Originally Posted by Papa John
I'm also interested in a EM but I have no experience with them and even less knowledge. Most of the machines I see look like sewing machines with a larger work area, so how do you do multiple color designs unless you buy a machine that holds 6 different color threads? I understand about the different manufacturers using their own programing languages, are there machines that read most of them or can you buy a program the translates the different languages into useful languages for your machine? I'll stop with my questions for now but I reserve the right to ask more. ;-)
Here's the skinny as I see it: Unless you buy a professional EM, you have to change the thread for each new color, which is not a big deal really. The machines have auto threaders, but I don't like auto threaders and don't use mine. To be effective, the needle eye has to be fairly large, but I usually use the finer needles where the eye is too small, plus both polyester and rayon embroidery thread strands separate easily and my auto threader has a tendency to shred the thread, so I just thread the needle myself. I have excellent "close-up" vision, so this is no problem for me, but it might be for others.
Re: the different formats. Most designs (but not all of them) you buy or download come in all formats ... you just buy or download the one your machine uses. For the ones that you download to your computer, there are free software programs available to download and install on your computer that will change the design format for you. There are also many available that are not free and, as you become familiar with everything, you will know what program(s) you want.
It is most important that your new ME machine have a USB port where you can hook up to your computer to transfer designs, etc.
You should go on-line and look at embroidery machines via a search engine (Google or whatever), then go to the HOME page of the manufacturer. There you will find a listing of all their machines that do embroidery and the specifications for each machine. Often, you can find an on-line manual that you can look at which will tell you much more than I can.
It is an expensive "hobby"; it requires specific threads, including bobbin, and various kinds/weights of stabilizers and most of the better designs are not free. There are plenty of good free ones to get you started. There's a big learning curve, but if it's something you like, it's a fun learning curve. And, as in quilting, there are lots of groups you can join and lots of helpful people.