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From: smith972
Date: 11-07-2004, 08:15 AM (1 of 17)
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Brother PE 150 Brother PE 170 Disney I am really leaning toward the second Disney machine..... Any thoughts on either of these or simular machines....I want to use it for personnal use right now and later for business use (not the disney designs of course) but I would be using it to add personnel touches to items that i sew. Thanks |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241 
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From: joannequilts
Date: 11-07-2004, 11:17 AM (2 of 17)
| I have the 180D and the 2003D. You may find the embroidery field a bit small on the 180D but if not mistaken they do have a hoop for that one. I know my 180 goes max of 5X7. Hope this helps a little. |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070 
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From: sewn-machine
Date: 11-07-2004, 09:01 PM (3 of 17)
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I have the PE 150 - and it is an absolute workhorse. So, while both machines are similar, I guess it would depend on how much you want the built in Disney characters. I also have the magic box for downloading free designs from the internet. To date, I have about 2000 designs - all free. I also use Embird for converting other design formats to pes. I saw an add at Walmart today that they have the PED -Basic (for downloading) for $123. That's a very good price. I'm not sure if the other machine has a bigger embroidery field, but the 4x4 has always worked for what I need to do. Either machine will do very nice embroidery. I think Brother really has outstanding embroidery technology. So whichever model you choose is going to be good. A good dog, a sewing machine and an old guitar
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User: sewn-machine
Member since: 08-12-2002 Total posts: 13 
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From: smith972
Date: 11-08-2004, 07:45 AM (4 of 17)
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I have the PE 150 - and it is an absolute workhorse. So, while both machines are similar, I guess it would depend on how much you want the built in Disney characters. I also have the magic box for downloading free designs from the internet. To date, I have about 2000 designs - all free. I also use Embird for converting other design formats to pes. I saw an add at Walmart today that they have the PED -Basic (for downloading) for $123. That's a very good price. I'm not sure if the other machine has a bigger embroidery field, but the 4x4 has always worked for what I need to do. Either machine will do very nice embroidery. I think Brother really has outstanding embroidery technology. So whichever model you choose is going to be good. What is a magic box and how do i get one....does the brother pe 150 come with a video for teaching you how to use it...was it easy to learn...and do you now have the disney characters? |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241
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From: Dinky
Date: 12-02-2004, 12:57 PM (5 of 17)
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Right now I own 2 embroidery machines and will have a Baby Loc (used) in a few days. I have a Bernina 200 Artista, Brother Ult2002 now. I love both of them. What I have found with all the embroidery machines is up to the individual. If your looking for a machine just to do embroidery and may want to use in a business I would strongly suggest buying a more expensive machine. But if your $$ dosn't allow that then I would go with either one of the smaller machines. First check to see if the PE can be put on the machine at a later date then go online and get the trial download for either embird or buzz tools to change the designs to the format you need. Later when $$ is better I would invest in either the PE design software or get the magic box to where you can put the designs onto blank cards but they are not cheap either. If you purchase a used embroidery machine that you can use diskettes with like the Ultra or Janome then all you need is buzz tools or embird and you can change design formats. Hope this helps. I've had my disney machine for 3 years and love it. Ebay has cards for the smaller machines that run anywhere from 5.00 up just depends on what your looking for. Hope this helps. Dinky |
User: Dinky
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 12-03-2004, 07:15 AM (6 of 17)
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I have the PE150 and love it and it comes with a CD that you can put into your computer to learn how to use it. I also have a magic box, but have ye to do anyting with it yet. Just have't gelt like getting hooked on something else right now!!! I have down;oaded free designs until I see them in my sleep!!!! I must have close to 10,000!! Don't think I'm getting any more. My friend also has the machine and loves it. Do you order the Embird on line or can you buy it at retailers anywhere? I have tried the trial version and really like the program. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Hogmami
Date: 12-03-2004, 09:28 AM (7 of 17)
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You buy it on line. Then you download it. Here is the web site http://www.embird.com/ I have Embird but found that if I wanted to do more, I had to buy the sfumato. I like it. It does alot and makes things easyer. Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 12-12-2004, 12:25 PM (8 of 17)
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I have the brother 180D, (4 kids Disney works!) it works well, I also have PE design software 4.0 (there is a 5.0 out there now). This lets you download designs, make your own (take a digitizing class!! there are some good online ones and cd lessons) and convert some other companies designs ie HUS (viking) to PES (brother). It's pricey though, the software is more than the machine!! I bought the multi-hoop for the machine, it lets you design bigger designs, in pieces, but lets you sew them out without worrying about rehooping, alignment etc. 4x8 is the max size for it, my machine does not do 5x7. the disney cards are not cheap but you can find buys on ebay at times. have fun!! Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: sewn-machine
Date: 12-18-2004, 09:48 PM (9 of 17)
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Smith - Irregardless which of the 2 machines you get, you will really need 2 other accessories. Embird is an internet downloadable program that lets you do all sorts of editing with your designs. For example cutting a flower out of one design and pasting into another design. It also allows you to resize to virtually any size you want, big or small (max of your hoop size). You can change colors, print out templates, do lettering (with font plug-ins) rotate and mirror.PLUS you can download any design format and change it to the pes format that your machine requres. And of course you can see thumbnails of all the thousands of free designs you will be downloading. Then after you download (and store in files) those free designs, you will need a Magic box, or Amazing box etc to pull those free designs from your computer, write it to the card , pop it into your machine, and stitch away. With those 2 add ons your looking at about another $200. But they are virtually indispensible to use your machine to its fullest potential. I bought my magic box from an online dealer, and Embird is a downloadable program. This all probably sounds so confusing right now, but keep reading all the boards and check some online dealer sites for more information. Embird has a site also that you can download a trial program then if you decide you can't live without it, you can buy it right there. They send you a password, and you're all set. A good dog, a sewing machine and an old guitar
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User: sewn-machine
Member since: 08-12-2002 Total posts: 13
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From: smith972
Date: 12-18-2004, 10:01 PM (10 of 17)
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Thanks for all the replies and information.... I was hoping to get the machine before xmas but it appears that i might have to wait until feb. Jada |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241
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From: newfielover
Date: 03-30-2005, 02:56 AM (11 of 17)
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I have the SE270 I love it. it sews pretty well and the embroidery is wonderful. I will be buying the ped basic. it is on sale this week at wal-mart. so far the 270 has done everything i wanted it to. and i did call brother because i didn't understand the manual and they were GREAT about helping me with it. hope this helps. Rose |
User: newfielover
Member since: 03-28-2005 Total posts: 3 |
From: Jessica3
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:58 AM (12 of 17)
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I also just got the Se-270D and love it so far! I was Embroidering right out of the box! I have had no problems so far, except my thread but that is not because of the machine I bought cheap thread.. I got mine off of ebay for $330.00 with shipping.. Brand new NOT factory rebuilt.
Jessica
**************** Janome 8080 Janome 634D Brothers SE-270D |
User: Jessica3
Member since: 04-23-2005 Total posts: 15 
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From: mamadus
Date: 04-28-2005, 11:10 PM (13 of 17)
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Rose and Jess... good to hear you're both enjoying your machines!!! WElcome to the machine embroidery addiction!! feel free to holler if you need some help... MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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From: Jessica3
Date: 04-29-2005, 10:34 AM (14 of 17)
Thanks Mamadus I'm sure I will have tons of questions!! 
Jessica
**************** Janome 8080 Janome 634D Brothers SE-270D |
User: Jessica3
Member since: 04-23-2005 Total posts: 15
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From: busybee 60
Date: 04-30-2005, 08:06 PM (15 of 17)
| What is the magic box? |
User: busybee 60
Member since: 04-24-2005 Total posts: 2 |
From: Hogmami
Date: 04-30-2005, 08:33 PM (16 of 17)
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The magic box and the ultimate card are reader/writers. It makes it possible to download designs off the internet and if you have Embird or some other program, to download from there so you can use the designs in your machine. I have the Brother PE 150 and the ultimate card. I have used it a lot of times getting free designs. With this I haven't had to buy designs on cards, which cost alot. I also have Embird with the digitizing studio, that I have done some of my own designs with.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800
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From: mamadus
Date: 05-05-2005, 01:46 AM (17 of 17)
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the reader/writer boxes (Magic Box,amazing Box, Ultimate Box, Pes2card3) alll allow you to download designs from the internet and then write those designs to a card for your machine... regardless of which box you end up with, for the price of a few design cards you can download endlesss designs to your machine... definitely well worth the price.... MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492
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