Choosing a Machine

Important things to take into consideration when choosing your machine.   What support is available. Is there a good Sewing Machine dealer in your area that supports your brand of machine?  They will be able to help you use the machine, get supplies for it, and also service it.    The sewing field and hoop size. Embroidery designs come in different sizes. If your machine only has a small hoop size, you will be limited to what size design you can sew out.  Everyone always wants to sew out the biggest size available.  Standard sewing field sizes are 4x4" 5x7", 6x8" and up to 8x12" with some machines.  The sewing field is the area inside your hoop where the design is sewn.  The physical measurement of your hoop, is different to the sewing field size.    How will you obtain your embroidery designs. Do you need any additional hardware and software to use designs from the internet with your machine?  How will you transfer designs from your computer to your machine?  More information on the different ways of getting designs can be found here.   The embroidery format your machine uses.  Embroidery designs come in different formats for the different brands of machine. You need to ensure the format your brand uses, is commonly available online. If it is not, then you need to check what software you need to convert to this format.  The major formats like PES for brother, and HUS for Husqvarna are commonly available.  However sometimes machines require a certain version of the format that is not available everywhere, and you may need the software to convert to this.  Do your research on this, before you purchase.   Another thing to take into consideration when buying a machine, is the cost of the digitizing software, if you intend to create any designs yourself. Generic programs like Embird Digitizing Studio will enable you to create your own designs.

 

Tips for purchasing a machine from your dealer.   A good sewing machine dealer will be happy to let you try different machines and will show you how they work. You should sit down and play with them until you have a good feel for the machine.   Be comfortable with your machine. The most important aspect of choosing your computerized embroidery sewing machine is how comfortable you feel about its controls and viewing screen. Do you feel confused by it, or does it seem to make sense? Is it easy to get it to do what you want it to do, or does it seem illogical to you? The buttons, layout and procedures of the machine are what you will be dealing with, so make sure they make sense to you.   You should not feel pressured to buy a more expensive model.  A good dealer will never try to offer you a special sale price that you have to take immediately or miss out – rather they should offer you the opposite - an extension of a special price so you have time to make up your mind comfortably.   Try before you buy. You should visit your local sewing machine dealers and try a variety of different machines to see what you like. Bring your own thread and your own fabric, of types similar to that with which you plan to do your regular sewing, to try the machines with. Note that some dealers will offer to provide these items for you. You should try your own anyway, as they may provide thread and fabric which the machine handles well, but that you wouldn't actually want to use.   Ask about lessons and courses that the sewing center may offer. Some offer video tapes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask people who do machine embroidery.   Read the warranty before buying an electronic or computerized sewing machine to see how the manufacturer guarantees the electronics. Many manufacturers warrant the electronics for a shorter period of time than the mechanical parts of the machine.   Be familiar with the hardware requirements.  If you want to connect your sewing machine to a computer for doing machine embroidery make sure that it can be connected to your type of computer. For example, some sewing machines do not connect to Macintosh computers, or your laptop may not have the correct port.   Most importantly take into consideration the price of software needed.  Dealers will always want to sell you the latest software to go with your machine.  While some brands require brand specific software and hardware, others can make do with generic programs like Embird and the Ultimate Box.  Do your research before you purchase your machine and it could save you money in the future.

Basic Care of your Embroidery Sewing Machine   Whether you sew constantly or occasionally, basic maintenance of your machinery is essential. Some models need to be oiled after every 10 hours of use. Always check your manual first.  Some of the new machines do not recommend oiling unless it is done by an authorized trained technician.   If your manual recommends oiling, be sure to use proper sewing oil. Oiling not only lubricates the moving parts but also reduces the risk of rust. Refer to your owner’s manual for the right spots to oil. Not every hole needs oil! Some older models have marks  to show you where to put the oil. After oiling, do some sewing on scrap material to absorb any excess oil.   Lint and fluff build up and should be removed. Fine working mechanisms such as the bobbin and tensions can be damaged by lint build up. Use a lint-removing brush or vacuum cleaner to remove this regularly. Never use sharp tools to dig out lint.   Treat your machine to a full service regularily by a authorized trained technician.  This will keep everything working nicely, and they can get out bits of thread, lint etc that are stuck right inside the workings of the machine and could cause damage, or make it not sew quite as good as it should.   Change your needle regularily. It is reccommended to change it after every 10 hours of sewing, or before you start a new project.   If in doubt, ask the experts.  Your embroidery machine is a valuable, and highly computerized piece of delicate technology. If you are not sure about anything with it, always check with an expert first.