I am thinking of purchasing a Janome 350E ~ what do you think Yea or Na? I also want a customizing programs anyone use or have the Embird? What do you think of Embird and is it user friendly?

Marty

I have the Janome 300E and LOVE IT! I have not had a single problem with my Janome and have done a lot of embroidery. I have embroidered on cotton, knit, denim, slinky stuff, furry stuff and stuff I've forgotten I've embroidered on and my Janome just keeps plugging away!

I do the the Customizer program but don't use it. I prefer to use Embird. At first Embird is a bit difficult to catch onto, but I purchased the tutorials for Embird and followed those step by step and now I can whizz around Embird like a pro.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

I don't have your machine, but I do have Embird. I found it very difficult to learn, but that's just me.

I mailny use it to convert designs to my format and resize and I do LOVE the sew simulator!

DO IT!!!!!!!! I have had mine <6 mths. and LOVE IT!!! Easy to use and understand. Just watch the tutorial that comes with it and away you go! Good Luck! GiGi :D :D

I have a Janome embroidery machine although not the same as yours. I am really enjoying it.

i've had my janome 350E for about 2 years now, i've made a ton of things on it. I don't have Embird - don't even know what it is, I use the Janome Customizer, and love it, love it, love it.

Another Embird fan here! I've used it since I got my first embroidery machine a few years ago. It works well for me because I have Vikings and a Brother, and it will write the media for all of the machines :-) I've played with the higher-end digitizing programs, and I think Embird is better and at a way better price. Updates are free, and the last upgrade was $15.

It looks a bit complicated, but doesn't take long to get used to and there is a ton of user support out there - tutorials, and a Yahoo group that will be able to walk you through whatever you need to do. Carolyn Keber does some great tutorials, and you can earn free designs by purchasing the program and/or her tutorials from Secrets of: http://www.secretsof.com/content/1798 (plus the program is a bit cheaper here!)

One word of caution: some programs talk about being able to 'auto-digitize' - don't believe it. There are so many variables, auto-digitizing rarely works well, and if you don't know how to fix it you'll be frustrated beyond belief. JMHO!

Thanks for the feedbacks.

Roben ~ do you use the Studio program or just the basic program?

I confess, I bought almost the whole shebang - I have the basic Embird, Iconizer, the Font Engine and Studio ( I didn't get the cross stitch module because I already have a program for that.)

The basic program will do amazing things - you can combine designs, cut parts out, change colors etc. You can add text with the basic program if you purchase one of Embird's digitized alphabets or if you have an alphabet already digitized. Font Engine allows you to digitize true type fonts and adds some auto digitizing functionality. Studio is the digitizing module, and I've been working with that since last year. Good digitizing is an art, and frankly I'm not there yet :oops:

When I got my first embroidery machine, I got the basic program and Iconizer (lets you see the designs in any Windows window - a must have!) and those two alone served me very well. The money I saved bought lots of thread, stabilizers & fabric!

Thanks Roben!