Hello from Georgia.

I have been quilting for about two years. Recently became really interested in a embrodery machine....... Anyone own one of these machines or have had experience with . Any suggestions will be appreciated
Thanks.

What do you want to spend? That is the first question you can go from 3 or 4 hundred to thousands. I paid about 400 for mine but mine only does 4x4 so there are lots of things to consider.

I have a Bernina 640E and really like it. They are expensive, you get what you pay for. I have been quilting for a few years and wanted my machine to do some extra decorative stitches and ended up also getting the embroidery module. It has been fun but lots of new things to learn, thread types, stabilizers etc. Good luck with your decision.

I have an Brother Innovis 2500D and I love it. It is very user friendly and has so many extras. Good luck shopping.

I have a Pfaff. It's nowhere close to the top of the line but does everything I want.

If you have the money to spend I would go with an embroidery machine that can talk directly to your computer. The technology is changing so fast you might find yourself with an outdated machine a week after you purchase it. I have a Bernina Deco 650 it uses the PES format which is fairly easy to find. It is the format used by Patterns from Nancy's Notions and Martha Pullen. My machine will only do a 4" motif but that is a lot larger than you think. Mine uses little cards that plug into the machine. I also purchased a "Magic Box" that converts other formats to PES and puts them on a blank card that I can reuse. I have at least $1500 tied up in various cards and CDs for my machine. Many I have used over and over and some are still sealed in their original cases. There is also a lot of money to be spent in thread, stabilizers and different hoops etc. Think about it.

HI
I have the Brother Quattro,it is awesome,I really like it but it is very expensive,they usually have some kind of deal when you buy it,you should go to a dealer they can sit down with you show you all the machines and tell you all the deals and you should also get free classes with any machine that you buy at a dealer,I always have

I have a Pfaff 2144 and I love it. I have several size hoopsto go with it. The embroidery is beautiful and I am finding ways to bring it into my quilting. I love embroidering things for the grandkids.

Have not used mine yet.

I have the Babylock Ellisimo BLSO-very expensive-If I were buying again, I would get a cheaper machine. :roll: :roll:

I have this machine too and LOVE mine!! I use it all the time.

I have a BabyLock Esante. It is not all that expensive, compared to the Ellisimo, but it does everything I need. It talks to my computer and has a 6x10 stitch area. I do wish it cut the jump threads, but for the difference in price I will cut them myself. I use Palette 6.0 software to create my own designs or edit the ones I buy. The machine is a lot of fun and the possibilities are endless....

I have a Bernina 440QE and did invest in the embroidery module a few weeks after I got the machine used. Got a great deal on the machine, and when they didn't have a used embroidery module, got another great deal on a new one since I had just purchased a machine. It accommodates 3 different hoop sizes. I just love it!

Is the Brother Embroidery machine that Walmart sell any good, I have been thinking about getting one sometime this year?

Does anyone have the Bernina 170 with embroidery unit, I found one for a good price, but I don't know that much about it.

I believe that model is called the quilters platinum edition. I would check to see how the designs are transferred (computer, card, etc.) A great idea would be to got to a Bernina dealer and see if they have a used one that you can try out. I believe it is an older model, but not certain. I have the 440QE with embroidery model and love it! Stitches out such great designs.

Talked with a friend about the W/M. She has the #350. Only has the 4x4 hoop. She definitely would want the 5x7 if she purchased another one.....Very limited with the 4x4 hoop.

i have a janome they are great to have i love mine expensive but you could look brfore you buy i went and tried several out and found one with the features that fit best for me

I started with the babylock Ellure Plus. A great little machine. The newest ones of this model will now take thumb drives that you download from your computer. The only reason I bought a better machine ( the Babylock Ellego ) is because I wanted a bigger design area. This does up to a 6 x 10. It has a big colored screen & it allows you to combine patterns. I am so totally in love with it. I wanted the Ellismo but that little honey is $8000.00. But it is so fine. The Ellure Plus is a good machine to start with & learn how it is done. I traded mine in & got a really good deal on the Ellego. You need to check around & see whats out there. I totally love Babylock but others would only buy Bernina (real expensive) others love there Vikings or Phaffs.If you have a sewing center in your town that is a lot to consider so they are close & can help you with problems. Get ready because this is better than chocolate you can't get enough of it. I am totally addicted to it. The most fun I have had in years. It is so amazing what you can do.

I absolutely am in LOVE with my Bernina 730!

I started with a Brother 8500D it did up to 5x7.
I think the bigger the better and now have 2 machines. I purchased a Duetta almost 2 years ago and I love it. It does up to 6x10. It is a great machine and very user friendly. Then last year I got a very good price on a Pfaff CV that has an even bigger embroidery area. I love that machine too!
I would buy the best machine that you can grow into!
K

It will depend on how much you plan to use your embroidery machine. My husband bought me the Brother 4000D a couple of years before I retired, as I wanted to do lots of quilting when I quit work. I retired in June and I am just now getting into trying the embroidery on my machine. I love this machine, but it was very expensive, but it certainly will fulfill my dream of sewing while I am retired. It has many quilting features plus 4 different sizes of hoops for embroidering, up to 8 x 10. I download many embroidery patterns from my computer with a USB stick and then I transfer the patterns into my machine. It is completely computerized and has many great features. I agree if you want to embroider, be sure you buy the machine that has different sizes of hoops. I embroidered four sets of dish towels with my machine for our children for Christmas. Happy Shopping!

I have the Janome 350. It does embroidery only. I love it. You can't go wrong with a Janome (but that's just my opinion!)

I have the Brother ULT 2001 and have had it for quite sometime now and the one thing I have learned is that Viking hoops have the screw to tighten on the corner of their hoops but Bernina have some unique hoops also I think other than that it is going to be preference and cost. I definitely like my large hoop remember you cant do large designs unless you split them and try to line them up BUT if yo have the large hoop that is a different story there. Just my opinion though . Best of luck in your endeavor to find the machine of your dreams

I am trying to sell my Babylock Ellageo ESg3 embroidery machine, I love the machine but never use the embroidery part. Thought I would when I bought it but just not my thing. I am an appliquer and I think that is why I do not ever use it.

I have the Singer Quantum 5000 & I love it. It has a never ending bobbin & also a thread changer so I don't have to be at the machine all the time.
Serena

I started with the Janome 350E, loved it so much I moved up to the Janome MB4 and love them BOTH

I have a Brother 8500 sewing/emb. machine which I love and have loved for many years!! It was the top Brother machine when I bought it new, and I now use Pe-Design 7.0 software with it. Size of hoops 4x4, 5x7, and larger one but has to be spaced, so I haven't used that one. I love the 5x7 with the interlocking monograms from Monogram Wizard Plus! Ask yourself what you really want to embroider or monogram and then look at the possibilites for the right machine and software. That's where the cost comes in! Also, find a good, reliable dealer near you and some of his/her happy customers before you buy. Sometimes this makes a big difference!

I have the Janome 10001 and can download patterns off the computor. Love it. And I got mine from the dealer at almost half price as it was a demonstator model. had it three years and no problems.

I found the Brother Baby Lock the easiest to use
I would not buy a wal Mart emb machine you are getting the lowest in quality of the brand. and no support from a local dealer of that machine.

I was given a Singer Futura SE1000 for Christmas. I love it! It connects to the laptop (or desktop) and allows you to do almost any format and design. It has autopunch, but that takes a little to learn how to make that picture come out as a good embroidery. It came with usb cord, two different sized hoops and all the software. It also is a sewing machine with about 20 stitches and many feet.

I have a Bernina 640 and love it!

I vote for the Janome 350e...it is an embroidery only machine..I have a 300 and I love it...it does up to 5 x7 and I think I will be satisfied with this size...even if you decide to move up to a more expensive machine..this one would be a great starter for you and it is more economical than some of the more expensive combination machines...

I have the Babylock Essante and also the Bernina 640. I love the Babylock and it is very easy to use with the computer to download designs (direct without a special program). Not so crazy about the Bernina and it requires a program to be able to transfer designs to the machine. I purchased the Bernina to take the place of the Bablock but I will keep the Babylock instead.

I have the Janome 200E, the hoop is 5.5 X 5.5 inches and there is a smaller hoop. I looked at the 350E, but for what I wanted, the 200 was all I needed.

Given the problems I had with the first machine,(it was replaced with a new one) and the lack of customer service I won't ever buy from Janome again.

If you would like a used one, try looking on craigslist for ga. Someone in athens has a quantum futura for sale for $450. I have never bought anything like that online and don't know if this is in your buget. It looks like it was posted today.