i need a sewing machine for free embroidery

[bettykelly123]

im starting a free machine embroidery in march and thought i could use my current sewing machine if i purchased a special foot. however having taken it to a sewing machine shop today ive been told its such a basic machine it doesnt have something needed to do the embroidery. so now i need a new machine.
but i dont know how id know if a machine could do free style embroidery ie if i wanted to buy second hand or on the internet etc. can anyone help.

Hi, you need to be able to lower the feed dogs or cover them. My machine has a switch at the back which drops them. You also need a embroidery foot or a darning foot - they look like little embroidery hoops with springs attached. Dropping the feed dogs is the main thing though - I've never been convinced about covering them up as it hasn't worked well in my experiencce. My machine is a brother innovis 10 but I would think most non entry level machines would do it as I think it's used a lot in quilting as well. Dropping the feed dogs stops the fabric feeding though so you move it around and control where it goes. Hope this helps!

thanks so much

I was looking for the same a few months ago and pretty pleased with my decision - Janome DC2200xt. It can drop the feed dogs and takes category A Janome feet which includes darning, even feed, zipper, quarter inch etc. Not too pricey either.