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Arts and crafts

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Embroidery machine

7 replies

yumcha888 · 29/06/2025 15:47

Hi everyone,

I have been thinking of buying an embroidery machine for a couple of years now but don't know where to start with looking for one. Does anyone have one? What should I be looking for?

I'll mainly be adding little pictures and initials on clothing and I don't want it to take up more space than my sewing machine, if possible.

OP posts:
DinoLil · 29/06/2025 16:57

No idea, but I'm watching because I'd like one too!

yumcha888 · 01/07/2025 11:26

Hi DinoLil!

I saw this one on Gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com/p/arts-crafts/janome-mc300e-embroidery-machine-/1499969714

And I read the instruction booklet online and think you have to load the diff coloured threads separately... Which is fine if you are only doing some initials but what if you are doing 2 colours and want to do multiple over a garment.

Thought we may as well have a chat about it here while we wait for someone more knowledgeable to turn up!

Janome MC300E Embroidery Machine | in Oakwood, Derbyshire | Gumtree

Janome Memory Craft MC300E, Embroidery Machine. Computerised sewing. Lots of extras included, sewing frames(4), new set of sewing threads, meshes, and lots more. Although it is heavy and got lots of extras it could be posted for additional fee (cost of...

https://www.gumtree.com/p/arts-crafts/janome-mc300e-embroidery-machine-/1499969714

OP posts:
MieleForMe · 01/07/2025 11:41

@yumcha888 @DinoLil

I have one! Mine is bigger than a sewing machine. It is a Brother Innovis NV800E so maybe more than you are looking for but youtube has a million video demos of the machines and also people using them showing you different designs and how to embroider towels or float the design rather than hooping it.

If you can there are places that sell sewing machines and embroidery machine and they let you have a play on them. See if you have one local to you.

How mine works using different colours, you load the first thread colour, it does all of the design in that colour and you move onto the next one. As for how easy it is to change the colour you literally leave the machine going until it beeps at you to change the colour. Mine has low bobbin alert etc so you can pause the design to change it and it finds exactly where it was. You can also rewind by single stitches if the thread snaps (stops automatically) or if you want tog over an area.

Threading it up is as simple as a sewing machine, the needle threads itself too automatically on mine.

The restriction is the hoop size which sets a limit on the design size. My friend has the larger version of mine. She has two DDs and constantly embroiders designs onto their clothing which gives it a unique element including Disney characters or font. There are plenty of free designs, sometimes you can buy packages.

The restrictions on mine were choosing letters to make words and aligning them in the tiny window on the machine. I downloaded an embroidery design software, the free version and I can align letters and transfer that onto a thumb drive and put that into my machine.

Do I love it? Yes, and I need to find more ways to use it. Any questions just ask.

yumcha888 · 02/07/2025 18:17

@MieleForMe

Thanks for the review! It's reassuring to know that you are getting good use out of it.

How about if you want to make your own design? You have to use the software you mentioned? what's the name of it? I'll look it up and see if it's easy to use (I'm not an artist!)

OP posts:
MieleForMe · 02/07/2025 18:34

You can buy so many good designs by people who do this for a living for about £4 - £6 ish and once you have them they are yours forever. I am really creative in several crafts but I would never design my own embroidery stuff because it would be an incredibly complicated process and not for beginners. Plus someone will have done it already and it would be incredible. I have bought from this shop, I believe I paid by Paypal so even though it is in US dollars I paid sterling.

https://urbanthreads.com/

Like this beautiful thing https://urbanthreads.com/design/enchanted-book-of-wonder-esp86286-1

I had beautiful Christmas designs from there and did a table runner and napkins.

The software is Embrilliance. I think as I have the free part I can just do fonts but not any other designs like Mickey Mouse. You can if you pay for the fuller suite. You can import fonts into it so you are not limited by the default font. This is where Youtube is your friend, lots of very helpful videos about embroidery machines, fonts, designs, in the hoop designs (look that up) and how to use Embrilliance. I make no apologies for this rabbit hole you may end up down. Such really lovely ways to make things very individual for clothes, home, decorations etc.

yumcha888 · 24/07/2025 08:08

I'm going to get one!! All the patterns online pushed me over the edge - there are loads. I'm looking at the Brother SE700 - mainly for its size and price point. Thanks for your help everyone!

OP posts:
Rubyupbeat · 15/08/2025 11:20

I have a Husqvarna Ruby Royale, had her from new, it's an amazing machine, never misses a stitch nor makes a mistake, I will never part with her.

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