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From: liz's creations
Date: 01-11-2005, 09:53 AM (1 of 15)
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I haven't been able to find a combination sewing/embroidery machine that meets my budget of 1,300.00. So i was thinking if it would be better and cheaper to purchase two separate machines. I'll like to do some quilting so i' need a machine with a long neck. I have 4 kids who love disney so i was thinking of getting a brother embroidery machine unless a simplicity one will take brother's cards. The dealer near me would give me a good deal on a simplicity embroidery. Also wich sewing machine would you think is good. i currently have a singer creative touch pretty old ;still sews ,but once in a while i have to take it to get repaired, and is no good for when i making a comforter or a quilt.Does anyone have any insight? I'm running out of time my girlfriend is having a baby in march and i would like to make something very special with personolized embroidery. Thank you LIz Pledge of Allegiance: I promise never again to do any free work.Unless my mother or father are involve.
Some of the items I have done:http://lizscreation.shutterfly.com/a...8Abt2jhq1atmIm |
User: liz's creations
Member since: 09-20-2006 Total posts: 12 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-11-2005, 10:05 AM (2 of 15)
I'm not sure that I know of any machines that fit your budget, although there may some good deals out there that I'm not aware of at the moment. I have a sewing/embroidery machine and just love it! I have the Janome Memory Craft 10000 and really enjoy it. Before I purchased that one, I had a Janome Memory Craft 8000 sewing/embroidery machine and liked that as well. Both sew and embroider beautifully!  I looked at keeping my 8000 and buying the Janome 300E (?) which is their embroidery only machine, but I loved the new technology of the 1000. There were more options with their regular utility sewing stitches and there were more options with the embroidery--larger sewing fields, the ability to reduce or enlarge designs, and the ability to download designs from the internet and transfer directly to my machine. For me, this was the right choice. As always, I think you have to know what your particular sewing/embroidery needs are and find the machine that is the right fit for you. There are other good brands of sewing machines--Husqvarna/Viking, Pfaff, Babylock, and of course, Janome, which is my favorite. I've never gone wrong with any of my Janome machines! Good luck with your search.
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-11-2005, 05:05 PM (3 of 15)
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When the new Bernina Deco 330 came out my dealer and I were discussing how much cheaper the embroidery only machines are than the combo machines. She told me that there is a lot of cost in making the machines sew and embroidery, I guess they don't share as many parts as one might think. If you purchase an embroidery machine (alone) you'll want to get the biggest embroidery field you want, because as you'll soon find out, you can never seem to get enough. You will want to make a 4X4 item but add in the name or date or some other little thing and it will exceed your field real quick. You should be able to find a Janome embroidery machine that is in your price range and has a pretty nice size embroidery field. I'm sure that there are others. There is only one Disney card that will play on any other machine (Help me girls...I think it is the "Touch of Disney"). The only machines that ANY other Disney card will fit is a Brother "D" machine. Most of the Brother D machines that I know about have a smaller stitch field, but the Disney cards are really cute (esp the Nemo card) and if you have kids, you may want to go that direction. If you have a reliable sewing machine you may want to consider just going with an embroidery only machine. Your investment will be less and you'll be able to trade up as the technology gets better and the prices go down. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-11-2005, 06:40 PM (4 of 15)
| I love my stand alone White 3300 embroidery machine and it came with the Taste of Disney card. I cannot say enough about what a workhorse this machine has been. It is the same as the Brother and Simplicity models but comes with 3 hoops and one being very large. I wondered if anyone has checked out the Viking Scandinavia model 300 sewing/embroidery combo machine. It is on sale now for $999. It is supposed to be like the Viking Iris. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-12-2005, 06:52 PM (5 of 15)
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I have a brother 180d it is the 4x4 embroidery only machine and has built in disney designs and takes the cards as well. The 4x4 area is a bit small but you can buy the multihoop for about $80 which allows you to shift position without rehooping ie put someones name above or below the design without rehooping your fabric. and if you get into digitizing you can "cut" your designs to stitch in sections and make 4x8 designs. can't do this with the disney ones though, they are locked on the cards so you can't play with them in PE Design. I like the separate machine b/c I can sew on my regular machine while it is embroidering and the cost issue, I think the 180D is about $800 or so (I bought mine 3+ yrs ago so hopefully for you the price has decreased!) check out the dealers they might give you a break on price if you buy the sewing machine and embroidery one from them, but I think a few years ago brother had a combo machine for about $1300 with pooh designs embedded in the machine. Their website is pretty good. here is a link, I think the 400D is the one close to your price range http://www.brothersews.com/html/ProductCategory.jsp?parentid=37 Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-13-2005, 04:13 AM (6 of 15)
| My 3300E looks exactly like the Brother 180. I bought mine on sale at a local dealers for only $349. It came with 2 cards and I have bought several cards since but never any of the equipment to use with the pc etc. This little machine has done different styles of fonts in Italian and French in different colors all over plastic coated canvas for my daughters out door furniture, has monogrammed towels and done disney designs for the gkids and butterflies on my blouses and horses on denim purses and jackets for gift. I feel that these machines are outstanding. They are not fussy about thread upper or lower. I just use basting and bobbin thread in the bobbin. I sometimes wonder if the more expensive embroidery machines or the combos are as sturdy and durable as these little Brother made machines. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: susies1955
Date: 01-13-2005, 05:03 AM (7 of 15)
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Kylnne2, When you write about having the 3300E are you meaning the White 3300? That is the machine I have been looking at. The lowest price I have found locally is $100 more than what you paid. Was it a Brother dealer that you found it at????? Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124 
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From: Sheri
Date: 01-13-2005, 02:46 PM (8 of 15)
| Mine is a combination machine that replaced an old barely working sewing machine. There are many times I wish I had a sewing machine to use while my design is stitching out. I will probably eventually buy just a sewing machine. |
User: Sheri
Member since: 12-04-2000 Total posts: 126 
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From: liz's creations
Date: 01-13-2005, 05:19 PM (9 of 15)
  I called a brother dealer that I had visited when I was looking into buying a baby lock. Well, After reminding the sales person who i was i told him i was interested in buying the Brother 8500d that i saw he had in the store but that i also wanted to know if he had the ult2003d and for how much....Well he said (in a not too friendly voice) I am not telling you a price over the phone you may go somewhere else and say how much i quated you. I said to him that this was not my intension. He said I can't trust you. So then I saind ...trust this ... I'm not buying from you. He said that's ok you weren't going to anyway. Well I was really going to my husband told me he would takeme on saturday to get the machine that i really wanted.. So i called another dealer (Much friendlier) who i had gone to also. And in a few weeks i'll have my machine. I was thinking to then calling the mean dealer and rubbing it on his face???  Thank you all for letting me vent Liz Pledge of Allegiance: I promise never again to do any free work.Unless my mother or father are involve.
Some of the items I have done:http://lizscreation.shutterfly.com/a...8Abt2jhq1atmIm |
User: liz's creations
Member since: 09-20-2006 Total posts: 12 |
From: liz's creations
Date: 01-13-2005, 05:24 PM (10 of 15)
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I called a brother dealer that I had visited when I was looking into buying a baby lock. Well, After reminding the sales person who i was i told him i was interested in buying the Brother 8500d that i saw he had in the store but that i also wanted to know if he had the ult2003d and for how much....Well he said (in a not too friendly voice) I am not telling you a price over the phone you may go somewhere else and say how much i quated you. I said to him that this was not my intension. He said I can't trust you. So then I saind ...trust this ... I'm not buying from you. He said that's ok you weren't going to anyway. Well I was really going to my husband told me he would takeme on saturday to get the machine that i really wanted.. So i called another dealer (Much friendlier) who i had gone to also. And in a few weeks i'll have my machine. I was thinking to then calling the mean dealer and rubbing it on his face???  Thank you all for letting me vent  Liz Pledge of Allegiance: I promise never again to do any free work.Unless my mother or father are involve.
Some of the items I have done:http://lizscreation.shutterfly.com/a...8Abt2jhq1atmIm |
User: liz's creations
Member since: 09-20-2006 Total posts: 12 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-14-2005, 08:50 AM (11 of 15)
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Liz, it amazes me that some dealers don't seem to understand that they can lost business by their attitudes! And not only might they lose a major $$$ purchase, but they'll also lose repeat business. The same thing happened to me a little over a year ago. I had been looking for the newest Janome sewing/embroidery machine and checked out several dealers. One in particular sells both Janome and Babylock, but every time I went into her store, she kept wanting to sell me the top of the line Babylock serger, which isn't what I wanted. We went to another Janome dealer and because he had a better price, we bought the sewing machine from him. (The first dealer always had to check with her hubby about pricing since he owned the business--had 2 stores--and he was at the downtown store). Anyway, a few months later, I was in the market for a serger and wanted to check out both the Janome and Babylock and went back to the first dealer. She asked if we had ever purchased a sewing machine and when we said yes, she got irritated and asked us why--we said the dealer we bought from had a better price. As she was once again showing me the top of the line Babylock serger (never let any of her customers touch any of the machines, though), she made the comment that she hoped that she wasn't going to spend all this time with me and then I would go buy from someone else! I was livid!! And then I had the hardest time getting her to even show me the Janome serger. When she finally did, she couldn't get it to work properly and it became obvious that she didn't know that machine very well and was pushing the Babylock machines--from bottom the line sewing machines to top of the line sergers. Guess what!! That dealer lost all my business!! I will never darken her door again--not even to buy the embroidery threads or other accessories and she also lost a major purchase. Dealers need to learn how to get and keep their business! |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: liz's creations
Date: 01-14-2005, 09:25 AM (12 of 15)
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Wao I am so glad that you decided not to purchase with that dealer.I feel the same way. I think these type of business should be boycotted. Liz Pledge of Allegiance: I promise never again to do any free work.Unless my mother or father are involve.
Some of the items I have done:http://lizscreation.shutterfly.com/a...8Abt2jhq1atmIm |
User: liz's creations
Member since: 09-20-2006 Total posts: 12 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-14-2005, 09:34 AM (13 of 15)
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My hubby always says to vote with your feet, which is exactly what we did! Sometimes I wonder what would happen if you called the headquarters of the brands these dealers sell (Janome, Babylock, etc) and reported how you were treated. On the other hand, voting with your feet is probably the best!  Folks who own/run businesses need to learn to treat their customers like kings and queens because even if they only get a $3 sale the first time, they might get a major purchase down the line. I wish we could go back to the days of true service!
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-14-2005, 09:44 AM (14 of 15)
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A few years ago I had a friend who was working on a car with his dad. They needed some parts and just left (as is) to go get them. While they were at the auto dealership they decided to look at some new cars. The car that most caught their eye was a top of the line Firebird Trans Am. They started asking a salesman questions and he snubbed them, as did all the other salesmen there. As they walked out the door, the father turned to the son and said, "You know, what he didn't know was that I had enough cash in my pocket to BUY that car." The salesman never knows what "cards" you may be holding. To judge someone's ability to pay or their level of interest when they enter the door is a MAJOR mistake. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-14-2005, 09:50 AM (15 of 15)
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Pam I'll add a hearty "Amen!" to that! Belinda |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
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