On the fence, your opinion welcome.
 

I am wondering about buying a brother embrodiery machine. I have a MC9500, although I never have been able to get it to work other than what is loaded already on it. I have bought the reader, compact flash card, even the converter box which cost me quite a bit. I am frustrated with it. My question is it worth it to buy a brother HE1? Or is there any ideas on where to start with then 9500? I have taken it back my dealer but they half hearted helped me. I could tell he wasn't,t interested in helping much. I am sure he would rather sell a new one.
So I could trade it in, but I like the machine.
I could buy the brother he1 or keep trying with the 9500 til I figure it out?
What would you do?
Thank you for yr help or suggestions.

Wish I could help, but I can't. I would be furious with the dealer for the lackluster help that you've been given. My only advice on this is that I would NEVER spend one more minute or one more cent in that shop!

I just got a Brother sewing/embroidery machine. Haven't tried the embroidery yet, but have tried several of the utility stitches and, of course, piecing a quilt top. It's my second Brother - the other was 6 years old and either fell or something fell on it during our summer travels. That was a cheapo model and it worked like a champ. The manual for the new Brother machine - it's the one with the 4 inch hoop - is the best sewing machine manual I've seen to date. It's actually helpful, not mystifying.

I'm sure someone will have experience with the machine you're interested in, and can give you more specific response. Good luck!

I have a Husqvarna Viking Ruby and just love it. I have been doing all my quilts with this machine. I even use the embroidery part to do the actual quilting.

Hi. I don't know anything about that machine. But here's what I'd suggest before you throw in the towel.

Go to Yahoo groups and see if you can find a group for the machine or Brother embroidery machines in general. People on these groups are incredibly generous with their time in trying to help members work through issues. They might be able to provide guidance as to how to get your reader working and getting designs loaded.

You might also find support for the reader/converter box at the manufacturer's website. Or find a forum that deals with it.

What kind of box did you get?

The Ruby's are great as are the Deluxe Ruby. I just traded my Ruby in for a Diamond Deluxe. Both machines are great; the embroidery is so easy to use. I take classes but have done lots on my own and get lots of support from my LQS where I bought it. I love them so much that I bougth the 5D pro this yr on special and it's also great. I love the larger hoops and how you can go right to a certain spot where you left off. There are so many features with these machines that I could go on for a long time and only quit because I don't know them all. Have you tried mrpatience.com website. He has tutes for 4D and 5D. There are even some for the organizer that comes with the machine; it is a powerful organizer; its best feature for me was being able to add the trim command for jump stitches in designs that didn't have it.

If you are having that much difficulty - another machine could be the answer. 2 things.

I just searched for MC 9500 forums and there are a couple help pages and blogs:
http://blog.tv-sewingcenter.com/jano...o-your-janome/

I helped someone with a Bernette (Janome made) and it was folders that customers didn't understand. Neither did some of the kiosk's employees.

If you do want another machine - go to every dealer you can find, sit down and tell them what YOU want to do.
If they want the sale, they should take the time. They should also offer classes. If they don't, then move on. Everyone here has a favorite machine. The machines are good, but all dealers aren't. So if you want a particular machine and the dealer isn't helpful, doesn't matter how good the machine is.

Even if you do get another machine, try again with the MC9500. If you get it working you might get more for it on a sale than a trade in.

Brother has great manual's. Much better than my Bernina. As far as the dealer goes, I would find another.

Thank you so much! That link may be very helpful to me. I have been all over the net looking for help. I gave up on my dealer helping me, which means he lost my business on this and other issues. I would much rather use my 9500 embrodiery machine , which is why I bought it originally. I like the machine, and honestly I would rather keep my stash money for Paducah! I will ck that link out and see what I can do. Thanks.

I have the MC9700. I also have Customizer. I sent you a PM . Perhaps I can help you? I went to that link. I did not know that you could just format a folder on your PC for designs. I use the heck out of my Customizer program.

Sandy

With that Bernette - you had to have a folder named EMB5, if I remember right. If you just named folders like on most other machines, it didn't work.