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Embroidery Machines-thinking of buying?

I am looking into getting a embroidery machine. i have a brother sewing machine and wanted a brother embroidery machine. but when i was at Joann's they had the viking machines that i looked at. i like the H Class 600E for around $1500 (comes with 4 lessons). wanted to know if anyone had opinions about the viking machines. and opinions about brother embroidery machines with a price range please. there are no dealers close by so to go look at brother machines with prices it's a 2 hr drive.

Public Comments

1. If you Google Brother machines, select the Company making them and read what they say. Do the same on the Vikings. Go to u-tube and see if they have any videos on these machines and it will help you know more about them. Pfaff also has a new embroidery machine. Go to WWW.quiltnow.net and there you will find a connection to u-tube tutorials about the new Pfaff. Of course Bernina has the best.
2. I can't comment on the models and brands you're interested in specifically (I have a Bernina) but here are a couple of things I think are important. First, is the training. I'd absolutely go with the brand that has a nearby dealership that can train and support you. Make sure the people know what they're doing and that they'll readily answer questions if you stop by -- not just when you're in the buying process.. Second, check the availability of designs in the format your machine requires. Also, how much do they cost on a per design basis? And if you're interested in combining designs or creating your own, how much does their embroidery software cost and what can it do? It's also important to think about what you plan to do and what hoop sizes and innovations might support that. If you're putting bunnies on baby clothes, that's one thing. But if you want a continuous five foot embroidery on a valance, there are continuous hoops, so make sure your brand has one. Finally, for my money, the technology is changing so fast I think the smart way to go is to buy the less expensive machine so you can afford to replace it when the next great innovation comes along. Good luck and enjoy the search. It's a nice decision to have.
3. I wouldn't buy a Brother. I have a Viking embroidery machine that is 17 years old and still sews like a dream. I took several classes for machine embroidery. I highly recommend buying an embroidery machine from a dealer who is going to have lessons for you. You can sit down and demo any machine at a dealer
4. For sewing machine reviews from people who have bought and used different models got to patternreview.com. They have reviews for almost every machines available and and you should be able to read about the good and bad points of each machine. http://sewing.patternreview.com/ Overall from a mechanical standpoint I think Vikings are better than brothers. I've been able to test out all the latest machines from all brands at a recent trade show and the Vikings were all very good quality, easy to use and they had lots of buyer support for accessories, machine updates, etc.on both the website and from dealers. Don't underestimate the importance of the lessons, embroidery machines are more complex than non-embroidery machines and you do need hands on training. without good lessons you can't take full advantage of all the features offered by your machine. Even if you didn't buy from the dealer's shop they were still willing to help. On the other hand, brother's embroidery software is the standard -so if you are looking to design and digitize embroideries then brother is the way to go. Another good brand for embroidery is Janome -which is quickly becoming the Cadillac of sewing machine brands. For the Ferrari of sewing machines the brand to look for is Pfaff. Another place to look for all brands of machines is a site called "allbrands" They sell all brands of sewing and embroidery machines and through them you can buy anything from small starter home machines to big factory ready industrial. Plus they give their customers lots of help and support. http://www.allbrands.com/ I do recommend trying before you buy, so do try at the places that are close to you. It is worth the 2 hour trip to try the machine before buying, since it is such a large monetary investment. You want to spend wisely, so take your time and do a bit of research before you lay down your 1500$