What Can You Tell Me About Computerized Sewing Machines?

[mtblujeans]

I don't know anything about computerized sewing machines but I want to know more. They have built-in stitches and the LCD screen....can you download more embroidery stitches into them? What is a bargain price for a good new machine? Thanks!

 

[paulinewdw]

I have one...haven't really played with it, but I do know that using the extra software you can download patterns from your computer and then program the machine to embroider with different color threads.

DH bought this and was going to take a class on how to use it, but he hasn't had time! LOL

 

[HunnyPots]

My sister has one made by Viking that she paid almost $4000 for about five years ago. She used it all the time for two or three years. Every gift she gave, and I mean EVERY, had something embroidered on it! She got bored with it eventually and bought a quilting machine so that's her obsession for now.

She has downloaded hundreds of free patterns from this website: www.annthegran.com

I know you can get less expensive machines, like the one made by Brother that Wal Mart sells, but I don't really know anything about them.

 

[mtblujeans]

Your responses were exactly what I was looking for!! Paulinewdw, if you don't mind, what model of machine do you have? HunnyPots, my curiousity took me to Walmart.com and I saw a couple of machines that brought about the questions I posted. Thank you both!

 

[QuiltTeddy]

I have a Pfaff. It can do anything and everything. I absolutely love it.

 

[rcraw45425]

Hi, I'm new to this part of the DIS. I just bought the Brother one that Walmart has, the new "Disney"one, what else?! It is soooooo Easy! My DD7 can already load the thread cartridge, load that into the machine to thread the needle and press the correct key to embroider! I am so impressed. I have never sewn before (and I mean since Home Ec in the 70's) and I'm finding this machine pretty idiot proof. I have been looking for more embroidery cards, my variety here in town is quite limited. The Brother will, however, use the Bernina Deco and Baby-Lock embroidery cards that will fit a 4X4 loop. The lady at my local sewing center showed me the Magic Box that allows you to download patterns and convert them to a card for your machine. I was very impressed till she told me it would cost $1200 for the Magic Box Reader, one reusable card and the Editor software

She charges $899 for the software alone. I'm about to check into it on ebay now.

HTH

 

[paulinewdw]

I have a baby-lock, I do not know the exact model number.

 

[Jiminy102]

All I know about them is that I want one and we just can't afford it. Ok So I want the Expensive one but hey what else would Iwant!!

 

[mtblujeans]

Originally posted by rcraw45425
Hi, I'm new to this part of the DIS. I just bought the Brother one that Walmart has, the new "Disney"one, what else?! It is soooooo Easy! My DD7 can already load the thread cartridge, load that into the machine to thread the needle and press the correct key to embroider! I am so impressed. I have never sewn before (and I mean since Home Ec in the 70's) and I'm finding this machine pretty idiot proof. I have been looking for more embroidery cards, my variety here in town is quite limited. The Brother will, however, use the Bernina Deco and Baby-Lock embroidery cards that will fit a 4X4 loop. The lady at my local sewing center showed me the Magic Box that allows you to download patterns and convert them to a card for your machine. I was very impressed till she told me it would cost $1200 for the Magic Box Reader, one reusable card and the Editor software

She charges $899 for the software alone. I'm about to check into it on ebay now.

HTH

Oh, wow. I had no idea... Thanks for sharing! It is helpful to learn what you have experienced!

 

[rcraw45425]

Okay, I did some searching. I found a place in Louisiana called www.allbrands.com that sells the Magic Box. It's actually an OEMD Magic Box and his price is ~$220. I talked to a really helpful guy there named Warren who told me this: The box allows you to download embroidery images from the net and transfer them to a rewritable card for your machine. You can also take the cards and CD's for other machines and download them to your hard drive, then load them to the rewritable card for your machine. This way if your friend has a Singer machine and you have a Bernina Deco you can borrow her cards and download the images to your machine or use her cd's and save them to your hard drive. The $900 software allows you to manipulate an image, change the size, take parts of it and move them around ie. birds on a bird house. You can take the one bird that's one the image, copy it, change it's size, flip it and put it somewhere else in the picture, giving you different birds. This is great, if you can afford it and are that skilled. He also recommends the Amazing Box, another product like the Magic Box. He sells it too, says that they have had better customer service from them and it retails for $199. Not often do you find a merchant tha twill recommend a CHEAPER item! I like him already. They also sell the embroidery cards, even the Disney ones that the Brother uses. They are trademarked so you have to have a brother machine for them. They may work on other brands with a Magic/Amazing Box. Forgot to ask that question

Another update on the Brother machine that I have, model SE270D. It DOES NOT LIKE FLEECE! I tried to embroider on sweatshirts, bad idea. Something about the stretchy fabric. Even when I stretched it taunt on the embroidery hoop it wound up pulling WAY too much bobbin thread up if the stitch. This gave Donald a white bow tie with a few red lines in the middle. I changed no settings, replaced the sweatshirt with a piece of percale type fabric that I had purchased to make DD9 a pillow. Punched in Goofy sitting crosslegged. This was a touchy subject because I had attempted to put this design on a sweatshirt for her th eother night with disasterous results. It took the lower half of his face and put it on top of his head! Not pretty. Traumatized DD. Tears till 1AM. I had managed to eak out Mickey and Minnie on a sweat for DD7 but I'm not very happy with that one. There again you could see the bobbin thread. SO I guess I'll stick to crisp fabrics for the embroidery part of the machine. Oh yeah, fabric stabilizer is a must. It gives extra stiffness for the embroidering.

 

[mtblujeans]

Ok, now I am realizing that I know absolutely nothing about sewing/embroidery machines!!! I would have never imagined all that stuff! I had wanted to embroider on sweatshirts...that is interesting to know! Thank you so much for sharing your information!

 

[rcraw45425]

Sweatshirts were my main item too! Guess I need to learn more!

 

[HunnyPots]

Sweatshirts can be done. My sister has done sweatshirts, towels, and fleece blankets with no problem. I also did some monogramed hoodies on a friends machine last month. It may just depend on the machine. My sister's is made by Viking and I think my friend's is a Babylock.

 

[rcraw45425]

I wonder if the stabilizer I used had anything to do with the problem? I used an iron on one from Sulky. Is there one that is extra stiff, won't pull away from the fabric when you stretch it on the hoop or is there some stabilizing product that you can apply wet after getting the fabric as tightly stretched as possible? I'm new to this and tried to ask the little ladies at stores like Hobby Lobby and they basically told me that they were cluelsss about embroidery machines. I understand tha tmy machine may have some limitations but I would have thought that I could do sweats. I would love to try to embroider the Disney guys on some fleece that I bought to make my girls throws. I'm hesitant to try it now.

 

[Ash aka sky]

If you are looking to stitch a lot of disney stuff (well it is a disney board ) a brother machine is what you need. If you buy a cheaper end model (these come with some disney pics built in) you will need to buy a PE design (you hook it up to a computer then to your machine) which will allow you to down load pictures, scan picture and edit etc to create your own designs or you can buy smart cards with preloaded pictures.

http://www.marvelouscreations.com/design_cards.htm

The more expensive end models allow you to hook up your machine directly to your computer.

My mother, 2 aunts and grandma each have one of the disney machines and would highly recommend them.

 

[Ash aka sky]

Originally posted by rcraw45425 Another update on the Brother machine that I have, model SE270D. It DOES NOT LIKE FLEECE! I tried to embroider on sweatshirts, bad idea. Something about the stretchy fabric. Even when I stretched it taunt on the embroidery hoop it wound up pulling WAY too much bobbin thread up if the stitch. This gave Donald a white bow tie with a few red lines in the middle. I changed no settings, replaced the sweatshirt with a piece of percale type fabric that I had purchased to make DD9 a pillow. Punched in Goofy sitting crosslegged. This was a touchy subject because I had attempted to put this design on a sweatshirt for her th eother night with disasterous results. It took the lower half of his face and put it on top of his head! Not pretty. Traumatized DD. Tears till 1AM. I had managed to eak out Mickey and Minnie on a sweat for DD7 but I'm not very happy with that one. There again you could see the bobbin thread. SO I guess I'll stick to crisp fabrics for the embroidery part of the machine. Oh yeah, fabric stabilizer is a must. It gives extra stiffness for the embroidering. [/B]

My mother had exactly the same problem with the under cotton coming through onto the top design and the black outlining being way off this is what she was told and it does work... the rip and tear material that you use on the back she was told to use multiple layers instead of just one... she now uses 6 layers per design and has not had a problem since.

 

[rcraw45425]

I'll try that with the last "ruined" shirt and see if it works. If it does DD9 will be a happy camper. IT's been "why is is always MY shirt that is ruined?" at my house for the last few days.

 

[rcraw45425]

The multi layers or stabilizer did the trick! Now both girls have new white sweatshirts with their favorite characters on the front. DD9 has Mickey and Donald, DD7 has Mickey as the sorcerer's apprentice. Thanks so much for the tip, Ash aka Sky. You're a lifesaver.

 

[Ash aka sky]

your welcome I know 6 layers sounds extreme but hey if it works... it worth the extra material.

Ash