If you are considering the purchase of an embroidery machine, what kind of items should you be looking for? Of course, it all depends on how complicated your embroidery tasks are going to be, but in general you will want to make notes on the following:
You may wish to make a checklist perhaps on your accounting program where you can type out what you’ve found about each brand and model number of each embroidery machine. This would be entered on the far left and all other things can be entered as the importance of different functions is amassed.
For instance you may wish to record what the embroidery field size is. A machine that offers you a 4 1/2” by 6 ¾” may be fine for one person, but another may need a machine that will be able to work on an embroidery field size of 6”X10” again depending on the size of work you will be using. Also, make sure you are comparing inches with inches and millimeters with millimeters.
Media recognition is of extreme importance. For instance must you utilize only floppy disks, or will the machine be able to recognize a direct connection to your PC, with an optional Flash/floppy drive and allow you to write your own memory cards for use later? Also important is what format it uses.
Will the machine be able to be moved stitch by stitch for those ultra complicated stitches? Is that on the machine now, or is it an option and therefore what will it cost if it is an option? Can it do in hoop basting? Is it limited by design rotation capabilities, and if so by how much? Can the machine perform ordinary sewing or will you have to use yet another machine for sewing?
How many utility, decorative, quilting, or heirloom stitches is it capable of doing? How about for buttonholes and eyelets? Will you have the ability to produce your very own decorative and utility stitches and if so how? Is the machine updateable online or through some other means, and if so what, where and how? Does it have the option for an endless hoop? Is the machine capable of taking L-sized prewound bobbins? How many stitches per minute can it accomplish? How many fonts come with the machine? How many different feet come with the machine, and which are they?
Talk to others who own embroidery machines, and ask them which their favorite is and why? There are so many different brands available. Just a few of them are Brother, Ricoma, Janome, Dakota Collectibles, Melco, Babylock, Toyota, and Singer. Some of these are commercial embroidery machines, and some made strictly for home use.
Finally you will want to know what kind of warranty is on the embroidery machine? You will want specifics regarding how long is the mechanical warranty, and electronic warranty? Does the defects in material and workmanship have a year’s worth of service, for labor and parts? If it needs to be shipped back, who handles shipping costs?
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