I am nowhere near a professional. I only embroidery and sew for fun. I have a Brother 780d, it has a 5x7 hoop. It ran around $1000. Walmart sells a Brother 400, it has a 4x4 hoop for around $400. I guess it depends on how much you want to spend and how big of a hoop you want. Good luck and happy embroidering. I really like my Brother.

I have a Bernina 640 which I love. However, Bernina's tend to be a bit pricey, although in my opinion they are worth it.
At the top of this page, in the pale blue stripe under the Mother's day header, is the work "Reviews" in bold. Click on that to find reviews of lots of machines.
Good luck and welcome to Cute. Be sure to come back after you buy your machine!

I would tell you to be sure and get a machine with at least a 5x7 hoop. If you have a dealer where you live go in and ask for a demonstration. Look around and ask a lot of questions. I have had both Singer and Brother machines and I would reccomend the Brother

I see you have your answer. Welcome to cute you will love it here.

It depends how much are you willing to spend. i first had Brother 180D 4x4 embroidery area,it was around 400$ dollars, I though well, I am only wanted to embroider small designs, I was wrong!!!! the cute designs must of them come 5x7 up, . My advice for you is to buy the largest area you can afford, do not make my mistake, I bought the 4x4 them 5x7 around 1,000, together 1,400, I could have had even a larger embroidery area with a little bit more, now it is going to be very difficult, I retired two years ago. Again buy a large embroidery area,remember in a large emb. area you could fit in small designs and large designs.Another thing is machine service. I was very lucky the ONLY service around my area is for Brother, this was just pure luck.I saw an add. for Topaz (Viking) I believe it is around 2,000 dollars, and it has a large embroidery area, If you noticed i am crazy about LARGE EMB> AREA!!!! LOL.

Everyone has given you great advice and starting with your budget is always the first step. My husband surprised me with a Brother ULT 2002D almost ten years ago, and I love it. Your budget can go further with a refurbished machine, though I'd advise you to get it from the company with a warranty. And get the largest hoop size you can afford. You'll be happy you did. The other thing is while you are looking to start with small projects, find one you can grow with rather than one that suits your needs now. This past time started out for many of us as a hobby, then somehow it reared it's creative head, and took on a life all its own. Go to quilt shops as they carry machines, and will explain the features to you and let you try them. Take what you know then go home and research online. But NEVER stop asking questions and get answers to those you have. One question may lead to another. Good luck and welcome to the club!

I think the most important thing is to buy from a dealer that will honor the warrenty, do the work on your machine when needed, be willing to help you, and give you free lesson to see how to do the embroidery! It's not hard, BUT you do need to have someone show you. We can type directions, but it's always better to see it done & be able to ask questions. Most dealers offer the instruction lessons free. If they don't, go somewhere else!

Hi. I am in UK. I started machine embroidery many years ago with a Janome Memory Craft(MC) model 8000, upgraded to the MC9000, then to the MC10000, and now have an MC11000. I have loved all of them each in their turn, and all of them would do the embroidery you require. They mostly come with text (fonts) built-in.

One word of advice - do buy a new machine as you will then get the guarantee. Shop around in your area (wherever you live), and preferably go to a reputable dealer who knows all the machine makes. See if there are any courses that you could attend. Janome run courses at their centre here in UK, and usually a course offer comes with each new machine, so I am sure that Janome will do the same in USA, if that's where you are. Try their website, www.janome.com.

I can tell you this: once you start you will be hooked!! Good luck.

babybling, welcome to the CUTE family. It depends on what your budget will allow - get a hoop big enough to do what you are wanting to do - get the support that you for that machine and hopefully they will give lessons on the use of the machine. There is a section here on this site cakked REVIEWS - click on it and see what others have said about those machines - perhaps you will find something there of interest.

As for me - I own a Babylock Ellegante2 - I have have also had a Babylock Ellure and Escante and a Husqvarna Designer I - I am not sure any of these are in the review section - but they are all wonderful machines. Each of these machines have a warrenty and were services for two years from the dealership that I purchased them from and that included lessons and support.

I see you have several very good suggestions no matter which brand you buy. I started with a small Bernina embroidery only machine and it was fine for a couple of years-then I wanted to do lareger designs, combine designs,etc. Because there was a wonderful Husquvarna Viking dealer nearby I decided to look at their machines. They are extremely easy to use, excellent quility stitching and if you get to the point of using software theirs is very user friendly. I have had no maintainance problems that others seem to complain about but I do get my machines cleaned at the dealer every year. I kept trading up and am on my 4th one so I guess you'd say I am happy with them! Enjoy whatever one you get!

I have a Husqvarna Designer SE with the 4D software. This was the top of the line for Husqvarna at the time. This is my first machine. Expensive but I love it. Of course, they have come out with newer ones. Check out the Viking site and the Pfaff site. Brother also has some nice machines.

I would get the one with the largest embroidery space I could afford. This is just a hobby for me but it seems you can always use more space. My friend has a Pfaff with all the large hoops. For instance I purchased some designs to make bibs for my new grand daughter. Once I purchased them I realized the size I would like to make would require a larger hoop than my machine uses. It's good to have the large hoops and the small hoops. I have all that go with my machine. Smaller hoops so you don't waste stabilizer by doing a small design in a large hoop. At this point I don't have much use for the largest hoops out there but I would like to be able to use a 200x200 hoop. With the software have the ability to split designs. The largest hoop space I have is 360 x 150 (and then there is the endless hoop) but the width is still 150 (6 inches).

You'll find that once you get the machine there are tons of things you will want to do besides baby items. You'll want to do towels, in the hoop projects, t-shirts, hats, jackets etc. It's so much fun you won't stop at baby items.

Also, consider some type of computer software so you can see your designs, merge designs etc. Cuties here are familar with several different ones that are reasonably priced. As soon as my bank account will allow it, I hope to get the newer machine with the 5D software. It will take a little shopping to find what machine will work best for you and your needs hahaha....I mean wants. :-)

And welcome to Cute!!

Welcome to cute. I have sent you a message.

My suggestion is definitely a "Brother" I have two a innovis 4000D and a PE780D.... Love both of them. You get a lot for your money with Brother

I have a Designer 1, which is my best friend. If you don´t want to spend so much money you can have a look on used machines, Think you can get one with guarantee

I have a Bernina 440 bought with the idea of quilting - I haven't quited one on this machine!
The embroidery is great and I am now starting to get into digitising - the programmes are great - bit complicated initally but fantastic when you get going.
my sister bought a Pfaff Creative 2 (also never embroidered) but got it on a great deal Can$3000. Here is SA the machines sells for R34000. I'm jealous in that it takes bigger hoops than mine!!!

First of all welcome to the Cute family. I have a very old second hand Bernina which is very basic. My only tip for you would be to make sure that you can use larger hoops. Mine only uses a 4x4 - perfect for baby things but I would love to sew larger designs. Sarah.

The best thing what you can do is go to a shop where they have more then oly one kind. I started with a Disney Brother but after a while I could not find it with it any more. I have now 2 Janome's The MB4 whitch is easey for large desins and also for lace and a MC 11000 with a large hoop. this one you can take easy with you and the embroidery table is in the machine. I do love it I only use the MB4 more. There is also a Brother with 10 needles of which I have heart is great but also a great price.
Stil you have to do it your self in the store so you can find out if you find it easey in use ore not. Janome is very easy in use as far as I can see and you need no lessens only read good before you start.
Good luck, Yvonne

You have gotten lots of good suggestions.... If you are like many of us - you will try it and be HOOKED! My first embroidery machine was a Brother PE780D - largest hoop size of 5*7 - and it is a great machine - very glad I spend the extra to get the 5*7 size. I upgraded after 3 million stitches and 1 year to a Quattro (the big Brother) because I just love machine embroidery. My suggestion is to get the largest hoop you can afford and be sure that you can either use a USB thumb drive or a direct connection to the computer - one where you don't have to have a special box and software to get the designs on machine to stitch. Please do let us know what you purchase. Good Luck.

I'm gettin in on this thread late... but I had a White for over 7 years w/ a 4x4 hoop. It did a beautiful job...made by Brother and discontinued... so when I decided to get one with a larger hoop I got a 780D, with a 5x7 hoop. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the pricer ones, but it will do what I want to do. You can buy a 4x4 hoop for it so as not to use so much stablizer when you are doing small designs. I did not want a combination emb/sew machine and did not want to spend $3000 for one. I got mine for $750 plus tax. It was offered on Amazon for that and my dealer matched it.
MJDG

Well my first machine is a Brother PE-180D, Disney. I went crazy and bought all kinds of disk for. They I fell into a deal for a Bernina 430 and oh was I hooked. I just ordered the new Bernina 830 and I can pick it up Saturday, I can't wait. So I am thinking of selling the Brother with all the disk if anyone is interested. It makes cute Micky mouse. It is so easy to use but I am getting to many machines, lol.

I started with the Janome 8000 in 1987..still going strong. Bought Janome SE11000 last year..nothing but problems. Janome replaced the machine 3 times in 10 months with new machines. No Good..I think the SE has a software problem. Three friends had same problem with SE model. Finally we all gave up and got Babylock Ellisimos...FABULOUS. No longer Janome fan, even though my 8000 still going strong.
Definately get something with USB connection..a MUST. Janome 8000 only takes Janome cards..obsolete now days. Some dealers will give you "factory warranty" on a machine someone traded in and you can save big time, but make sure you get warranty and free lessons. Good luck and keep us all posted

wwell you have quite a bit of info here & I too will add my 2cents worth! I have a Janome 10001 (10000 upgraded free to this) & I have had it for almost 10 years & I LOVE IT, I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING (EXCEPT ANOTHER NEW ONE) 4 of my friends all have the 11000, 2 of us have the 10001 one gets a new pfaff every time they come out,& we all LOVE OUR MACHINES! Each of us got lessons included in the purchase price of our machines & I can still go to the shop for help if I need any!I try to teach my kids to always "buy the best that you can afford" My point is try before you buy! @ our Janome dealer we could try one, sew I did & then I went back every day for a week until I was sure! I didn't know a soul that had one of these embroidery machines then & now it's a huge part of my life & my many sewing friends too!welcome to a wonderful site!

Babybling,
I would definitely encourage anyone to get an embroidery only machine with at least a 5x7 hoop. You will soon tire of being limited to a 4x4 hoop. I love my Brother PC8500D that I ordered online. It stitches beautifully, and I have not had any problems with at all. Brother is so user friendly, I taught myself using the manual!
My machine is a combo sewing and embroidery. You
can get an embroidery only machine for much less money, and should you need a sewing machine, too, a great sewing machine can be found at most reasonable prices compared to embroidery machines.
I recommend checking out the new, used, refurbished and gently loved machines at www.kenssewingcenter.com. They are very reputable and customer service oriented. No affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer! Good luck on your purchase!
Angel