Embroidery Machines

18 guides. Each one cites its sources and says what we checked and what we didn't.

Embroidery at Home

How to Choose a Home Embroidery MachineBuying guide
Pick a home embroidery machine by its embroidery field, drawn to scale, then by combo or embroidery-only, file formats and Wi-Fi. US and Canada models.
Embroidery Machines for Beginners: Five Entry Models ComparedComparison
Five entry embroidery machines compared by field size drawn to scale, hoops included, file formats and design transfer, for beginners in the US and Canada.
Single-Needle Embroidery Machines: When One Needle Is EnoughBuying guide
What a single-needle embroidery machine does well, where multi-needle wins (colors, caps, speed), and the single-needle models by embroidery field.

Choosing an Embroidery Machine for a Small BusinessBuying guide
Single or multi-needle, cap frame, speed and support: choose an embroidery machine for a home business from what you plan to sell. US and Canada models.
Embroidery Machines for Hats and CapsComparison
Cap frames, tubular arms and cap fields: which embroidery machines can stitch finished caps, and when a patch on a home machine is the better route.
Machines for Patches: Making Them, and Sewing Them OnBuying guide
Embroider your own patches or sew patches onto jackets, jeans and caps: the machine, hoop and needle each job needs, from the makers' specs.
Multi-Needle Embroidery Machines for a Home Studio, ComparedComparison
6, 7, 10 and 12-needle embroidery machines for a home studio compared by needles, field, cap frame, speed and support in the US and Canada.

Machine Embroidery Software: Which Kind Do You Need?Buying guide
Embroidery software by task: open, letter or digitize. File formats by machine brand, what auto-digitizing can't do, and the free options makers publish.
Embroidery Software for Brother MachinesBest of
Software for Brother embroidery machines: PE-DESIGN 11, the free Artspira app and Design Database Transfer, plus Embrilliance, Hatch or Ink/Stitch.
Embroidery Software for Mac: What Runs Natively, What Doesn'tBest of
Which embroidery and digitizing programs run natively on macOS, which need Windows through Parallels or Boot Camp, and what each publisher says about it.
Ink/Stitch: What It Is and How to StartHow-to
Ink/Stitch is a free, open-source Inkscape extension for machine embroidery. What it does, how to install it on Windows, Mac or Linux, formats and limits.

Embroidery Stabilizer: Which One for Each FabricBuying guide
Tear-away, cut-away, water-soluble or sticky: which embroidery stabilizer to use for t-shirts, sweatshirts, towels and denim, from maker guidance.
Best Tear-Away Stabilizer for Machine Embroidery: Pick It by Fabric and Stitch CountBest of
Tear-away embroidery stabilizer by weight and fabric: what OESD, Sulky and Floriani say each one is for, when to add a layer, and how to tear it off.
Cut-Away Stabilizer: Which Weight, and How to Use ItBest of
Cut-away stabilizers by weight, from sheer no-show mesh to heavyweight, what each maker says they're for, and how to hoop and trim them, step by step.
Embroidery Hoop Sizes, Drawn to ScaleReference
Machine embroidery hoop sizes from 2 × 6 cm to 28 × 46 cm, drawn to scale in mm and inches, why a hoop name is not its outside size, and model lists.
Magnetic Embroidery Hoops for Home Machines: Which One Fits?Best of
Magnetic embroidery hoops for home machines, matched to Brother, Baby Lock and bernette models from the makers' own lists, with sizes, limits and safety.
Mighty Hoop: What It Fits, Sizes and SafetyBest of
What the Mighty Hoop magnetic hoop fits, its sizes, the station and starter kit, safety warnings, and HoopMaster's option for Brother SE and PE machines.
Water-Soluble Stabilizer: Which Type, and How to Remove ItBest of
Light film, heavy film, fibrous or printable sticky sheets: which water-soluble stabilizer to use for towels, lace and patterns, and how to remove it.