Doesn't your machine tell you how long it will take? I always add 50% for colour changes and breakages.

Hi Sue, my machine Janome MC11000 tells me how long the stitchout is. Then I just allow extra time for thread changes and any mishaps. It's probably safe to say the higher the stitch count the longer it will take. Carol

Agree with Sue and Carol.
I can change the speed of my Janome (400/500/750stitches per minute) so this has also an influence. Depends on the fabric and on the thread (especially for metallic-thread I choose the slowest speed).
Greetings, Bettina

I can also see the estimated time on my software if set at the speed of your machine. I also add for changes. (I am slow with this).

Thank you Ladies, yes my Brother tells me how long the stichout will take and I can change the speed aswell. It is in the machine setup where the color or the stichcounter is. Happy to know that I can do a "small" stichout in between out of the house tasks.
First try was a design estimated with 22min took me about 33min with thread break and bobbin change.
After the design is loaded I first let the machine show me the space needed for the design and after that she shows the est. time, then I change the setting back to stichcount.

My Designer1 did not give me the time, the Ruby just the time per colour, my EP4 gives the total time needed. Time for thread changes is not included. So the less colours the faster.

The stitch-count is only a rough indication: you have no doubt noticed that machines stitch some parts faster than others and jumps slow down the process considerably (as does the automatic cutting some machines can do for you). But as a rule anything under 3-5 thousand stitches is a quickie.

My machine gives a time overal which is broken down colour by colour as I sew. But like others I find it takes longer especially if there are thread changes which the machine does not include and they can take a time. What Brother machine do you have? I have a Galaxie 3000 and a PR650