hat hoop and a circular hoop? I would love to get one. They are on sale and we talked over the phone and I didn't get the model numbers....Any help I'd appreciate it. I think they run about $8,000.00. One of them is on sale for 50% off....wowww. I like that...I think it's the Brother???? Thanks

Darmoola, what did you decide???? I saw the Brother model at the Atlanta Sewing and Quilt show and drooled awhile until I realized how many ball caps and tote bags I would have to stitch to pay for it. I did notice that they used "Monogram Wizard Plus" software for their monograns and lettering. If you don't have monogram software, you might want to check them out.

you got some good help so I will give out flowers

TTT for more answers, this is a great question!! Thanks, Marji

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by marjialexa 24 May 2009

Drat!! Didn't mean to do this twice, sometimes it doesn't seem to 'catch' the first time! Sorry. M

TTT for more answers, this is a great question!! Thanks, Marji

I have the Melco EP4 which is similar to the Janome MB4 - they seems to have developed them together. I love the machine, but think it a pity it only has 4 needles. The Brother was nearly twice as expensive, so I bought the 4-needle one. I used the hat hoop - actually got it free from my suplier, but all it does is keep the bill down, you have to use sticky stabilizer or pin in down. As I don't do many hats I don't care. Brother has a circular hat hoop that works a treat. And the maximum hoopsize is much larger, so that's another consideration! Janome's is only 240 x 200 cm, roughly 9.4 x 7.9 ".

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by marjialexa 24 May 2009

Hmmm, that's the size only of a gigahoop, more or less. If I were going for a multi-needle, I'd want the larger hoop/field size. Good point, Martine! M

by mops 27 May 2009

Yes, the Diamond has a larger one. The Brother's is 300 x 200 cm.

I own a Brother PR600, it is easy to use. I have the hoop for caps, which I use quite a bit. So far, no problems.
50% off sounds good, but why is it at that price, a new model coming out??

Good question, I would like to see more answers to this one. 50% off, that's a great deal. Check out some other sites too.

Denise, I have seen the working and have a friend with one - she loves it. But you really can't move them around or take them with you anywhere and it takes 3 grown guys to move them and a truch or large van - to go to the sewing center for repair - make sure you know what you are getting into and that you will be happy with it - especially if it is going down any stairs. *4U

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by marjialexa 24 May 2009

OOoohh, good point, Shirlene, forgot about service. Does your friend have the Janome or Brother. I didn't think the Janome MB4 was too large, don't know about heavy. Hugs, Marji

by mops 27 May 2009

I have taken my Melco to a church fair twice, at least my husband carried it in and out of the back of car. It weighs 25 kg, some 55 pounds, not too bad, but certainly not something I like to carry around.

Hi, I have a Janome MB4. It is a 4 needle machine, I love it. The software I have is Digitizer MB, I also have the hat hoop and 3 others that came with the machine. In January last year I bought their "J" hoops, the only problem with them is only the machine recognizes them. The software doesn't. There is a new software package out now which I want to go to my dealer and see if it has the "J" hoops included. Then I will get it. As for the hat hoop I have never used it. It is not like an the other hoops. You have to use sticky back stabilizer to hold the hat in place. I want to try the instructions that were put here in this site using pins to hold the hat in place. I would sometime like to get a used Brother machine only for hats, but since I probably wouldn't do enough hats to pay for it ,I won't be getting one soon. My machine with software and hat hoop and some other extra cost around $8000. Canadian. Hope this helps you.Good luck. Lynn

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by darmoola 23 May 2009

Yes, thank you! I can use all the help I can because I'm really new to the commercial machines. I love my Bernia but I use it alot and thought maybe I could use something stronger ???? Maybe not??? More software...another expense. Thanks, Denise

by mops 24 May 2009

You could use your existing software, I do. Just convert to (or download) .jef or .dst for the Janome (or .pes for the Brother) and put it on a USB stick. Works fine for me.

by marjialexa 24 May 2009

If you're planning on using the same software you have and it's Bernina software, it won't save to a JEF format for Janome. Janome's Digitizer Pro won't save Bernina's ART, or read it, either. The software pkgs are both by Wilcom, and were developed to be mutually exclusive. That's the only thing I don't like about Bernina. Good luck, Marji