvarna SE and I LOVE it.

I agree with Quilty Louise that Brother is a great machine for the money. I have baby lock and a Brother ... same manufacturer. While I can do 6 x 10, I find I usually prefer 5 x 7. IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE bigger hoop machine, go for it ... but you would get a lot of use from up to 5x7. You would outgrow a 4x4 machine pretty quickly.

I do not do Facebook..but if anyone belongs to a really good online group that is not Facebook, let me know. Thanks.

If it is fill(solid),,,then no,,,if it is outline embroiderry, you might be able to, just do a test piece first.

I bought the Singer with the multihoop capcity..you can literally quilt 4 times the area by rehooping...not for the beginner,,,took me several tries till i got it, but i can embroider out a huge area now.At least 18" by 18"....but it's tricky..I think Singer s on the right track, I think their future machines will be even better. This one is great...but big learning curve!!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by QuiltingFlamingo http://www.quiltingboard.com/images/...post-right.png Greetings ☺️
May I ask ..... What Machines are the Best for the $$ ??
I am shopping now for an Embroiderey Machine.
I want to use it for quilts, plus lots of fun things!
Ive never had one 
Thank you!!
I agree! Do all your research which you are doing right now anyway. I've had a Pfaff which I loved until they updated their programs and my machine would no longer talk to their program. I felt betrayed by their "planned obsolescence". I bought a Brother which I am NOT happy with. It is huge and heavy. I like the hoops but I had those with the Pfaff. Do NOT buy anything that only does 4x4 even if it is cheaper. The owner's (operator's) manual for the Brother is a nightmare to use. It is so confusing and I am not a dummy! I am having lots of trouble finding an instructor to help me do things that was just regular on the Pfaff. I tried out the Bernina and loved it however it is expensive and the feet are outrageously priced. They do run interest free programs occasionally. Be sure and choose a machine that has classes and support convenient for YOU. Check out the manual. I do enjoy embroidery because you get quicker results than with quilting. The Brother machine (Innovis dream creator) is just not intuitive and easy to use. It is heavy and bulky and seems limited in what it can do. I wish you luck and hope you find your dream machine!:)<strike></strike>

I have a Babylock Ellisimo Gold. I really love it! I make a lot of things for my grandkids, and recently have been making bags in the hoop. It's so much fun! Here's the four old birthday girl top. I added hot fix crystals for bling.

This is the time of the year when lots of the dealers have machines they are using for classes and fair demonstrations. They will have them discounted when the classes/fairs are concluded. Also new models have been released recently and folks like to trade up. Most dealers give a warranty on the used machines they sell. Sometimes you can get a used upgraded machine for what a new lower line machine would cost.

I have Baby Lock machines and several of my friends have the equivalent in Brother machines. We are all happy with our machines. They are user friendly and lots of YouTube videos to help when you are stumped. Also remember you will need software after you get a machine to use your machine for more than the built in designs.

Hello
I am looking for Matte Embroidery thread, I want to use it to do stand alone lace for various items. Does anyone know a source? Thanks in addvance!

Madeira makes a matte thread but it only comes on large cones and I don't know how many places sell it. I usually use cotton thread for FSL when I don't want the sheen of embroidery thread.

Cari

I am having so much fun with in the hoop designs! Who knew you could make such neat things!

Now that one floats my boat, lol! Is it from the same place as the first one you showed?

Cari

MaggieBB. I found this:
http://www.madeiramart.com/index.cfm...ctgroup_id=294

Hope it helps!

I really like your wallet. What is the name of pattern you used? Where can I get it. Thanks

Cari and JuanitaBean,

It's actually an Embroidery Garden pattern, but I purchased it from Craftsy. It's called Trifold Wallet. It was not too hard to make. I love how it stores my cards and cash!

Mommessy

Needle case
 

Found this free needle case download online. Had to make it. Used felted wool. Fun!

Anyone making Christmas gifts with machine embroidery in or on them?

I'm trying to if life quits getting in the way. I have four stuffed animals I bought from All Stitch I need to embroider the GGK names on along with the matching totes. The rest of the things I had planned will just have to wait until later.

aprons and dish towels, mini purses, pillow cases that's it so far

I am embrodiery names on hanging kitchen towels, add a pot holder mitt with a wooden spoon. also travel neck pillows. ( pattern from Gemini crafty) for starters. my embrodiery machine has been sick and in the shop. so I have no pic to post. love the embrodiery needle case pic and wallet shown above.

Ornaments and coasters. Will also make my Christmas cards on my machine.

I have a Brother PE770 and just took it out of the box. Haven't used it yet but I have heard good things I also have a Brother LB6800 and have made many quilts with that machine and also used the embroidery module that came with it. I bought the PE770 because it had the larger hoops.

My friend bought the PE770 and loves it. She got the low end embroidery program and now wished she bought the higher end. She has found her machine to be VERY user friendly and so much is available on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk2gXL3QXPw

Some great tip for hooping.

That is the same process I use except I made my "hoop collars" out of that bumpy rubber shelf liner.

Cari

I also have the Brother LB6800 Project Runway. I am learning how to use the sewing machine but will need to embroider the name on the cuffs of my Christmas stockings. That part is kind of freeking me out!

Lou

Soooooo pretty!
Louise

Anyone here has the Janome 350 e memory craft ? I am still relatively new to the embroidery,but my driving ( lol ) gets better and better.....I am wondering how to allian and make same design on both sides of a shirt or something , so that they will be really allian ??? Any tips?

I know what you mean about getting a machine with the largest hoop you can afford. Mine is 4" X 4" and I get frustrated when I find a design I really like and my hoop is too small. Maybe some day when money is not so tight I will be ale to trade this one in and upgrade.

Louise

I don't have the E 350, but I learned manually years ago. If you can tell me how the 350 centers a hoop, maybe I can help.

The old Pfaffs came with templates for the hoops that showed the center. You lined up the center of the design with the center of the hoop. You could move the center of the hoop manually by using the built in software in the 2170 at least.

To make a template if you don't have one - cut a piece of paper or a substitute the size of the hoop. Put in a design and see where the needle centers. Mark that. Then get a piece of see through plastic - the stuff that some quilters cut templates for cutting from, and measure the center of the hoop both width and length so you can mark them permanently later. Then mark where the needle started the center on the paper on the plastic template which should also be cut to exactly fit in the hoop. Put a pin hole in the center of template.
Make sure it's lined up, then mark your hoop and the template for the exact length and width of the center. On the template - it should be cross hairs.

After it's marked, line up the center of the design with the center of the template. You can also position the template over where you want to embroider and mark the center using a disappearing purple marker. Most designs have the center marked.

This was done when all the machines only had 4x4 hoops. Some had figured out how to split the designs to do a whole jacket back. (Well before software would split designs in the 90's)

My first machine only did 4x4 and I started reading every piece of info I could find on multiple hooping.
Most used the template method.

I read from Nancy Z. that making sure there is an underlay under the design is the best thing to keep the fuzzy's down. The stabilizer on the bottom and wash away on top is good but after washing it can still have the fuzzy's show back up. she has a you tube on it

I so love my Diamond deluxe, I had the ruby before and loved it. Love the big hoops and how easy the machine is to use. Neither one of my Vikings have been picky on thread like so many complain about. Some times I may have to take the thread and put it on the table top behind the machine or something but it all works.

If I were too look at anything else it would be a babylock or brother. Love the scan and digitize features on the new machines. In my area I also love the support that I get from Tidewater sew n vac. My local viking dealer, which I had no problems driving almost an hour for classes to learn has turned out to be lots of promises but no follow thru. In about 6 yrs and two machines and tons of money on supplies and classes and retreats they still haven't followed thru with promises. The promises to make sure there would be classes that I could go to on my days off which are Thur thru Frid and then then I also bought the 5D Pro software and was promised again but in 6 yrs and me bugging them and them giving me false promises I quit going to their store for anything. I'd rather drive a couple of hours to Richmond to get things for my machine that deal with them. I bought my serger from Tidewater sew n vac and have had constant support and classes offered thru out the area on different days thru out the month.

the reason I bring up the store is you really need to have good support, which I thought I had but learned the hardway I didn't. Good luck on final decision and if you havent' checked them out and compared what all they do and the hoop sizes and features then do so before buying one.

I totally agree even if you have sewn before every machine is different and you need guidiance

...new to this, although I have had the machine for 3yrs...it's not a super duper combo, as I'm more interested in piecing, quilting....BL ellure plus is its name. Did the intro to class about six months ago..nothing since...had to take machine to dealer because of a bobbin prob and got talked onto taking an upcoming three session project.....weak moment, said ok......went to first class tues......three of us there.....they knew what they were doing and their machines were TOL....anyway with help of instructor, I began......survived the 3+hr session....came home! unpacked and now wonder if I want to continue. The project I bought is a DVD of a scene with horse drawn buggy exiting a covered bridge....done in blocks(24) sashed and bordered. My daughter says I MUST finish..due to cost of DVD $65.00... Problem now is getting threads I need to finish at a better price than dealer...hopefully...madiera....I have a stash from my previous attempt with a Viking.....never did much with that....so anyway...I need a boost, as this is more intimidating with this thumb drive thing! Thanks for "listening"

Anybody have a Brother PE-770 that have upgraded their computer to Windows 10? I'm having trouble with my machine not reading the designs after I download them to a thumb drive. I didn't have the problem when I was running Windows 8.1. I've tried about six different thumb drives and it will read the designs already loaded but not the new ones. Anyone have any suggestions? I emailed Brother support but haven't heard back from them. I'm trying to finish some things for Christmas.

Geri B, The best price I've found for Madeira thread and other embroidery supplies is http://www.allstitch.net/ I buy almost all of my embroidery supplies from them.
Their thread is about half the price of the small spools dealers sell and it's almost 3 times as much thread on the mini cones. I do suggest getting a thread stand to put behind your machine as these Madeira cones will feed better than on the machine. Shipping can be high from AllStitch so my BFF and I go in together to make the order big enough to get free shipping.
Yes please do finish your project and post pics!

Cari

Thank yoy Weezy rider.....I will sure try to do it the way you did describe....I never got any classes so all my knowledge is from the nuce people in here and some videos on you tube......I really appreciate your help... ( by the way I have the two small hoops and there is some plastic templet that comes with them with the hole ....LOL
....
Hello again..... I did it, and it works...!!! Thanks a lot!!!!

Back when I updated from ?? to Vista,(years ago!) I had the same problem, and the solution was to find the setting to "run this program in an earlier version of windows". For you, it would be 8.1... I have no idea where to find it on windows 10..maybe somebody else can chime in on that. Seems the problem is that the drivers haven't been updated to run with Windows 10 yet..they all seem to lag behind the new operating systems.

I have that Brother machine, and I have recently upgraded computer to Windows 10 with no problem saving designs on thumb drive and then bringing up on machine. I do use Embird as my embroidery software.

Hello I have a 5 spool thread stand that fits Janome MC 9500 9000 300E 350E JA420 machines. I no longer use it and was wondering if I should sell. What are your thoughts on spool stands? I usually do not use one and just thread the machine with each color lined up. Fairly new to embroidery and recently was gifted a MC9000. Thank you for any suggestions.

I have a Brother Innovis 1E but have only made embroidered tote bags, bookmarks and Christmas tree decorations so far. Soon I will have to work up to doing a quilt!