How did you get into Embroidery?

Robert Young · November 29th, 2013, 11:24 AM

How did you find your way into the embroidery or digitizing arena? Whether you are a newbee who probably will not be here a year or a seasoned professional who has been around 10+ years how did you start? What made you wake up one day and think that your passion was in the embroidery/digitizing business? If there was not a passion, then what was there? Inquiring minds want to know! lol actually this could be beneficial to newcomers as well as recharging old batteries.

SunEmbroidery · November 30th, 2013, 10:29 PM

I didn't have a passion for embroidery. I got interested because I was looking for a business that could be run from home so I could take care of my son and have a flexible schedule when he started school. I had an MA in threatre and worked as a threatrical lighting designer/technician so I wanted a business where I could use my creative skills. Also, I've always worked with my hands and I had a fair amount of drafting experience. My mother-in-law had helped trim when her embroiderer neighbor was overloaded with work and my husband (a programmer) also helped her with computer issues so we knew about the business. When my brother-in-law (a sign-maker) heard that I was considering the business he said he would send me his embroidery jobs so that sounded like a good way to get some experience. Finally, I live 20 minutes away from Atlantic City so it was easy to attend an ISS show.

I'll say now (13 years later) I am passionate about producing a good product and givng good customer service, I really enjoy marketing and keeping current about marketing trends and I especially enjoy developing my website which brings in 99% of my customers.

AlisonB · December 2nd, 2013, 11:39 PM

I bought a small domestic embroidery machine about 15 years ago, and friends started asking for me to do small items for them. I then wanted to be able to change designs that were available to me and bought my first software - the basic (by today's standards) DecoWizard from Bernina. More work came in and I bought a second machine and kept upgrading the software. The embroidery requests kept increasing and I was doing a lot of my own digitizing to give my friends/customers what they wanted. Eventually I realized I really enjoyed what I was doing so much that I bought a single-head 12-needle SWF and quit my "day job". I have recently sold that machine and got the 15-needle SWF (so nice to have the colour screen and laser pointer etc.

) I don't advertise, but get referrals from the local fabric shops and satisfied customers. I have imported (being in South Africa) Mighty Hoops and the small HoopTech frame system, so am able to embroider some items that others in the area cannot do. I am happy to stay a small home business and am often busier than I want to be. I also digitize for other embroiderers in the area who do not have their own software.
I get quite frustrated at seeing products available in America that we cannot get here!

ericscott · December 3rd, 2013, 01:46 AM

I have started this by bringing a small embroidery machine. I have made some small pattern like flowers, birds, cartoons and others. I read some of the tutorials book and learnt to do advance work on this. I think if you are passionate and dedicated toward your work you will do it easily. For all the beginnings I am sharing a link for embroidery tutorials just go through this.
http://digitizinginfogeek.wordpress....ate-embroider/

SunEmbroidery · December 8th, 2013, 10:12 PM

Robert, how did you get started?