Update on Machine Snobs
 

First of all, thank you to all of you for your supportive responses. I bought my Brother SE 400 in December. Until Tuesday I had only sewed on it. Tuesday I took the embroidery class and today I sewed my first design. It was Buzz Lightyear and I'm very pleased with the results. I love this machine! It runs so well, so smooth. I'm looking forward to all the fun projects I'll be able to do on it.

If you are happy, than I am happy. Enjoy your new machine.

Congratulations on your new machine. Machine embroidery can be addictive, no matter what machine you have.

mltquilt

enjoy --you now have another addiction [one that i will never try to kick]

I'm with jemma.

Admittedly I did not read all of the responses to the other post. I'm a firm believer in get what you can afford and what works for you. So glad the machine is working out for you and the embroidery class went well. And just because...DH and I were pilots and captain on the Buzz Lightyear balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade 2 years ago. Had a chance to meet the creator and his sons and it was great fun. Enjoy Buzz!

My way of thinking is to buy the machine you can afford and will let you do whatever you want to do. I only make quilts and quilt on my 2 machines. I only buy straight stitch machines with as big a harp as I can get. Works well for me. I only quilt a large meander and suits me perfectly, I have no desire to be a whizz at making fancy stitches and designs, I just want to make lots of quilts.

I stopped going to a LQS because they were always trying to sell me a machine ( a really pricey one). Some people just don't get it when people have what they need and don't want more. So glad you are happy.

Yay! You sound thrilled with your results and happy with your machine. That is all that matters! Sewing is supposed to be fun and you are on your way.

Pat

Glad you like your machine. I bought an inexpensive machine just for embroidery. The embroidery attachmentto my sewing machine cost as much as my new machine!

There is no cure. I have been doing it for twelve years
and there is no going back.

Fabulous - that's the best part, you are having fun with it. :)

I purchased a Paff machine with an embroidery attachment appx 12 years ago. Paid way too much for it. Made the mistake of purchasing it from a dealer 50 miles away, so the classes were not convenient. I attended 1 class. I made a few embroidery squares but found it to be quite a challenge and confusing. About 5 years ago my sister bought the Brother 270D and let me use it for a few weeks(3 yrs ago). It was so much easier to use. We both now have the Brother 350, which is similar to the 400, but does not have the USB. My sister assisted/trained me with my machine for embroidery and the computer issues for designs. I found the sewing easy, but the computer downloading of designs and transfering to the cards was my greatest challenge. I still have to call her when I forget a step on the computer. We found the problem with my Pfaff was that the programs were out dated and no longer available for the newer computers.

I have the brother 270D and brother 8500....they are both great machines.

Glad you got and like your new machine--i am looking at the same machine because that is all i can afford.

Brother machine rocks !! I have had 3 now and had no problems with them ! last one died, its beyond repair I am told (well I only paid 225.00 10 years ago and it had given its all !!LOL), the embroidery/sewing machine I have now (by Brother also) is wonderful !! It sews and does what I need and that is what I wanted ! Mass produced or hand made, as long as it sews and one is happy with it .. Buy what one can afford !

I'm glad you're happy with your machine. I almost bought that machine to drag to classes because it was lighter than my others, but ended up with the Janome 4120QDC, probably because my others are Janomes.

One thing that I didn't know until I was looking was that with Babylocks and Brothers, the #1 needle position is to the left, not center. Yes you can change it, but all the markings on the plate are based on the needle being in the left of center position.

This would really screw me up when using the 1/4" foot with the needle in the center and all my fabric guide markings would be off. That was another reason to stick with my Janomes.

Isn't embroidery fun stuff. I love my embroidery machine to death. It's way cool to just watch it go. Kind of soothing to watch.

ENJOY your new machine, just have fun with it and
learn all you can about it.

I have the Brother Innov-is 1000 been using it for just
over 5 years, but I kept finding designs I wanted to do
that the 5x7 limitation just wouldn't let me.

So on January 13th I finally got another new machine a
Brother Innov-is 1500D which has the Disney/Pixar designs
(that is what the D stands for). I absolutely LOVE the new
machine and it has a 6x10 embroidery field.

I'm a major happy camper now.

Here are a few things I made over the weekend.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]307491[/ATTACH]


This is a very dense design on a terry cloth bib and burp cloth
(will be sold as a set on my studio).
The design came from Embroidery Library, it is the "Damask
Baby" set.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]307494[/ATTACH]

glad you are enjoying your new machine.

I have the same machine that I bought on Amazon. I love it for piecing and I haven't tried the embroidery yet. I have an expensive pfaff that I only use for quilting cause it has an11 inch throat. But it is a pain in the butt. It is always jamming and the tension gets off. My little $300 brother is much ,much better. If it only had a large throat I could ditch the Pfaff :)

I'm so glad. I have heard so much good about the Brother machines

ENJOY!!!! So glad you took a class and now you can fly with your new wonderful machine!!!


Kat

I agree LoriS, i took one of my pfaffs in to be cleaned on Saturday, the first thing they said to me was"this is an old machine, you might want to look at one while you r here, so I said, there is nothing wrong with the two i have, so mind your own business, or i will take my business elsewhere, he was so bent out of shape. I just laughed and walked away. But the nerve!!!

lol, it is great to find a sewing machine that does what you want it to do..i have a brother quilt club computerized sewing machine...the least expensive of a very expensive machine..and it still was not cheap...but it does what i want it to do. i also have a singer portable that is fifteen yrs. old and a "free" brand treadle sewing machine that is over 100 yearss old and still working...i use all three at different times and sometimes on the same project...the expensive brother has lots of time-saving devices on it...the portable singer is, well portable and can do everything the brother can do. and the treadle sewing machine gives the best stitch and does not cost anything to operate other than human energy. the point is, find a machine that makes "you" happy, and dont worry about what the rest of the world thinks.

You have embarked on a journey that is so much fun. A few sites that may interest you - Embroidery Library, Secrets of Embroidery and Adorable Applique. There are lots of others as well but there are lots of free designs that you can download for practice. Have lots of fun. Feel free to PM me at any time.

I knew you would love the embroidery feature...next, you will want a larger hoop...I know I did. Took a long time, and lots of quilting to get a larger one...it's a 5x7 hoop..and I also bought a hoop it all long hoop for the brother. It's still not real wide, but is really long...I just move the hoop up to a new area...can do 30" x 4 (or 5 on the Singer) inch designs...you do one, slide up...line up the next and go...I love it.
I am in the market for a used commercial embroidery machine...at least 6 thread w/cap hoop. Saving...though it's hard on a fixed income...all my longarm quilting earnings are going into my savings.....but, dentist & other medical keeps cutting into the savings.

If I could figure out to post pics I would.

If you are pleased with your machine that is all that matters! :-)

I am glad you are now confident in your choice of mahcines. You had perfect taste for what you wanted and needed now. Stand firm with your choice, and you will be able to create many beautiful memories. Good for You! :thumbup:

Glad you like it! and glad to hear things are going well!

I also have a bro se-400 and really like it. I have a question? my material gathers and i don't know why. I know there is a simple solution, but can't seem to figure it out. joan

Have a great time with your new friend. May it bring you the happiness my old sewing buddies bring to my life.

I hate the machine snobs myself! I know of a LQS that seems more focused on selling high end macines than selling fabric. Anytime I get approached with a sales pitch I just say that I'm quite happy with the three Singers that I have at home! I have a Vintage 500A, a serger, and a combo embroidery sewing machine.
What is most important is that you are happy not some sewing dealer that just got $8K from you.