SewingForum.com

[rlmeals]

Sorry for this long post, but I'm copying a post I put in another forum topic because I'm not getting any responses, and I thought y'all might be able to advise on the Babylock models in question:

Hello,
I am an intermediate sewer. I do machine quilting, home stuff like place mats, curtains, pillows, and I am now starting to work with knit fabrics for cloth diaper covers and burp cloths. I also am starting to learn to make my own clothes for my whole family. I want a few different things and don't know if I should buy separate machines, or machines that do it all. I am wanting a serger, but I want to be able to do coverstitch, and I also want to start embroidering on my baby items (and possibly start selling some of these). I currently have a Brother CS 6000-i, and while it's not the most advanced, it does have enough stitches for what I've been doing. I don't need a whole lot of fancy bells and whistles, but I also don't want to buy so cheap that the machine won't meet my needs. My budget is very tight and I'm basically looking for the best I can get a reasonable price.

I like the Singer Futura CE-250, it hooks up to the computer so you aren't paying thousands of dollars for a built-in computer on the machine. It can do embroidery in a space bigger than Brother's 4X4. Price is reasonable and I can find a used one for around $250. However, my local Babylock dealer said Singer was bought out and parts and service are hard to come by now. Also said they break easily...I don't want to deal with something that's going to break all the time. He said he won't even sell them anymore. But my sister-in-law LOVES hers.

The dealer recommended the Babylock Ellure or Ellure Plus, said it was the least expensive Babylock model, but around $1200. (yikes!). While looking online I found the Ellegante 2, and it appealed to me because it also has a longer arm to allow for quilting. I have to admit I've had trouble fitting a rolled up quilt into my Brother machine, and I've dreamed of a long-arm quilter. However, the longer arm is not a necessity, only a bonus if I happen to get a machine that has one!

I want an embroiderer that will allow me to upload my own images or images from the internet, not one that I have to spend hundreds of dollars on designs made just for that brand. And I want to be able to use lots of fonts, not just the 5 or 10 that come with a machine.

Now for the serger. I found some cheap Brothers, and I've heard they make a good serger. Wal-Mart has it for $193. But I really want to be able to do coverstitch. I don't know anything about sergers. I gather that there are coverstitch machines that ONLY coverstitch, and sergers that ONLY serge. But wouldn't it be cheaper to get a combo? Then again, I've heard combos aren't as good because coverstitch is it's secondary function and it doesn't do it as well as a coverstitch only machine. I don't need "professional" results, but I do need "good" results...I don't want my stuff to come out looking bad and not straight. Very importantly, I need something strong enough for denim. I found sergers even cheaper than the Brother, but it says it's for light to medium weight fabrics.

Also, since I have a straight stitch machine already, I don't need an embroiderer or serger that also sews. However, if I were to get one, I could probably sell my Brother for $50-$75 to offset the cost of the new machines just a little. Any advice would help. I've read the other posts and guides already, and I know I need to try them before I buy, but I don't even know where to start. If you could direct me to a few models that may meet my needs, I could narrow it down and not be so overwhelmed!!!

Thanks for any input...love your forum, too, by the way. A lot of great info! I look forward to reading more in the future. (And sorry for such a long post!)

[JanS]

I have a Babylock Esante and love it but here is what you need to know about embroidery machines. You cannot just upload a drawing to a sewing machine and expect it to sew from an image. The image must be digitized first for that embroidery machine. Digitizing software will cost anything from free to several thousand dollars. Do yourself a favor and learn the process of what it takes to create a design from a drawing to an embroidery pattern. Here is a link to get you started:

http://freeembroiderystuff.embroiderydesigns.com/
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[rlmeals]

Thanks, Jan. When I was looking for some sort of tutorial or demonstration online of the Singer Futura, I found a video that was from QVC or HSN, and one of the big features was that you can download clipart and other images from the internet, that it had "unlimited" possibilities. But I guess you have to have software to be able to do that? I've been researching these machines, but haven't found all the info I want. I'd rather go to a shop and ask all the questions I have instead of trying to sift through bits and pieces online, but my closest store is over an hour away (I live in a small town). Thanks for the suggestion!

[JanS]

I just took a look at the Futura website at http://www.singerco.com/futura and found out that the HSN has been not quite truthful. You still need a computer to hook up to the sewing machine and it accepts embroidery patterns via CD or USB. Other than having 80 built in patterns the website says nothing about being able to take a drawing or artwork and having the machine transform it for you. The machine does not support Vista or Windows 7 so it must be an older model that HSN is clearing out.

The digitizing software I wrote about is loaded on the computer not the embroidery machine. You need the ability to transfer the pattern from the computer to the machine via a flash drive, USB or CD. The cheaper embroidery machines require you to purchase a "box" or card reader that you hook your computer up to first.
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