Choosing A Fabric Sewing Machine?

[PredatorEdge]

Hi,

I know this isn't a question on a leather machine but I figured who better to ask and hope none of you mind.

I'm looking at buying my sister a sewing machine as a gift but know absolutely nothing about them....

She will mostly be using it for fabrics (occasionally some light leather work) and I know she would like it to do a bunch of different types of stitches.

What I would like to add to it for her is the ability to connect to her computer and be able to sew/embroider designs/pictures/logos of her choosing...

Is this at all possible at a reasonable cost as I'm far from wealthy. She has done alot for me and I would like to get her something she will enjoy.

Sorry for the long post...I'd ask her but then it wouldn't be a surprise.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

[forbeskm]

There are far more qualified folk who can chime in here, but if you want to do multiple different stitches a industrial machine is probably not for you.

The industrials typically do one thing very well. I have a Consew 206 clone which is a needle feed walking foot flatbed straight stitch, great for leather and webbing and thick material but not so much for fine fabric. There are plenty of industrials that will sew fine fabric but usually not in a bunch of different sticthes on one machine.

If you want computerized embroidery, it looks like you want more of a home machine style. Something like Janome and Bernina may be what you are looking for an all around multi stitch with computer options. They can sew leather but let me define leather as the thin stuff 2-3 oz. This forum can help you out with a leather machine to fit a task or general application but it will not do most of what you ask above. For home I use a Janome DC4030 for fabrics that I don't run on the Consew 206 clone and its a great machine. I'd go to some local dealers in your area and do some research on your options.

[Wizcrafts]

Go to your nearest Joann Fabrics and take a look in the Viking sewing machines section. You will find exactly the machine you described, under either the Singer or Viking brand name. The least expensive ones (around $800) require a computer to be connected to the machine to do embroidery. The installed manufacturer's software and downloads from compatible pattern makers loads in to computer, then drives the machine. Without the computer, they only do the usual multitude of fancy or straight stitches.

Note, I don't recommend using any of the newer plastic body machines for sewing leather, unless it is very thin (no more than 1/16 inch), and using normal domestic sewing thread, not bonded nylon. These machines are fragile!

[thesergeant]

I highly recommend a Brother SE400. I've had mine for almost 2 years and haven't had a single problem with it. Comes with a bunch of different feet, an embroidery attachment, 67 stitches, auto thread cutting and some other extras. The embroidery feature is great and I use it often. Realize though that if you want to embroider your own logos you'll need digitizing software to convert the images to a format that the embroidery machine can recognize. This goes for any embroidery machine and the programs and not cheap at all. Hundreds of dollars if I recall.

As great as this machine is for lightweight fabrics it strains to sew through thicker material. I wouldn't even think about trying to sew leather. I use my Singer 201 for 85% of my lightweight tasks, then the Brother SE400 for the 15%. I also have a Pfaff and an Adler that I use for leather and heavyweight materials.

I paid $360 2 years ago. It's even cheaper now at $300: http://www.amazon.co...y/dp/B003AVMZA4

Here's some examples of embroidery with the Brother SE400:

Edited September 8, 2013 by thesergeant

[PredatorEdge]

Thanks for the replies everyone,they have been a big help.

I have been doing alot of reading on the different brands of machines suggested here and think the Brother SE400 recommended by thesergeant will work nicely and fits my budget. Plus all reviews look positive.

As for having to have a computer connected to embroider this shouldn't be a problem as she has a laptop running windows 7 and a desktop running windows xp and if those wont work I have a laptop she could use running windows vista

As for the software needed to make your own embroidery designs from pictures,drawings,etc... I see a few on Amazon but not sure if any will do what I mention. This is all over my head.

Could someone take a peek at these and comment?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DYZPGIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?qid=1378764706&sr=8-9π=AC_SX110_SY165

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006L7KYUM/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?qid=1378764706&sr=8-10π=AC_SX110_SY165

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YVI914/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1378764706&sr=8-2π=AC_SX110_SY165

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004KSV34K/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1378764706&sr=8-4π=AC_SX110_SY165

Also on the Brother SE400 I am assuming if you want to embroider bigger then 4x4 you can buy another larger hoop?

Could you also embroider hats as well? I already have a project for her in mind,lol.

Thanks again for the help guys I really appreciate it

[thesergeant]

The software you want is the last one in that list. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004KSV34K/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1378764706&sr=8-4π=AC_SX110_SY165 It's $200.

I don't think you can embroider larger than 4x4 on the brother SE400.

You won't be able to embroider a hat that is pre assembled. There isn't any way to secure it in the hoop. You need a speciality embroidery machine for that.

[Wizcrafts]

Melco makes hat hoops for their commercial embroidery machines. If you search classified ads for your state, you may turn one up for sale, used, in the $5,000 range (well under half price). Older models with 6 needles can be found at that price.

[PredatorEdge]

Thanks thesergeant,

With the Brother SE400 and Amazing Designs software it looks like I'll be able to get her a pretty good setup for around $500.

I found a site a lady put together to share things about the Brother SE400 and so far it looks like I can get my sister setup to embroider hats by purchasing a cap hoop which attaches to the regular 4x4 hoop.

I also see on her site a 4x6.75 hoop as well.

While not much bugger then the 4x4 hoop it makes me wonder if she could do much bigger designs by just repositioning the hoop as she goes...it might take more time but maybe doable?

Thanks wizcrafts I'll check them out. Sounds way out of my budget but never hurts to learn about other machines.

I'll start reading up on here as well on a good,affordable leather machine since the Brother SE400 wont be any good for that purpose.

I appreciate the help guys,I learned a few things and am pretty stoked about getting her this setup.