New Embroidery Machine

With the pricey acquisition comes the ability to make heirloom embroideries, personalized gifts, clothing, and home décor. Endless creativity is mine and I’m elated!

But what if I can’t learn to master the machine? Will the machine embroidery process be a difficult and aggravating chore or will it be a relaxing and creative?

Once I removed the new wondrous piece of equipment from its box, it quickly became a case of woman against machine. The dealer was not with me and the memories of the machine demonstration were fuzzy. There I was, alone with an embroidery machine and its plethora of parts, manuals and hoops. The honeymoon phase with the embroidery machine had the usual peaks and valleys, fits and starts of any new relationship. There seemed to be so much to learn and, at times, I felt overwhelmed. If I were to relive the experience of being a new embroiderer, here are a few guidelines I’d follow the second time around. I hope these tips, based on my experience, are helpful to you.

Don’t panic. Take small steps and learn one step well before you charge off to another step. Learn to thread your machine, install the bobbin and change the needle. When you’re confident you can thread your machine with ease then it is time to move onto learning to hoop fabric or whatever next step you choose. Don’t be tempted to buy every design that crosses your path and resist purchasing extra hoops and gadgets until you master what you have. With each impulse purchase, the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the new stuff is compounded tenfold. I ended up with a quilting table that snaps onto my embroidery machine. I don’t quilt. I was talked into purchasing an expensive sewing desk that I hated and ended up selling at a loss a few months later. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of the moment and resist attempts to be thrust into a buying frenzy until you can assess your needs. Dealers can be very persuasive.

Do take full advantage of your dealer’s promise of lessons. I have wasted hours trying to figure out steps on my own only to have my dealer explain the task to me in a few seconds. Saving time and frustration is priceless. I have stomped around the house many times while fuming, “I can’t take this any longer” which, in retrospect, must have been amusing to onlookers.