Should I get an embroidery machine?
Everything I warn sewists about combo embroidery/sewing machines
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Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, Wireless LAN, 8 included Ft
I have used this machine for both sewing and embroidery for about a year. It’s very smart and can do everything your traditional sewing machine can do, plus machine embroidery. It’s generally user-friendly, and it’s very popular, so there’s a lot of resources online if you have any issues.
$550+ for the machine is not the last money you’ll spend
The machine is expensive, for sure. But you need a lot to make this puppy run.
More “Stuff”: Thread, fabric/blanks, stabilizer, special embroidery tools like extra hoops, sock hoops, scissors. Technically you can embroider without some of these bells/whistles - but they do help a ton.
Technology: I use Canva Pro and Artspira Pro (from Brother). I know many/most embroidery folks talk about Embrilliance, but I haven’t gotten into that. There is also Ink/Stitch which is free to use but has a high learning curve.
Designs on Etsy or elsewhere - if you buy a font, you’ll need to load each letter in one-by-one which is a pain!
The embroidery isn’t 100% perfect
Single needle machines are built to be multi-purpose, and we love that. But it’s not built for maximum precision. You’re going to have issues with thread/stitch density, font size and/or alignment not being completely perfect. The results will be really good!! And people will love your gifts. But you’re always going to know the things that didn’t quite work perfectly.
You can’t turn just anything into an embroidery file
If you’re thinking you can make any design or logo into an embroidery file, you would be wrong. I thought this when I got my machine! Hello, custom swag! But logos are generally complex and - see point 2 - the at home, single needle machine is just not built for high volume precision that will make you feel like you did a professional logo justice. Not the end of the world, and you can make PLENTY of things into embroidery - especially with Artspira - but just keep your expectations realistic.
You’re going to learn a lot about embroidery data - some by choice and some by force
You can buy a lot of different embroidery designs. I typically buy on Etsy. Sometimes, you’ll get a design and it won’t do a great job on your machine. You can fuss around with it, and you may end up trying to edit it in Ink/Stitch. My recommendation is to just buy a different design. I look for folks that sell designs AND post videos about them using their own designs and that they actually test their designs. There are a lot of designs being made and sold without ever being tested - so buyer beware!
If you want to try Ink/Stitch, please do. It’s free. It is absolutely not easy to use, and I am relatively tech savvy. I have made a design using it, and I have edited a purchased design. But both of those tasks were a huge time commitment and I wasn’t even thrilled with the result. Using Ink/Stitch is a “nice-to-have”, but is a developing skill I will work hard to avoid.
You’re going to ruin several pieces - and it won’t stop you from loving to embroider
I go through a mental checklist now when I load a blank into my embroidery machine. Where’s the top of the design supposed to be? Is your correct color thread loaded? Have you recently changed your needle? You’ll definitely make errors, start designs sideways or upside down, forget to change your needle and use the wrong thread. Once the machine starts sewing, you can’t really back out or remove the stitches like it didn’t happen. These are thousands of stitches and they are quite snug and small. No going back once it’s go time!
You’re going to find all the best places to get blank items
You’re going to start hoarding blank products. You’ll have a favorite blank t-shirt, sweatshirt (quarter zip, crew neck, and hoodie) and where to buy blank cloth napkins and hand towels. You’re going to know what you can source quickly and what you should have on hand when you want something higher quality. Who knew you had room in your brain for this?
You’re going to make so many wonderful, personalized gifts
You are going to give some spectacular, personalized gifts. The ideas you’re going to come up with are going to be so fun and cute. Your family and friends will expect very exciting stuff when there is a gift-giving opportunity!
People are going to tell you that you should sell your work
You are going to attract some attention. It’s going to be charming and definitely fun, but it will be attention. You’ll get asked to embroider random stuff, some of it will make sense, some of it won’t. It’s nice to be needed!
You might take a big pause from basic sewing
Although it’s very easy to switch the machine from sewing to embroidery mode, you might not do it that often. Honestly, sewing is going to feel like it’s a little harder/more work once you’ve felt the charge from finishing an embroidered piece!
It runs automatically, but it won’t save you time
Although the machine runs embroidery without supervision, you will probably sit and watch it run. That’s good for a few reasons - you can watch for errors or issues, which aren’t super common if you have your stabilizer right and you’ve done some test runs. But a needle can break, your bobbin can run out, your thread can rip. Even if you have it run perfectly, you may notice areas that you want to re-run or fix.
If you like sewing and you love personalization, you will definitely love it. You just need to know the pitfalls! It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it is a lot of fun.