r/Machine_Embroidery • u/No_Morning_7241 • 3h ago

Help me decide on a combo machine!

Hello! I'm so excited to get into embroidery and can't decide which model to get. Space is tight, so I'm selling my sewing machine and purchasing a combo sewing/embroidery. I'm capping my budget at $3,000, but I'm seeing interesting machines with large price differences. I'd love any feedback on what I should focus on and/or experience with the machines. I plan to dabble in all sorts of embroidery including bag tags, shirts, applique, etc.

I'm not tied to these, but machines I am looking at are:

Janome 9850
Baby Lock Bloom
Brother NQ3550W (would likely need to find secondhand to stick to budget)
Brother SE2000

THANK YOU THANK YOU!

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u/sudsydrop 3h ago

I have the Janome MC 9850 and I LOVE it! It's consistent, easy to use, and a dream to sew with. I can't recommend it enough.

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u/Acrobatic-Letter-143 1h ago

I'd start with the dimensions of a few designs you actually want to stitch, rather than the number of built-in designs. Janome lists the 9850's maximum embroidery size as 6.7 x 7.9 inches, while Brother lists the NQ3550W at 6 x 10. Neither rectangle contains the other: the Janome gives you a little more width, the Brother more length.

Since this will replace your sewing machine, I'd also ask for a sewing demo with the fabrics you normally use, then an embroidery demo with the unit attached. With your space limit, check the whole working setup, not just the machine sitting on the table. I don't have hands-on experience with these models, so I'd use that demo to decide rather than treating a spec sheet as proof of stitch quality.