annette1952

I love both types of embroidery but I can't hand embroider anymore. I never done much of it but I did do a lot of counted cross stitch. I just can't see to do it. I did get a embroidery machine for Christmas last year & I have had a lot of fun with it. It is mainly just a starter machine but I am learning a little as I go. If I ever get to the point where I out grow this one I think I would upgrade & buy another one. Everyone is different so maybe you could buy a starter machine to see if you would like it

weezie

I'm glad I have a machine that does machine embroidery. Although I do not use that feature nearly enough to justify the expense, I've never been sorry that I bought it and all the threads, hoops, etc. to go with. Look in this newsletter in the pictures section at 'Baby Quilts'. Those are machine embroidered blocks and I think they are fabulous. Although I've done a few designs on shirts & I machine embroider my quilt labels, I mostly use the embroidery feature for making quilt blocks.

Maire

Exactly how I feel, at least I can still be creative & create beautiful items. No one has ever returned a quilt or tea towels that I did by machine because it wasn't hand done. I am so grateful to be able to have an embroidery & still enjoy embroidery.
It is all personal preference and/or ability. I've never seen anyone question the the use of the start/stop button on some newer machines but it is essential to those with physical disabilities. I have a friend in a wheel chair who creates the most beautiful items but without the start/stop button she would not be able to sew easily. In the past she had to have the pedal on the table & use her elbow to run the machine.

Greenheron

I don't have experience with embroidery machines but I suggest you widen your search for hand embroidery patterns. They ARE on the www. Like Kris P., above, I suggest urbanthreads.com--I've used some of their patterns which are available in either format and they have very modern, trendy offerings and also more traditional ones. Another source for patterns, stitches and referrals to embroidery sites is Mary Corbett's needlenthread.com. The last suggestion is to investigate Pinterest and connect to beautiful work from around the world.

BettyGee

Thank you all for your opinions. I do believe I'll stick with doing embroidery by hand until my hands won't work properly anymore. To all of you who have embroidery machines, have fun as they do look like they create beauty.

Quilter Grandma

[h=3]I, too, bought the embroidery module for my Bernina 640. I'm old school and LOVE to hand embroider and my lack of computer skills kept me from using it. I do 99.9% of my quilt labels on it, but have definitely not gotten my investment back. I think the shops who sell these could do a better job with teaching how to use the embroidery modules.[/h]

shasta5718

I like to do both and have found that Urban threads offers most of their patterns in both machine and hand embroidery. They have some really funky patterns, but also some very pretty ones. Just go to UrbanThreads.com I hope this helps ou.

Linda1

I have 2 embroidery machines and love them. I do some hand cross stitch but for some reason I have a hard time sticking to it so they sit unfinished.

IBQUILTIN

Not for me it isn't. I am old school, like you, when it comes to embroidery. I love my Viking Sapphire 870 because it will do everything I need (even some basic embroidery stitches), so I don't worry about it.

Pennyhal

I enjoy both hand and machine embroidery. I just can't do machine embroidery in front of the tv.