Possible single needle machines ? ?

pkepneriv · October 17th, 2012, 12:34 AM

Hi everyone. I'm not sure if you read my other post so I will give you a brief summery. I make drawstring pouches and sell them to stores and shops all over. Quite a few of the stores have been asking if I can embroider their store logos on the pouches. I would love to get a 6 needle Babylock or Brother and maybe a Janome MB4, although I have quite a few bad things about them, but for first starting out the funds are not there for a multi needle machine. I found found a few single needle machines that have very low hours on them, one has two hours of embroidery on it. Here is a list of the machines I have found. Please let me know the pros and cons of each if you have any experience with them.

Viking Diamond Series - nice size work area

Bernina 830LE - seems to have the largest work area

Brother Quattro II 4600D - has the smallest area

I want one that has a lot of features and has a large embroidering area in case the embroidering side goes into more than logos. I want the ability to be able to do shirts and jackets and other items if requested to. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Paul
Specialty Pouches

IShot811 · October 18th, 2012, 12:20 PM

Paul,
I started with a single needle machine wanting to just put names on the front and back of shirts for bowling leagues. AFter spending about 6 frustrating months with that machine I decided to spend the money and purchase a used Brother 9 needle machine...I am so glad I did. As you stated, you want the ability to do shirts and jackets and other items as requested...IT WILL HAPPEN, and changing colors after only a few hundred stitches on a design that even only has 3 colors is a major pain.
Use this site and eBay and seriously consider a muli-needle (I recommend 6 or more) machine. I AM SO GLAD I DID.

Good luck,
John

BJ24 · October 18th, 2012, 02:19 PM

I don't really see the benefit of a single needle machine. The whole point of business is for it to grow and having a single needle machine will not help with that growth. Instead, start with a single head machine with multiple needles so that you can run logos of multiple sizes, colors, products etc... Otherwise you are just limiting yourself.
Good luck!!

Robert Young · October 18th, 2012, 06:08 PM

and if the budget does not allow for a multi-needle machine right now, then sub out your embroidery until it does... this will have the added benefit of you learning the terminology and the requirements for the embroidery you sell... why re-invent the wheel?

pkepneriv · October 22nd, 2012, 12:46 AM

Well I picked up a machine this weekend. I picked up a Bernina Artista 200E that is in almost mint condition. It came complete with several sets of hoops, all the software for digitizing plus all the other CDs for the machine with numerous designs, Bernina travel bag, Bernina cover, All the extra that are optional for the machine, three boxes of thread, rolls and rolls of stabilizer, needles and more for $1500. It should be a good start to see how things go and if it doesn't do well I'm not out a lot of money. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Paul