A few questions about embroidery

zzyyzx

Hello all. I have identified a need in my area and am considering starting a small home(basement)-based embroidery and screen-printing business. To begin, I know next to nothing about embroidery, sewing, etc. but I am interested in learning. In a nutshell, I plan on marketing to public safety (police & fire) depts as there is a need for a company in my area that can provide reliable service. The majority of my orders will be breast pocket embroidery of badges, firefighter cross and names, dept names on the backs of jackets/pullovers and baseball/beanie caps. I am just starting research and have some quite basic questions:

- If I outsource my digitizing, is the only equipment I need the embroidery machine (plus hoops & thread)? I figure this will be the better option while I learn how to digitize on my own.
- Can most machines embroider letters (i.e. names) using the software that comes with them assuming I have the right font?
- Many local depts have a logo similar to the attached file. The jackets have the word FIRE in a block style letter where the interior is a separate fabric that is attached to the back by an embroidered border. Can this be accomplished by a basic embroidery machine or is this a different machine (and if so, what is it called)?

I'm planning on moving into this slowly as additional income (I am a full-time firefighter) and hopefully build a solid base over a couple years. I appreciate your time and assistance and if you have any other recommendations I am open to hearing them all. Also, if anyone has a great beginners website that covers even basic terminology so I'll understand a lot of the posts, that would be helpful too.

Thanks in advance!

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ianmforrest

All machines will embroider any design you have seen, - baby wear to Harley Davidson. If you use an outside digitizer (recommended), but you will still need basic software to edit designs add text etc. - then all you need is the machine. Go for as many needles per head as you can afford (15 is best) and as many heads as you need. - Buy new for the warranty and training.
A few firefighters are into this so you might ask around - I remember selling a machine to one in Rhode Island).
Sometimes machine suppliers such as Happy or Tajima will through in a basic software package with the machine then all you will need is the computer to run it and as you are reading this I guess you have that already.

Good luck

EnMartian

You may want to keep in mind that firefighter garments often needed to be embroidered with fire retardant thread and the embroidery needs to be stabilized with FR backing. Regular thread and backing may not do the job.

Elle

I am sorry --- seems I could not be a help --- but digitizing ... usually we offer free edit ...