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.

I haven't gone to that web site, but I too bought the full software. I use it mostly for quilting. Check out the picture section. I labeled it "My first quilts for Christmas." To to the last one where there is a sports quilt. I made all of the with the 5D embroidery software.

if i were you, i would spend more time trying to get the machine you have to work for you. i would have a designated place for it to stay out where you can get to it any time you want to work on it. work on sections at a time. work with the machine. perhaps you can find a quilting buddy who is willing to sit with you and work through the instructions. two minds sometimes work better than one. make sure the quilting buddy is willing to stay on task, or you will just visit when you should be working! best wishes on whatever you decide to do.

I have a janome 350 e. I put designs on a flash drive then put the flash drive in the machine. You need to make a folder on the flash drive and the how to do that should be in the book that came with your machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG2e0Vven-U

I don't know about the manual for 9500 but my manual for the 9700 is awful. I learned how to use my Janome by reading embroidery forums. Sewforum was the best source for me to learn about my machine. I still go there. Yahoo has Janome specific groups to join so I did. I have and use Customizer with my machine. My Janome dealer was not very helpful to me. Their "expert" never worked on Saturdays..... I work during the week...

I love my Janome MC9700 but it does take time to learn how to embroider, etc. i have had my machine since 2006.

Sandy

I have the Husqvarna Sapphire. It comes with a limited amount of preprogramed embrodiery. Enough for me! Love it!

I purchased a Brother PE780D last year. I got it because the Bernina Deco I purchased almost 20 years ago was also a Brother patent and both machines use the PES format. They both use the little cards of which I have spent a small fortune purchasing over the years. The newer Brother also takes a USB stick which allows me to use the many designs on CDs that I had purchased to be used with the Magic Box. The Magic Box will not work with my newer computer as it has no place to plug in the Magic box.
While the Brother machine has a bigger hoop capacity I don't like the idea that it loads from the opposite side than my Bernina and the hoops etc. are not compatable. While I don't use my embroidery machines everyday they certainly come in handy for occassions like Christmas. I decorated about twenty T shirts as gifts this year. The thing I like best about the stand alone embroidery machines is that I can be sewing on my regular machine while the embroidery machine is doing it's thing.

What's with these dealers. Although I bought my MC10000 second hand I have two other Janomes which I bought brand new from the same dealer and I was able to have unlimited lessons for both. I can even go to them if I have a problem with the embroidery machine. I would contact Janome and make a complaint. I'm sure they wouldn't be happy with these dealers. What's the use of having a fancy machine if you can't get the best out of it. Word of mouth is great advertising and you can't recommend their product if the dealer is too lazy to help you. If the dealer can't help they shouldn't be selling the machines. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

I would work with what you have. You already have a lot invested. Read your manual, check the website for help and figure it out... If you can't figure this machine out, what makes another machine any different?
There were apparently things you liked about this machine or you wouldn't have bought it in the first place.
Do whatever it takes to get some embroidery done, once you get started you'll realize how easy it is. :)

I just use two straight stitch machines, all I'm interested in.
I'm with the others, I would not buy anything from the LQS that won't help you with a machine you already bought. They would like nothing more for you to buy another machine from them. Very poor business practice.
I think you should try to use the machine you have and save your money for more fabric.

I would send a email to the brother company regarding your dealer and also ask them for help.

I love the quality and performance of my Brother embroidery/sewing machine. However it is a 2500D and is no longer available new. I notice that the machine you are thinking about buying only uses a 4x4 hoop. What are you wanting to embroidery? That's not large enough for me for what I do. I would really suggest that you go to your dealer and look at his machines that have been traded in. You need one that does not use cards, that has a USB port and a minimum of a5x7 hoop or larger. Good luck.

I bought a cheap Brother embroidery only 4 in size embroidery space machine. I love it. Im having fun but it is a big learning curve. The machine was $300.
Had to buy the Ped Basic in order to download patterns. The card to download to is expensive. You download patterns to your computer first then to the card with the Ped Basic which was $100.
I only wanted it for red work designs and that is working out fine. Making a small baby quilt with embroidered teddy bears on it.
Im not interested in going larger as will not use it for anything else than red work for quilt blocks.

I would not buy another machine from that dealer.....we all need help to get started and again after we have been doing things for a bit. a dealer that does not help is not a dealer that needs supporting.

I have a Brother Embroidery Machine and I love it. It is easy to use and always does a good job. I think you would be happy with a Brother.

I guess I would try another dealer. If the one that you have doesn't want to help you use what you have then he isn't a very good dealer. I have 3 Baby Lock machines and I love them all. The dealer has helped any time I have a question or problem. If I can't figure it out on the phone, I can take it in and they will sit down with me and show me what the problem is. A good dealer is key!!

See ya in Paducah
 

Sorry. I can't help with the machine. I have a Brother 8500 Pacesetter that I bought used. I haven't sewed or did any type of embroidery with it. I've been tempted to sell it. I have quite a few other machines I could use in its place. Oh...the main reason I'm writing...I'm saving my money for Paducah too!!!! PADUCAH 2013!!!! LOL

Good mornin' and Merry Christmas to all you folks on this board.....I am finally back to my computer--I got hacked (or something of that nature and have been locked out of my email, and thought that was the only way for me to get to you. But somehow, DD fixed me up with an icon on my screen that brings me up right now without all the hassle of going through email, etc. Now if someone can do the same for me with my Designer I so I can embroider--the only reason I bought it--which I have had for nearly 3 years now and have made maybe two things with a lot of help from a quilting buddy--help that I can never remember when I am in front of my machine trying to get it to do what I think I want it to do. ToniC, you tried once, but I am too thick headed to figure out the PM thing after the first round. Anyway, back to the subject at hand--keep the machine you have, tell the dealer to GTH, and work with your friends here on the board. They're GREAT...... Happy New Year to one and all--it is cold here in TN too--Love, Jo Ann

I have a Janome 10001 and love it. What kind of problems are you having with your machine? Is it loading the designs from the computer or the actual stitching? I would definitely try to figure the machine out before investing in a new one. That's a great machine and once you get it going, you won't be sorry. I use Customizer software and it's great. I would be glad to help if I can.

I have a 350E and also use the Customizer software. If I can help, I will, gladly. My machine isn't in that series, but the software is probably about the same.

I found embroidery on the 350E very, very easy. In fact, I couldn't imagine it being any easier. I bought the machine used and the lady spent about 20 min showing me the machine and how it works and left her email address and phone number if I have any more questions. But it is pretty self-explanatory. I think that your machine, however, is more complicated, and thus leaves a person with a lot more questions!

To answer your question...I'd attempt to learn how to use that machine, which is still selling for 2K than buy another one. Do you have the card you need?

I don't know anything about this Brother stuff. But I do know this. I have a Pfaff sewing embroidery machine that I love! It took me awhile to learn how to use all the bells and whistles and then some.
I think of buying a new one like buying a car. If I'm not satisfied with the one I have why would I buy another one of that brand.
I totally agree with WeezyRider:
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.
Life's too short and you need to make sure your money is well spent! Good Luck!!

I got the Brother HE-1 as my Christmas present, i love it, i didn't want a bigger one, something easy and for small stuff and this machine is perfect, plus i could understand the instructions.