tummybunny, WELCOME to the CUTE family. You will get as many answers as there are members - because we each think and know that our machines are the best - because that is what we have. Hehehe! Seriously, go to a couple different dealers, take a tour of the machine - have the show you as much as you have time to see - decide what prize ranch you can afford and go for it - you might choose a lesser expensive one at first - then later trade up to the same brand but newer and more expensive model - that way - you have something to work with - until you decide that embroidery is what you want to do - of coarse you will - we all were new at one time or the other and we all have learned from each other and use the dealer as your best friend - they are going to service your machine - you want to have someone that you can enjoy talking to and to learn from - that will teach you the basics and new techniques as you go along.

I own a Babylock Ellegante2!

Good luck, Shirlene

welcome!!!!! there are a lot of machines out there that are good ones just go to a dealer and ask, ask ,ask, ask ,questions you will get some answers I am partel to baby lock and brothers my self
Lena Mae

Janome 350E is a great, not too expensive ONLY embroidery machine.....sews great, has a 4x4 and a 5x7 hoop, uses any kind of thread and needles, uses a USB to get your design from your computer to your 350E, all in all a great machine. I would buy it again if I needed another machine.

http://janome.com/index.cfm/Machines/Embroidery/MC350E

I would go to as many dealers as you can and look at as many machines as you can. However, I didn't do that! LOL. I've used Bernina machines for years. So I bought a Bernina embroidery machine. My dealer gives 8-12 free lessons as many times as you want. (I've taken them 2 times so far!) I can also get phone or walk in help. Everyone has an opinion about their machines, this is mine. I love it.

I own a viking SE now. Have had the D1 for about 8 years before that...I like both machines a lot never had a problem that weren't operator error (D1 had a terrible bobbin wind though) A dealer is also something to consider ie close to you, helpful and knowledgeable is a must. Lessons, classes are also something to consider. You will became very good friends with your dealer when you need help on your new purchase..Don't have another brand of machine to compare though

The sad part is I live about 2 hours from any dealer! I have looked on line till I am sick. I have seen the inexspensive Brother machine sold a walmart and this is what has gotten me started. I have looked at a Brother 780D ... Gee! Whats a girl to do?

You are right there are tons of options out there and for every great machine there is an owner that is going to sing it praises.
Concider "what you want it to do" first.
Here are just a few suggestions
How big of a design do I want to do?
-- Get a machine with at least a 5x7 sewing field.

How easy is it to get designs to them machine?
-- A machine with a USB port is a must!! It will Save you a ton of money later

Is there s reputable dealer close by for service and repairs?
-- Doesn't matter if you laid out a fortune for it or bought one of the cheapies from Walmart they all break down sooner or later.

I will warn you from experience though that if you live in a very hot region (temps above 95 and 100 regularly) and don't have a way to keep your machine
in a cool place that most machines do have some plastic gears and will WARP!!!
After buying 3 machines by a very popular manufacturer I learned my lesson and bought one with entirely metal gears. and now I run an airconditioner in the room it is in all summer!!!! Didn't have that luxury before and paid dearly for it.
You can get a machine that just about everything in the world and the price tag is going to be WAY up there or just one to learn on and get comfortable with and then graduate up so concider how long you want your machine to last,and just how long will it be before it is obsolete or how long it will be before you are HA!
This is my suggestion to you and I know others will chime in with theirs and understand that we all love our machines even if we differ in which one to buy!!!
Concider the Janome 350e though

I have a Viking SE and a Viking D1, but gals in my sewing/quilting club have Babylocks and they are very happy with them and the embroidery looks just as good as mine. I agree, purchase your dealer. Ask around because support is everything.

The best is to look around and see what you find best in a machine, which one you thik you will be happy with, as Shirlene says, we each one feel our emb machines is the best, so you will feel the same when you find the right one. I have a Singer 350 and i am very happy with it.

Thanks to each of you!!! At least I have a place to start narrowing down my search!!!!!!

Welcome to the Cute Family. As you have been told everyone thinks the machine they have is the BEST . It just depends how much you want to invest. I started out with a Simplicity Machine , 4x4 hoop and learned alot. Then I went up to a Brother (5x7 hoop) machine. I love them both . They both use PES format. But I still use my Simplicity as much as my Brother. This is my idea . Hope you find the right one for you . * Nancy

Go to the reviews section at the top of this page and you will be able to read what others say about the machines they have.

You can also Google machine reviews and come up with more than you know what to do with.

You can also go to the link below and find many machines reviews.

Before buying a machine you need to decide what features you want:
self threading; bobbin winding; variable speed; hoop sizes; embroidery only, or combined embroidery/sewing; do you want to quilt on it?; do you have to remove the embroidery unit when you want to sew?; how large is the screen; how good is the lighting and is it adjustable; how easy can you navigate through the features on the screen; does the machine give you the option do a basting stitch around your design; can you jump to particular stitch number of a design (this is handy if your thread breaks and you have to double back or if the design is a bit light on stitches and you want to re-stitch a particular section);
does it have a power interruption (design save) protection; will it stop if you run out of bobbin/top thread; does it come with software; does it use a USB stick to upload designs to machine; can you edit designs directly on the machine; how many stitches does it have;
how much do you wish to spend, what is the after sales service like in your area, is there is service for that brand in your area; do you like the people in your sales/service centre; how long have they been in business; will they do any repair work under warranty; what kind of embroidery will you be doing; do you have enough projects for family and friends to justify a "top of the line" machine, or will you only embroider the odd garment here and there so that a cheaper machine with a small hoop will do the job for your; the list goes on and on..........

But your final choice will most likely be governed, or limited, by how much you wish to spend and which brand will serve you best, or you like best.

My advice is don't rush into anything, research everything thoroughly, learn and understand what is involved in embroidery before you decide. write down a list of questions you think of to ask the sales people.

There are so many machines and if you buy a cheap one that doesn't do everything you need, you will find yourself disappointed and having to upgrade to something better in a very short time.

I suggest you check out some posts here on "how many machines do you have" you will be surprised at how many of us end up with more than one embroidery machine and usually it is because we underestimated our needs when we purchased our first one.

I personally love my Elna XQ2, so much so that I just purchased another one from a dealer in the States. They are no longer available since Elna sold out to Janome but I believe Janome has just bought out a beaut new top of the line machine to replace it.

I also love my Designer Diamond, but at $AUD11,000 I'd damn well want to be able to say that, I didn't think much of it in the beginning as it didn't seem to embroider as well as I thought it should but after its first service it is now everything it should be.

On the other hand I do not like my Brother 750 D(for Disney) machine, try as I might I just can't get the bobbin tension right on it and I don't like its 2 speeds only choice. It's an embroidery only machine worth $AUD1,500 and if I had paid for it I would have been spitting chips, but it was a gift when I bought the Designer Diamond.

I hope I have not confused you more, but given you a starting point to set for yourself so you can rule out those machines that don't fall into your initial criteria.
hugs n roses, Meganne

Meganne gave you the best advise ever, I believe she covered the bases. Believe do check on how long a business has been there and about warranty service. Cause when I bought my machine the lady went out of business before I could get my first service done. So now there is not a dealer for babylock here and I will have to travel about 60 or so miles to get service. Good luck! and beware you will be addicted once you start. Welcome to cute.

Welcome to the Cute family! I love my brother innov'is 1500D. What I would recommend though, is to get one where you can use a memory stick. I have to have an adaptor for mine, which I was unaware of at the time of purchase. Other than that. I LOVE it. (when I need something that requires me to take the machine. I just d/l what I need then delete later. But a memory stick would be so much easier, cause I don't have a laptop.:) Have fun search for what you are looking for, I also recommend to try them there at the store.

Consider how close the dealer is and how you feel about their service. I have a Viking Designer SE and love it. The feature I like the most is the USB direct connect cable to my computer to access my designs on the machine!!!! Enjoy shopping. Viking is coming out with a new machine "Ruby" I think in Aug. It will take the place of the SE since they are no longer going to make it.

You have gotten lots of great advice from the cuties - and I agree with researching and then deciding what features are most important to you. I struggled with spending the extra to go to a machine with 5 * 7 but I DO NOT REGRET it at all! I like the in the hoop things and many of them need that size sewing field. I did buy a Brother PE780D - get legal Disney that way - and I am quite happy with it. If I go to upgrade (because my eyes get bad enough I need it to cut the jump stitches) I will likely go with Brother again - nice dealer (can go in and get advice, they are knowledgable, etc.), some parts (like bobbins) are interchangable with my BabyLock quilting machine, and I have generally been happy with it so far - and I have 1.5 million stitches on it in less than six months! Good Luck to you.

Hi and welcome to Cute. There is some very interesting information from other Cuties. I live a 2 plus hour journey from my dealer and it is well worth the hassle of getting back and forth as he is excellent. Look frward to hearing about the machine you decide to buy. It is possible you live near a fellow Cutie who would give you information on good dealers

Tummybunny, I see you have many good answers. Just want to welcome you. Hope you stay, and enjoy. H&*

you have gotten a lot of good advice and here is mine for what it is worth. I started with a Janome 9000.and fell in love with it but later wanted to make bigger designs. I searched for quite some time and finally got a good deal on a Janome 300e and now I am in sewers heaven. But take meganne's advice before you lay your money down.

A good dealer is a must, but get a BIG HOOP. The little ones are ok at first, but my largest is 5x7 and it's not big enough. You will grow quickly!!

Wow! Everyone has some really good advice for you! I live in Northeast Arkansas, between Hardy and Mammoth Spring. Having a good dealer was important to me and I didn't want to go 67 miles to Jonesboro for any training or repairs. There is a Janome dealer in West Plains, Missouri, about 35 mile from me, so I chose Janome. My first was the MC9700 and for Christmas I traded it in for the MC1100 SE. And of course I love it. The service I get from my dealer is awesome, they are always there to help. Yes, it is scary deciding on your first one. Good luck on your decision. Carol

Oh, sweetie, you have lots of good advise. I love my Bernina's. But you must consider a dealer that is close by for service and free lessons. And by all means, go in and test sew on some models.

I have 3 machines, the first, I did not know about all the sites and went to a dealer about 50 miles away who showed me what she had, and was able to give me a really good deal on a machine to get me started. She went out of business about 2.5 years later, and I then went to a dealer about 50 miles the other way. When I got ready to upgrade, I went to closer stores, but was not satisfied with their treatment of potential new customers, so went back to the dealer 50 miles away. I have since bought 2 embroidery machines and a quilting machine from them. I can now call and talk to my sales person and problem solve over the phone and we have become good enough friends that I don't have to tell her who is calling. I own a viking platinum plus (my first machine) and also a Brother Quatro 6000 and Brother PR 650. I really enjoy the fact I can do designs from 2X2 to 8X12 and everything in between. It is not necessary to be able to digitize, but it is convenient to have a program that is able to edit programs, although some of this can be done on the screen of the Brother machines. You are getting lots of good advice, but definitely the dealer and features of the machine are some of the most important considerations

Dont know where you live....Buy from dealer, not department store and make sure they can repair and service your machine, whatever you choose.

You have many good answers...you'll always get them here. Welcome to the "cute" family. Let us know your decision.

Welcome to the Cute fsmily. I see that you have already gotten good advice, but I want you to to be sure to test the different machines and models as well as to check out the dealers. There is no point in purchasing a machine that you have difficulty using or from a dealer that doesn't treat you well. Also be sure that you can easily get designs for your format. Pes is a vey common format, easy to get lots of designs. Art is much harder to find. Good luck. After you do your research and buy a machine, let us know what you bought.

Hi go for the top of the line if you have been sewing for years. Otherwise you will be bored and unhappy. I got a Babylock Elegante first and loved it and then moved up into the Babylock Ellisimo within 3 months. Simply LOVE the machine it does EVERYTHING and more and has a camera to boot so you can see exactly where your needle is comming down forplacements. I also got all the software from Designer Gallery that went with the machine. Suzanne

I see you got great advices, like many of the cuties told you I agree to look for a popular format machine, I am not very nimble with machines but I think PES and HUS are easy to find, In my opinion the embroidery area, to find the largest one you could find, in a large embroidery area you could fit a small or a large design. Good luck.

My third BabyLock is an Ellegante, I've had no trouble with any machine by BabyLock even the two sergers by BabyLock (threading a breeze). Invest the dollars and go for the top of the line, you will not regret it. Stay away from Singer. The BabyLock uses PES format and the designs online are readily available. When embroidering a dense design (a lot of stitches) I slow the machine down to speed of 600, on vintage outlines I speed it up to 1,000. The automatic threader is wonderful, no more squinting to put the thread through the needle. The service is wonderful and be sure to take out the extra warranty just the cleaning along is worth it. Also with the BabyLock Ellegante you have many ways of downloading designs, thumb drive, memory card and of course the USB right from the computer. Also all available upgrades right from the BabyLock site using the USB cord provided will keep the machine up to date. Look for special packaging giving you the features of Studio Plus and Custom Works for sizing and a special feature is once you bring up the design you can actually watch it stitch out on the computer. I highly recommend the BabyLock. Have had my Ellegante now for 4 years and thinking about the Ellisimo too. If only I could sell my Ellegante I would be ready to purchase the Ellisimo today.

Do not know where you reside but if the Sewing & Quilt Expo comes to your State, be sure to visit, most all brands are represented and have out the show door specials. If not familiar with the show check out www.SewingExpo.com. You will see the dates and places where the next one is. I have gone 5 years in a row and purchase ALL related embroidery/sewing items at the show, I never purchase retail because of cost.

WELCOME TO CUTE...Everyone does love his/her machine more, so I will add mine also...I have a Brother 45ooD and I LOVE IT....I would definetely jump up to the 6ooo in a heartbeat if I could afford it...I had problems with my 12oo but I haven't had any difficult with the 45ooD....I love the self threadingg capacity...the large hoop is wonderful...I had great help and service with my little baby, so whatever you choose...SERVICE AND CLASSES are really important...be sure to get references from your dealer and talk to other customers on their satisfaction with them...please post your new baby when you get it...loves deanna

I had to go bottom of the line, hubby bought it for me so I would have something to do during my cancer surgery and chemo, am feeling better but they may have found another growing spot in the same lung so I may be back to sitting at the machine all day. Brother SE-350, only does 4 by 4 and that saddens me so go bigger. Got it at Walmart so no lessons, wish I could get some cause I am fumbling through and have had some problems. Cuties have gotten me past some but the machine itself doesn't give me much choice. Then I had to invest more in a PED-Basic so I could load designs onto a card, if you can get a direct link to the computer it would be wonderful! Good luck. * 4 EVERYONE on Cute!

Since everybody likes their own machine best, I'm going to put in my 2 cents worth for Janome. I have a dealer only 15 miles away, that was one reason for my choice. A good dealer is SO important! I'd never purchase anything at all that I had to "send" someplace to have fixed, if you got a lemon, you'd have more tied up in postage that it would be worth. One thing to think about is if you want an embroidery-only machine. So many dealers want to sell the embroidery/sewing machines, but you can only do one thing at a time with it. I have the Janome 300E, which is embroidery only. If I'm letting it sew out a piece of free-standing lace that will take an hour, I can still use my regular sewing machine to put together quilt pieces, while keeping an eye on the embroidery. The 300E came with both a 4x4 and 5x7 sewing fields, and is capable of taking a giga-hoop if I want one. You probably won't be satisfied with 4x4, once you get going, so many people wish for a larger field. Also, plan on some kind of software, and someone to show you how to use it. I got the Janome Digitizer Pro with my machine, and have never regretted it. I can re-size designs, change stitch patterns, colors, etc. as well as digitize. That's again where a dealer is so good, my dealer gives free lessons on any machine or software you purchace from her. Dealers will also let you test drive machines, to see which one is right for you. Just personally, I would never just drag something home from WalMart in a box and hope I could figure it out and that it worked ok, no matter how good a 'deal' it seemed, but that's just me. Good luck with your search, and ask any more questions you like, welcome here to Cute!! Hugs, Marji

The cuties have given you good advice. I wish I had known about this site before. I bought a Janome MC11000SE. I have had a Janome Memory 7 for the last 29 years (it's still going strong - no repairs in all that time). I bought the top of the line as that was the one I fell in love with at the dealers and knew that if I purchased one of the other ones I would end up disappointed in my choice so even though we couldn't afford it at the time (I was not working) I went with it anyway and have not regretted it. I went with Janome as that was what I already had and have had such good luck I stayed with that.
Each of the cuties has different machines and love them so it comes down to your price range, good and accessable dealer, and a machine you are going to enjoy using.
GOOD LUCK! Let us know the result - we'll be waiting to hear.

I love my little Janome 200, it only has one hoop, but most designs I want to do are in that range. I have had a 300E, 350E, and Bernina 200. For the money, the Janome 200 is great to learn on and the design of the hoop hook up to the machine keeps the design in perfect alignment. I had a lot of trouble with the 300 and 350 because the hoop is attached to the machine only from the top. Wished they had keep the hoop design with the 300 and 350.