singer em200 superb embroidery machine with lcd touch screen free sample
The Superb EM200 embroidery-only machine can be used by all embroidery enthusiasts! For the sewist, it"s the perfect companion to your sewing machine. If you"re just getting into the craft, you can add embroidery to store-bought items like towels, garments, table runners, napkins, gifts and much more.
Large Embroidery Hoop (10"x 6"), Small Embroidery Hoop (4"x 4"), Embroidery Foot, Thread Spool Net, Spool Pin Felt, Screwdriver, Needle Plate Screwdriver, Seam Ripper/Lint Brush, Thread Spool Caps, Auxiliary Spool Pin, Bobbins (Class 15 transparent), Pack of Needles and USB Embroidery Stick
Complimentary software is available at mysewnet.com for accessing additional designs and saving to a USB stick for tranferring to machine. Software also allows for resizing designs and combining designs to create design layouts.
Learn your machine"s basics like threading the machine correctly, selecting stitches, making a buttonhole, changing the needle and more. Available online whenever your are!
The distance between the needle and the main part of the machine. Having a generous "C" space allows you to sew larger projects like quilts with ease.
The Superb EM200 embroidery-only machine can be used by all embroidery enthusiasts! For the sewist, it"s the perfect companion to your sewing machine. If you"re just getting into the craft, you can add embroidery to store-bought items like towels, garments, table runners, napkins, gifts and much more.
Large Embroidery Hoop (10"x 6"), Small Embroidery Hoop (4"x 4"), Embroidery Foot, Thread Spool Net, Spool Pin Felt, Screwdriver, Needle Plate Screwdriver, Seam Ripper/Lint Brush, Thread Spool Caps, Auxiliary Spool Pin, Bobbins (Class 15 transparent), Pack of Needles and USB Embroidery Stick
Complimentary software is available at mysewnet.com for accessing additional designs and saving to a USB stick for tranferring to machine. Software also allows for resizing designs and combining designs to create design layouts.
Learn your machine"s basics like threading the machine correctly, selecting stitches, making a buttonhole, changing the needle and more. Available online whenever your are!
The distance between the needle and the main part of the machine. Having a generous "C" space allows you to sew larger projects like quilts with ease.
SINGER | Superb EM200 Embroidery Sewing Machine Including 200 Embroidery Designs, Automatic Needle Threader, Extra-Large Embroidery Area, LCD Touch, Perfect for Sewing All Types…
Complimentary software is available at mysewnet.com for accessing additional designs and saving to a USB stick for tranferring to machine. Software also allows for resizing designs and combining designs to create design layouts.
Learn your machine"s basics like threading the machine correctly, selecting stitches, making a buttonhole, changing the needle and more. Available online whenever your are!
The distance between the needle and the main part of the machine. Having a generous "C" space allows you to sew larger projects like quilts with ease.
Sewing machines with automated embroidery functions are hugely popular. Some are simple and user-friendly, while others have bells and whistles that allow you to create complex designs at the touch of a button.
When deciding what embroidery machine is right for you, it"s important to consider not only what a machine can do, but also your own needs, wants, skill level, sewing room space, and your budget. Some embroidery machines are designed exclusively for embroidering; these tend to give a high-quality finish and hold up well to this kind of use. For sewists working in small spaces or on a tight budget, a combination utility and embroidery machine can be the way to go. Rather than buying twice the equipment, these versatile machines allow you to switch from plain sewing to embroidery with the flick of a switch. With more capabilities, however, more things might go wrong, so they"re not the best option for sewists who plan to do a lot of embroidery.
Thinking about your next project and what"s right for you? Not all embroidery machines are created equal. We"ve rounded up the top machines for sewists of all types. Check out the list below!
This machine has all the features you could want, and a sizeable 5x7" embroidery area in which to work. With 136 built-in designs, plus the ability to edit images, and a USB port to download more, there"s no limit to the embroidery you can create. Of course, all these handy features do come with a larger price tag, so this may not be the right machine for casual sewists. It"s also limited exclusively to embroidery stitches and meant to be used in addition to your primary sewing machine.
For sewists looking for a budget friendly machine that combines regular stitching with embroidery, the Brother SE400 is the perfect option. It"s easy to use, with a back-lit LCD screen on which to preview your designs. It comes pre-loaded with 70 embroidery designs in addition to more than 60 stitches for regular sewing projects, plus the ability to download more. The embroidery area is smaller than dedicated embroidery machines—4x4"—but with its versatile capabilities, it"s a great all-around machine for frequent sewists.
Another all-around machine, the EverSewn Hero is often overshadowed by bigger brands, but its capabilities are not to be overlooked. Not only is it capable of complex embroidery designs, text, and decorative stitches, but its range of utility stitches make it perfect for a variety of projects. Download additional designs from EverSewn software with a simple USB drive. While it is an investment, it can be an economical choice for sewists not ready for separate sewing and embroidery machines.
For serious embroidery projects, this Brother machine is an excellent option. It"s a dedicated embroidery machine with a larger work area than most competitors, and has all the options you"ll need to create custom projects. With hundreds of pre-loaded stitch patterns and the ability to add more as needed, there"s so much this embroidery machine can do! Learn how to use it to its fullest advantage with built-in tutorials and an easy to read back-lit screen. Geared toward professional-quality embroidery, the Brother DZ820E is definitely an investment, but with a full package of accessories in addition to your machine, you"ll get your money"s worth.
If you"re sewing for a small business, you want to make sure your equipment can keep up with your needs. The Janome Memory Craft 400E is a workhorse with all the power and features you need to turn out perfect projects every time. Its fast, with a maximum speed of 86 stitches per minute, and with an embroidery area measuring nearly 8 inches in both directions, you"ll have plenty of space to work with large, complex designs. The computerized interface is user-friendly, making it easy to search through 160 pre-programmed designs, 6 fonts perfect for monograms, and to download all the additional designs you need. This is definitely not a machine for the casual sewist, but if your sewing business requires dedicated embroidery equipment, this is an excellent option for those not yet ready for commercial-grade machines.
This machine has a whole range of features that serious embroiderers will love, but even better, it"s not limited to just embroidery! With 30 utility stitches, including automated buttonholes, the Futura XL-400 will be able to tackle all the sewing projects you can throw at it, and embroider them too! The embroidery area allows for designs up to 18.5 x 11 inches; like all high-end embroidery machines, it has easy USB import options, so you can add and combine designs to create custom works of art. It"s not best for beginners, however; not only does it have a sizeable price tag, but it"s more complex to use than a regular sewing machine. Unlike many embroidery machines, it does not use a view screen, so there"s no way to view your work in progress, a step most beginners appreciate. If you"re experience with machine embroider and looking to upgrade your current combination machine, or downsizing from a dedicated embroidery machine to something that can handle all of your sewing needs, this might be just the option you"re looking for.
This Brother sewing machine was developed with the Disney aficionado in mind; featuring Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang as decorative decals on the machine itself, and a host of pre-loaded, licensed Disney embroidery designs, it"s geared towards sewists both young and young at heart. While definitely not for a first-time sewist, its straightforward setup makes it easy to use for those just beginning to delve into the world of machine embroidery, and with a comparatively low price tag, it"s a nice way to explore your options. It does have limitations: with a top embroidering speed of 400 stitches per minute, it"s definitely not suited to large volumes of work, and the embroidery workspace measures only 4 inches on a side. However, it does provide lots of opportunities to experiment, download and edit patterns, and learn how machine embroidery works before moving on to a more industrial machine.
The Singer Superb EM200 is an excellent intermediate machine, typically recommended for sewists who have some experience with machine embroidery, but who may be looking for a step up from a basic machine. The EM200 offers a larger embroidery area (almost 8 inches on a side) and a top sewing speed of 700 stitches per minute! It"s designed to handle embroidery on all kinds of fabrics, from thick terry cloth towels to delicate cotton baby clothes. An LCD touchscreen makes it easy to select your embroidery designs, including those downloaded from other sources. A sensor in the machine monitors your upper thread and alerts you if it runs low or breaks, which is particularly handy when working complex embroidery designs.
Economical, easy to use, and with all the functionality you need, the Brother LB6800PRW is an excellent beginner embroidery machine. It comes with a handy carrying case, which makes it perfect for attending classes, and its display screen allows for editing designs as you go, as well as downloading new ones. It"s download feature is not compatible with Mac computers, however, and it"s embroidery field (4" on a side) is on the small end of what"s available. As a reliable machine for a beginning embroiderer, however, it comes highly recommended, and since Brother offers other embroidery machines that are perfect for more advanced sewists, starting with the LB6800PRW makes it easy to graduate to a more powerful machine later.
Similar to the Futura XL-400, this machine is an upgrade in several ways. In addition the more standard hoop sizes that come with your machine, the Futura XL-580 features an "endless hoop," which allows you to create continuous border patterns without the hassle of re-hooping your project and potentially throwing your border out of alignment. It also comes with software that, among other features, allows you to convert fonts on your computer into embroidery designs, making the possibilities almost endless. Keep in mind that there"s no in-progress editing; this machine doesn"t include a display screen, so all edits need to be done on a computer before beginning your project. Like other Futura machines, the XL-580 features one of the largest embroidery areas available. Designed for the serious embroiderer, it"s one of the few combination utility/embroidery machines that can stand up to use for a small business, and with a limited 25 year warranty, you can be confident that this machine will keep up with you for a good long while.
LIMITED 25-YEAR WARRANTY SEWING MACHINE HEAD The sewing machine head and any of its parts other than those covered by either of the separate warranties below or those subject to normal wear and tear are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for a period of 25 years from the date of purchase. If any manufacturing defect appears in the sewing machine head or in its parts other than those parts covered below or those subject to normal wear and tear within 25 years of purchase, we will provide free replacement parts, but at your cost for labor. However, for one (1) year from date of purchase, we will repair any manufacturing defect in your sewing machine without charge to you for parts or labor.
LIMITED 5-YEAR WARRANTY MOTORS, LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WIRING, SWITCHES, SPEED CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS The electric parts of the sewing machine are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase. If any manufacturing defect appears in these parts within five years of purchase, we will provide free replacement parts, but at your cost for labor. However, for one (1) year from date of purchase, we will repair any manufacturing defect in your sewing machine without charge to your for parts or labor.
LIMITED 1-YEAR WARRANTY ADJUSTMENTS, BELTS, RINGS, BULBS, ATTACHMENTS Within one (1) year of purchase, we will provide required adjustments, and replace defective belts, light bulbs, or attachments at no charge. We will repair any manufacturing defect, which appears in your sewing machine within 1 year from date of purchase without charge to you for parts or labor.
GENERAL These warranties may only be used by the original consumer owner of the sewing machine. They are not transferable to any subsequent owners. Service under these warranties may only be obtained within the 48 contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii.
Service under the above warranties may be obtained by returning the sewing machine with this warranty document and proof of purchase to the Authorized SINGER® Sewing Specialty Retailer from whom the machine was purchased or to a SINGER® SERVICE CENTER. Please consult the enclosed list of centers or contact the Singer Sewing Company to obtain the location nearest you.
This sewing machine is warranted only in normal household (non-commercial) use. These warranties do not cover failures caused by abuse, lack of maintenance in accordance with Singer Sewing Company care and cleaning instructions, misuse, or events beyond our control. These warranties give you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. Any implied warranty, including without limitation the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, applicable to this sewing machine is limited in duration to the duration of this written warranty. Singer Sewing Company shall not be liable for consequential economic damages resulting from breach of this warranty or any implied warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty will last or the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. The Singer Sewing Company does not authorize any person to create for it any obligation or liability in connection with the above machine and parts beyond those set forth herein. The Singer Sewing Company disclaims liability under this warranty for any damage or defect resulting from the use of other than Singer parts and approved service in the repair and maintenance of your machine. To keep your machine operating properly, we recommend that you follow the operating instructions and periodically have your machine serviced and tuned by an authorized Singer sewing machine technician.
That’s why I started thinking about what could I change there. I talked to my loving grandma who was once a professional seamstress and I got great advice – embroidery. She explained to me that embroidery will change everything; things won’t look the same or boring. This was the perfect way to add a personal touch to every project.
I threw myself to work. First, I started learning what embroidery is. The next thing I needed was to know what the best embroidery machines are, especially those for home use (I didn’t have a crochet work at that time). It was a huge step forward for me but the best I’ve ever made!
Before I decide which sewing, embroidery, quilting or any other machine is worth my attention, I convey thorough research. For that purpose, I’ve formed an entire team and we are all working together!
Let’s say I’m into sewing, basic sewing, but I have a special order. For example, someone wants his or her name embroidered on a new pair of jeans. What do I need? An embroidery machine, or a machine that has a possibility to support embroidery besides regular sewing.
If you only want to sew so you could earn some additional income a combined sewing and embroidery machine will do the work; or any home embroidery sewing machine. This means you won’t have to buy two separate machines.
But, if you are into making this your prime business, then I suggest some investments. To keep up all the orders and your clients’ wishes take a separate embroidery machine!
If we are testing machines that beginners will use we pay attention to how easy is to set up the machine, thread it and if the person who had never sewn before will manage to do bobbin winding itself. Besides the directions on the machine itself, it is very important to us that the manual is good with as much as possible details. Of course, customer support is also important.
If, on the other hand, we’re testing a sewing machine tended to be used by a professional we pay much attention to the quality of the needles, how large working space is and definitely the speed.
Most sewing machines offer two different sewing speeds. This is good for both groups – rookies and professionals. Having in mind that kids are often among beginners this feature is very important.
And of course – the accessories. People don’t like it when there isn’t a necessary screwdriver or an extra pair of needles. As someone who sews every day I have to agree with them.
If we test an embroidery machine we need to be sure that it has an adequate working area. Light is also important, you never know what color the fabric will be. Embroidery machines need to come with hoops. We double-check that!
My advice is that if you’ve already decided to buy a combined sewing and embroidery machine, you should choose the one that’s easy to use and definitely easy to place.
Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery machine is one of those. You can buy it online (as we did) or see with your dealer to get one for you. Either way, I know you’ll love it!
You can do hundreds of fancy stitches on Brother SE1900. What’s also great is that there are dozens of built-in embroidery designs and for each, you can choose a different color combination.
The USB port allows you to add some extra pattern designs. It is one of the top embroidery machines definitely great for both professional and home embroidery.
The one thing we can say it’s a con when it comes to this model is that it comes with 5” x 7” hoop and one of the most commonly used is 4” x 4”. So, you’ll have to buy this separately.
What to do with it? Well, you can sew curtains, pillows, aprons, change zippers, shorten something and make great embroidery designs. It sews 710 stitches per minute which is some medium speed perfect for beginners.
There are some things you need to take care of. I’m not sure it can be defined as a flaw but you have to regularly maintain your Brother LB6800PRW sewing and embroidery machine. And, you need to be careful when buying needles and threads. If they are of low quality it’s possible your machine won’t work properly.
What I personally love about this model is a designer rolling bag which is absolutely great and the fact that it has an easy-to-view back-lit LCD touchscreen which is highly responsive (this I find necessary).
The first thing we all liked was a large sewing area and an endless embroidery hoop. Since there is a large working area, fabrics don’t shift and seams are straight.
With 250 built-in embroidery designs and 50 endless designs (you can add some extra designs if you need), this machine is one of the top-rated embroidery machines.
It has 200 built-in embroidery designs you can preview on the LCD touchscreen with ease. I always enjoy this feature (when I can easily and clearly see everything I want).
But, I know, looks don’t sew. Let’s see what does? Well, 35 built-in Disney designs, 70 decorative designs, 120 frame pattern combinations, and 5 embroidery lettering fonts do.
No need to point out the quality of Brother sewing machines but I’ll just accent the LCD touchscreen (which my team adores) and computer connectivity make Brother PE540D even better.
You need to go through manual and be aware that for quality work you’ll need quality material. This means to carefully choose threads and you’ll have no trouble working on this embroidery machine.
A fully colored LCD touchscreen gives a great preview of everything you need. When you want to change the stitch you’ll do it no time since it’s done directly without stopping. This is tremendously important, especially if you are working on more than one project and you are in a hurry.
With 5” x 7” embroidery hoop you have the flexibility to stitch larger designs. Use it on jackets, bags or home décor designs. If you are out of ideas you can choose between 136 different designs, 10 frame shapes and 12 border styles.
It really is amazing what you can do. While I was testing I’ve used it to finish several projects and I was thrilled I could see everything on LCD touchscreen before I’ve even started.
With the right knowledge and tools for learning, choosing the right embroidery machine can be very rewarding and fun. Our buying guide is a summary of all the essential factors of your choice.
As the name says – embroidery machines are used for machine embroidery. They are used to create different patterns on the fabric and add details that serve as decorations.
There are machines used only for embroidery but you can also buy sewing machines that combine regular sewing with embroidery or some other type of sewing like quilting for example. These machines have a removable unit that you replace depending on the project and needs.
A hoop – Every embroidery sewing machine comes with a hoop. You use this to hold the fabric tightly in one position so you could embroider. Hand embroidery (just like hand sewing) is different; you’ll use your hand to act as a hoop but for machine embroidery, a hoop is very important.
A stabilizer – Since embroidery machines use a darning foot there aren’t feed dog to hold the fabric. Instead, you’ll use a stabilizer together with a hoop to hold the fabric tightened. There are many types of stabilizers: those that go on top of the fabric or below the fabric. Water-soluble stabilizers are very popular. One tip – with these stabilizers use waterproof pens!
If you are planning on sewing seriously embroidery is something you need to learn. It gives a special effect to everything you sew. This makes embroidery perfect for clothes. It doesn’t really matter whether you are going to seam for yourself or professionally, embroidery will give every piece of work an effective ending.
There is a difference between a machine that’s going to be used in a factory or in a big crochet workshop and the one that you’re going to use in the comfort of your home for finishing some home projects.
What makes choosing the right embroidery machine harder is a dizzying variety of models and manufacturers with numerous possibilities and accessories.
If you (like me) already have a sewing machine and you’ve overcome basics of sewing why wouldn’t you get an embroidery-only machine? This is good especially if you are in sewing business or planning on starting one. One seamstress can deal with ordinary sewing and the other one with embroidery.
Firstly, on this machine, you can sew, embroider, and quilt and so on. So, they are multi-function. This is especially great if you work at home because one machine will take less space than two!
Next, combined machines offer a larger working area since they are tended for embroidery not only sewing. These machines combine needles, design patterns and other features meant for different purposes.
The embroider area is the area you are using to actually embroider. It is smaller than the hoop size. It is important to understand that whichever embroidery hoop you use, the embroidery area is smaller. Remember this is a very important fact to avoid mistakes.
Everything you want to do on the embroidery machine depends on a hoop. Now, if you buy a cheaper embroidery machine it’s likely it’ll have one smaller hoop size. More expensive embroidery machines will offer a wider range of hoop sizes and this is great because this way you’ll be able to carry out a variety of embroidery designs.
The physical size of the embroidery hoop won’t match the actual sewing space. Every embroidery comes with an Instruction Manual. In this manual, you’ll find the list of hoop sizes that machine supports.
Pay attention to three different sizes you can get. For example, a hoop size 4 x 4 inches have a sewing area of 3.94 x 3.94 inches. Why? Well, because a needle can’t sew too close to the edges of the hoop. And physically measured outside borders of this embroidery hoop will be 5.3 x 5 inches.
Besides having a variety of built-in stitches and embroidery designs, they offer the possibility of importing designs from the internet. This way your creativity goes behind borders. It’s amazing what you can do with it.
It is also great if one of your customers wants something to be embroidered on a new pair of jeans (a bird maybe) and you are not sure how to do it, find a pattern online and add it to your machine. Pretty amazing, don’t you think?
When you buy your embroidery machine you’ll probably get it with some software (e.g. Happy Link software for Happy Embroidery Machine) and you’ll need a Connection Manager.
If, on the other hand, you have a serial port but no software, you’ll have to configure your embroidery machine in EmbroideryStudio/DecoStudio. Why this? Because it will allow you to change your embroidery machine settings the way it fits you.
This also gives you an alternative means for sending a design to the machine. Depending on the software, you’ll either use Machine Manager or Stitch Manager.
The best is to use the maximum speed of your embroidery machine to achieve the greatest effect. But, if you are a beginner you should adjust the speed to your skill until you are well trained.
A machine with one head and a single needle is the one which head comprises of the needle, bobbin, thread and other parts. Here the needle stays stationary and what moves is the embroidery arm. The most common sizes of hoops of these machines are 4 x 4 inches, 5 x7 inches, 6 x 10 inches and 8 x 12 inches. These machines can sew between 300 and 1000 stitches per minute.
Multi-needle embroidery machines contain up to 10 needles. This is great if you are working on a project that requires different colors. Besides the hoop sizes we’ve already talked about, these embroidery machines use and 8” x 14” and 14” x 14” hoops. The speed is between 400 and 1000 stitches per minute.
You see that approximate maximum speed is 1000 stitches per minute. I have to mention that there are embroidery machines that make more, up to 1600 stitches per minute, but those are machines tended for professionals and mass production. If you are focusing on home embroidery, you won’t need embroidery machines that embroider this fast. They are, as expected, more expensive.
A small tip – Don’t rush to use the maximum sewing or embroidery speed. I know it’s most effective to use your machine this way but it’s always better to adjust the speed to fit you. This way you’ll make fewer mistakes. As time passes and you develop your embroidery skills you’ll increase the speed.
According to Brother Industries, their machines have highly responsive touchscreens and we decided to check that. But even they sometimes have some issues.
We’ve tested a few models and they were right. All of them had a clear LCD touchscreen. We could see the designs clearly and change patterns in no time. Their LCD touchscreens are very responsive, functional and make embroidery a piece of cake.
Well, you get what you pay for. This doesn’t mean that you’ll get a good responsive touchscreen only if you spend a fortune on your embroidery machine. But, you need to be careful.
If some issue appears, the first thing you should do is to turn off the screen and then turn it on again. This appeared to be a great solution, at least with the machines we’ve tested. Even the most expensive embroidery machine can have this problem.
Decide how much money you can spend on your embroidery machine and then start searching. Make the upper limit. Predict that there can be some unexpected costs.
In order to avoid wasting time on searching, check our embroidery and sewing machine reviews. We always choose the best but affordable sewing and embroidery machines. The best part is we had already tested all of them so you needn’t worry.
If you’re planning on embroidering, besides a good machine you’ll need some additional accessories that don’t come with the machine such as thread and fabric.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that the one that costs 300 or 400 dollars is useless. These machines appeared to have been great for home embroidery. If you are opening a crochet work or maybe a factory, you’ll need to invest more.
Just make sure to check all the prices three times. Check the machine’s features, additional accessories and count how much money you’ll need after you buy a machine. After that, decide which one suits you best!
Auto functions –Automatic needle threader, automatic winding, autopilot… Some machines come with automatic functions which make everything much easier.
If you’ve been thinking about trying your hand at machine embroidery, you’ve no doubt already been checking out embroidery machines. As you’ll know by now, there are many different types, and the best one for you might not be immediately obvious. The Janome MC 230E is a compact, user friendly, entry level embroidery only machine.
The innovation that put the company on the map was its revolutionary round bobbin, which most sewing machines use today. Before that, sewing machines used a shuttle shaped bobbin. The company adopted the name “Janome,” which means “snake eye” in Japanese, in 1935, in honor of this innovation.
Today Janome manufactures a wide variety of equipment for home sewing, embroidery, and quilting. Their machines have been sold under the names Janome, Necchi, New Home, and Elna.
The Janome MC230E is an entry level embroidery only machine. It’s affordable and easy to use, which makes it a good choice for machine embroidery novices and occasional users.
Well, simplicity, first of all. An embroidery only machine has fewer components and fewer features to learn. Also, some people might not want to put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak, and be without a sewing machine if their embroidery machine needs repairs.
If you have the space in your shop for two machines, and are interested in giving machine embroidery a whirl, the Janome MC230E could be a good choice.
Embroidery machines tend to be big and heavy. They need to be large enough to accommodate the work, and the embroidery unit can add quite a bit of extra weight.
Although the Janome MC230E is heavier than a regular sewing machine, it is compact and has a convenient carry handle. It’s made to be portable, which many embroidery machines are not.
The Janome MC230E is available at a startlingly wide range of prices, depending on your retailer. At the lower end of the range, this machine is a steal. Even at the upper end, it’s still pretty good value for money.
First, the on-machine editing capabilities are pretty stripped down, even for this level of machine. You can rotate designs, resize them, and sew in mirror image. That’s it. That’s fine for getting started in the craft, and if machine embroidery is going to be an occasional activity. However, regular embroiderers will start to feel the limits of these capabilities pretty quickly.
If you’ve been researching embroidery machines, you’ve no doubt come across a wide variety of equipment that fits this description. Some machines may look familiar with some subtle differences. Others may look complicated and confusing. Some are affordable, while others may cost as much as a small automobile.
The first division is between embroidery only machines and sewing and embroidery machines. As the names suggest, sewing and embroidery machines do both sewing and machine embroidery, while embroidery only machines do just that.
One reason to have separate machines is agility. If your embroidery machine needs to go in for repairs, and you have a separate sewing machine, then you can still sew while your embroidery machine is in the shop.
Consider your needs as a sewist. How much space do you have for equipment? How much of a budget do you have? And would your sewing suffer if your combined machine had to go in for repairs?
A basic, entry level embroidery machine can give you an easy, affordable introduction to the craft. For a casual user, this may be the only embroidery machine you’ll ever need.
Entry level machinescome with a library of around 50 to 100 built-in embroidery designs, and a handful of embroidery fonts. Most have a USB port so that you can import designs that you buy from third party vendors. Most also have rudimentary on-machine editing capabilities, such as rotate, add, move, and combine.
Mid-range embroidery machinescost a bit more, but in exchange have more and better features. You’ll often find a larger design library, with frame elements and more fonts, and more advanced editing functions. The maximum embroidery area will be larger, and the machine may come with several hoops.
Advanced embroidery machinescome with all the toys. The design libraries are huge, with dedicated memory for more imported designs. The machine may also come with access to a streaming design service. There will be numerous frame and other design elements, as well as many fonts.
Many advanced embroidery machines have structural elements such as laser positioning and sensors to tell you when your thread breaks or tangles, when you’re about to run out of thread, or when it’s time to change colors. On-machine editing will be advanced, as well, and may include the ability to turn photographs into embroidery files.
The maximum embroidery area of advanced machines can be as large as 12 inches by 16 inches, and many come with a handful of different sized hoops. Often an advanced machine will have numerous USB ports as well as WiFi for transfer.
At the entry level, the design library should contain between 50 and 100 built in embroidery designs. Some machines may also have lettering, frame elements, and other things.
The maximum embroidery area is the largest area size in which your machine can embroider. For an entry level machine, the standard is four inches square, though you may occasionally find a machine with a larger max embroidery area.
As far as entry level embroidery machines go, the Janome MC 230E is pretty par for the course. That said, it has some excellent features. Here are some of our favorites.
Embroidery machines tend to be large and heavy. The Janome MC230E isn’t particularly lightweight, but it is compact in size, and has a convenient carry handle so that you can move it about pretty easily.
The Janome MC230E has a maximum design area of 5.5 inches by 5.5 inches. This is slightly larger than the max embroidery area of many comparable machines. This model comes with one hoop, and the option to buy a smaller one as well.
EverSewn is a twenty-first century company with ties to Bernina. Their goal is to spread the love of crafting through machinery that’s simultaneously powerful and accessible.The EverSewn Sparrow X2is actually a sewing and embroidery machine, but, like all EverSewn machines, it’s designed for ease of use.
It doesn’t have an LCD touchscreen like most similar models, so you can’t edit designs on-machine. However, the app that comes with the machine allows for more and better edits than you could ordinarily do on a machine at this level. It also has WiFi for design transfer, which is usually a feature of higher end machines.
The Brother PE535 has a smaller design library and a smaller maximum embroidery area than the Janome MC230E. On the other hand, that library also includes frame designs and a larger selection of fonts, including Japanese.
The Superb EM200 is Singer’s entry into the field of embroidery only machines. The Singer Superb EM200 is put together a bit differently than many machines of this class, but some sewists may prefer its features, which include:
The Singer Superb EM200 costs about the same as our other two comparison models. Its editing capabilities are a bit primitive, but for the right sewist, other features, such as the large embroidery area and thread sensors may be a fair exchange.
The fact is, entry level embroidery only machines are pretty thin on the ground at the time of this writing. Budget priced ones are even harder to find. The Janome MC230E is not only well made with decent features, it’s also made to be portable, which the majority of embroidery machines are not.
Although the MC230E’s features are limited when compared to more expensive models, they’re quite standard for this class of embroidery machine. If you’re looking for an entry level embroidery only machine, this could be an excellent choice, and we’re happy to recommend it.
SINGER SE300 Legacy Portable Sewing and Embroidery Machine. View Our Store | FAQs Electronics Computers & IT Cameras & Photo Video games Home & garden Automotive Baby SINGER SE300 LEGACY PORTABLE SEWING AND EMBROIDERY MACHINE SEMI-FUNCTIONAL This item is partially functional/usable See notes below Notes: Item did not work properly when tested What"s Included This item comes with all accessories supplied by manufacturer, except The manual is not included. PRODUCT INFORMATION Features Brand: Singer 200 Built-In Embroidery Designs + 6 Alphabet Options LCD Touch Screen Complimentary Downloadable Software Universal Power Supply - ability to use on 100V and 220V outlets 250 Built-In Stitches (Hundreds of Stitch Functions) Frequently Asked Questions Q: What Is Your Return Policy? A: For items that are listed as "SEMI- or NON-FUNCTIONAL", the returns are generally not accepted. The only applicable reason for return/refund of such items would be if the item was grossly misrepresented, or damaged in shipping. In these cases please contact us immediately. We will work with you to resolve the problem. Returns cannot be accepted for any other reason. Parts swaps will result in return refusal. Please note that if you have paid extra for a faster shipping option (for example 2nd Day Air), the additional shipping cost is nonrefundable. Q: When Will My Item Be Shipped? A: All items paid by 3:00 PM EST will ship same day. The ones paid after that time, will ship next business day. Holidays, Saturday and Sundays are not business days. If your item was purchased after 3:00 PM EST on Friday, it will be shipped on Monday. Q: What Type of Payments Do You Accept? A: At this moment we accept PayPal only. If you are registered with PayPal and wish to use credit card, you can simply add it to your PayPal profile as a funding source. If you are not registered with PayPal, you can still use credit card. Please follow the instructions on PayPal website. Q: Who Is Responsible for Return Shipping Costs? A: If the item you received is grossly misrepresented, we will cover the return shipping cost and send you a prepaid return shipping label via email. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: We are unable to provide a prepaid return label to buyers outside of the United States. We will instead reimburse return shipping costs. Please contact us for details. Q: What If My Item Was Damaged Or Lost in Shipping? A: All shipments are fully insured. We will file an insurance claim and you will receive a full refund within 5 business days, in case of damaged item that is not repairable. You must keep the item and its packaging for up to 8 business days as the carrier may inspect it. In some cases where the item is repairable, and you wish to repair it, we will cover the cost of repair, if it"s not exceeding the sale price. If your item was lost in transit, the carrier has 8 business days to locate the package. If your package is not found, you will receive a full refund. Q: What Is The Shipping Cost? A: Please see the "Shipping" section above or click on the "Shipping and payments" tab above (48 states only for USA shipping). Some items are available for local pick-up only, so please be advised. We pass all our shipping discounts on to you, so the shipping cost you see is the actually what we will pay. Feel free to verify shipping cost after delivery on the carrier website. Please also be advised that some packages are very light, but very large. In these cases, the shipping cost is calculated by the carrier based on dimensional weight, not the actual weight. Q: Do You Ship Internationally and to U.S. Protectorates? A: We ship to Canada almost all products we offer. If you"re from a different country or U.S. Protectorates, you need to contact us about shipping costs prior to purchase. Some items are too large or heavy to ship internationally, please be advised. International buyers are responsible for all customs fees and taxes (if applicable) of their country. Q: Do You Ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico? A: Yes, but you must contact us for shipping rates prior to purchase. The offered shipping cost in the listing applies only to 48 states. Q: Is Local Pick-up Available? A: Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the option for local pickup. Q: How Long Do I Have to Pay For My Item? A:Your purchase must be paid within 4 calendar days. Please be advised that e-Check payments take up to 4 business days to complete. If the payment is not completed on the 4th calendar day, the Unpaid Item Case will be filed automatically. 1060430SINGUR119