Hi! Welcome to cute. If I had my time over I would have bought a machine with a large hoop size, at least bigger than the 5x7. I find that many of the designs would benefit from the lager hoop as well as my (ITH) In The Hoop projects like Zipper Bags and Appliques. I you can afford the Innovis get it, so you wish further down the track that you had. As for the software side I'm afraid I can't help you there, but there will be more cute sisters following that can help in that area.. Marian Sydney Australia

I would say to buy the machine with the largest hoop size that you can afford because you will soon find your self wishing for larger. And personally I prefer to edit my designs on the computer through the software-just seems easier to me. I am not familiar with either machine you are looking at as I have HusqvarnaVikings. Be sure to test drive the machines before you make a decision. Good luck. Hugs. Nan W

Welcome to Cute, Texasmommy!
My advice is to buy the sewing/embroidery machine with the biggest hoops you can afford. My biggest hoop is 200x360mm (approx. 8x14"). It does not mean that you have to use the largest hoop for small projects, for those you will use the smaller hoops. What I use most is the largest hoop, if you want to see my projects just click lidiad (in blue). I use the basic Embird software for editing and layout of all my projects, before I stitch them out.
Hugs, Lidia

My largest hoop is 5x7 and many times I wish I had a larger hoop. There are in the hoop projects (like door hangers) and designs for pillows that I would like to have a bigger hoop for. I can usually work around the size, but it requires multiple hooping and re-aligning. I do all of my editing through my Artista software via my computer. With your computer, you have a larger screen, a keyboard, and features that you will not have on your machine. (deleting a complete word at once instead of letter by letter).
I'm glad you are here and I hope you will read through our Q&A section of tutorials to find out how to navigate and "do" things here. Cuties are the best group on the net and being worldwide, there is almost always someone on here to answer your question, or give you the help you need.

I agree with everyone 'buy the largest hoop machine you can afford" .
I have Embird basic and it fits all my needs for editing embroidery, you can download it for free for 30 days.
My advise is make sure you have some sort of system for filing you designs, I was lucky my first machine came with Buzz Tools program so right off the start I have a good system for filing designs,
...example I call it buy the name given by the digitizer ,Ghost Baroque ,UT (urban threads) 13 09 14 P, the p indicates I purchased it, then I would file it under Halloween.
It maybe something simple but when you are talking about hundreds and or even thousands of designs you want to know where it is.
Good luck in your search!

Hi and Welcome! I see you have gotten some great answers...and I agree, buy the machine you like the best with the biggest hoops you can afford...trust me, even with the largest hoops, you will want them bigger!! I also use software on my computer for editing and digitizing...rarely use the embroidery machine for edits...much easier on the computer. Embird Basic is a great program for edits, converting formats, sizing...and it is fairly inexpensive compared to others...easy to use and lots of tutorials and support...lots of Cuties use it and are very helpful with questions. You can also download it and give it a try for 30 days free...the only thing you can't do with the trial version is save your work...but you will get a feel for the program...also recommend the Iconizer from Embird...it lets you see your embroidery files as pictures...couldn't live without it!

Wecome to Cute.
As the others say, go for the one with largest hoop if you can afford it; sooner or later you want the biggest hoop on the market.
Apart from the obvious - being able to use larger designs - it is so much easier to combine designs and stitch them in one go than rehooping and stitching. There are many ITH projects that require a larger one, including doilies like Lidia makes.
I prefer playing in the software to combine or edit designs, much more accurate than on the machine screen, and I find it faster as well.

Welcome to Cute.
I agree. Go for the bigger hoop. I wasted money trying to save money by buying a machine with only 4x4 hoop only to purchase one later with the biggest hoop I could find. . Hopefully you can afford the one with the bigger hoop. Looking forward to seeing you here.

Thank you everyone!! Y'all have been so helpful!! I'm super excited about getting started ;).

At 8x the cost of a PE770 or 780, I would love to know how you would justify the VE2200 as a newbie. I have had my 770 for a year and a summer...and had to service it 2x from my own ignorance. I've been sewing for 40 years and been around sewing for my whole life. The last time I had my machine serviced, my sweet husband was looking at the VE2200 and the Janome counterpart under the encouragement of the dealer. I was glad of the hospital down the street when she told him the cost. Let's just say, that's my goal, he supports it, and maybe the price will come down when even better machines are introduced. I would consider a used one.

Great answers here "texasmommy". I have the Brother Quattro2 Innovis eye 6700D - which I bought 2 years ago. I love the large hoop but mainly for larger doilies, or pillows etc. It has an 8 x 12 hoop - very pricey, and very heavy. I belong to a sewing guild and take my Husqvarna instead as the Brother weighs too much. Whatever you buy, make sure you have someone demonstrate all the capabilities of the machines. Also ensure you get good tech service. I have a brilliant sewing machine mechanic for my Husqvarna and have had him for 12 years. Makes all the difference to have good service. Good luck, love Chris

P.S. I also prefer to do my editing on the computer before I put it on my USB.

Hi welcome to Cute! I bought my Brother 700 (5*7) one and a half years ago as a newbie and after 8 months I got Husqvana Viking with the 8*14 hoop as that's the largest for home embroidery machine. As everybody else said, you'll crave for a larger hoop very soon.

However, I don't regret buying the starter Brother machine. I kept it when I could have traded it in. It can be a back-up machine. When I use my Husqvana for sewing, I can use Brother for smaller projects. I sometimes have both running. For smaller projects, I would still use this machine. It's a very nice machine for the price.

I too use Embird for editing. You have to get Embird Iconizer with the Embird basic. I got mine at secretsof.com. Editing on the machine is too time-consuming and very limited. Embird is very reasonably priced.