Embroidery machine
 

My DH is getting me an embroidery machine. I am looking at the Brothet SE400. Does anyone have this machine? How do you like it? Is it a good machine for a beginner? Is it best to buy a whole kit of thread or just by the spool? As you can see I'm a little nervous about this. Thanks for your input!

I've heard very good things about this machine and its predecessor the SE350. Its definitely huge bang for your buck because you can't even by a quality sewing machine only for much less than $300 and this offers a thread-cutter, lots of stitches PLUS embroidery. I don't consider this a down-side but the 4x4 embroidery field is the smallest available. There are still thousands of designs that will fit your hoop and the quality of embroidery is as good as any. Its easy to use/learn, compact, portable and gets high marks. The sewing part of it is good so excellent little machine that could serve you well even if at some point you want to trade up to a machine w/ a larger hoop for your embroideries. The only real learning curve is more about proper hooping and use of stabilizers. For thread, many people do buy starter kits but on sale, if possible. I started with 10-12 basic colors and then added others depending on the colors I needed that I didn't have. That was 15 years ago and I just bought some here and there until i now have about 60 colors some of which are the original spools but I don't do a lot of embroidery and never have. I have PED-Basic which is VERY simplistic program that will write to a card but if you don't have that, you may need some means to be able to view your designs on your computer so you can transfer them to the USB stick for your machine to read. You won't need that right away because you won't have so many designs stored on your computer to start. Its great fun and that machine is a real bargain and cute too.

Thanks for your help. :)

I personally would not buy an embroidery machine with only a 4x4 hoop. It's not a lot of space to work with unless you are only ever going to do monograms and baby bibs. I also would only get one that has a USB transfer option. I'm not sure if all the newer ones have that feature or not. A lot of them used to require cards which you'd have to purchase and get a gadget to transfer them with which to me is extra money that could be spent elsewhere...

Brother does make a nice 5x7 hooped embroidery machine that isn't very expensive in comparison to a lot of the other brands out there. If you really want one, think long about what you want it to be able to do in the end.

I also would ask myself what I'm going to embroider. If it is just for quilt labels and small motifs, the the 4X4 embroidery area may be all you need. I had my first machine for about 2 hours before I realized that I wanted a larger field. Go to Embroidery Library (a great site for designs) and browse. Look at the sizes and see if the ones that will fit your 4X4 hoop are what you had in mind vs. what is available for the 5X7.
http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/default.aspx
I can speak to the thread kit. Although it sounds like lots of $$$ after you just spent big bucks on the machine, it is really worth the investment. The kit will have all those funky colors you would never buy by the spool that will add that subtle shading to your designs and make them look gorgeous.

Thanks so much for your input. I do want to make bibs, towels, etc., but am really interested in doing tshirts and on my quilts as quilting motifs.

I have the $300 Brother embroidery only with the 4 in area.
I love this little machine. Just wanted to do red work designs for quilts and it is perfect for that.
Did have to buy Ped-Basic for downloads to the card. That is another $100.
Ive done lots of redword designs with it and they are great for a 6 in block.
There is a learning curve and extra expenses for thread, stabliizer and some designs but lots of freebees also.
For intricate embroidery designs I dont recommend this small of a machine.

I think the 4x4 field would be too limiting.

I buy my thread as I need it. There would be lots of colors in a kit that wouldn't be worth it. I've found that 'imachinegroup' has the best price for Isacord thread (my favorite).

If you already have a good sewing machine I would get the PE-700 emb. only machine. It has a larger hoop, which you will want, 4x4 is very limiting. If not that would be a great starter machine, and small enough to take to classes. Most say only purchase a few spool until you figure out what you want. I bought some cheap thread off amazon for practicing. You will need different types of stabilizers. This place has good prices for stabilizer and free shipping always
http://www.kenssewingcenter.com/
http://www.kenssewingcenter.com/kens...-15_70_74.html

I totally agree with this. You will be very limited with a 4x4 space. If possible, get a machine with a 5x7 hoop. I had a machine before where I had to use a box to transfer designs so a machine with a USB attachment is the way to go. It is just so much simpler and faster.