OH, the coveting!

[cupcake_goth]

I now NEED an embroidery machine. Not merely covet one, NEED one.

Why? Because I just learned about the existence of the Urban Threads site (clicky-link!), and that they have THREE PAGES of gothy embroidery designs for sale.

Designs like a skull cameo! Or a skeleton key! Or a scrollwork bat!

Waaaaaant. Oh man, now I need to start researching, pricing, and saving up for an embroidery machine. Because if I can start embroidering some of those designs on the things I get from thrift stores? Oh, the possibilities!

Comments

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

a lot of the machines have the ability to upload a scanned image too, so you could use your tattoos, and the GCS logos, and anything else that strikes your fancy or you can talk your husband into drawing for you. :)

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

Oh man!! I would happily trade beadwork for embroidery work! Just sayin'

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I will keep this in mind!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I am not good enough at handwork embroidery to accomplish what I want to. So an embroidery machine would be PERFECT for what I have in mind. Now to come up with a spare $800+ ...

[prettyshrub.livejournal.com]

See if the fabric stores will let you try out their machines before you buy.

[maschalismos.livejournal.com]

I feel like I should be fanning you to prevent your catching a case of the vapors.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I AM TOTALLY HAVING THE VAPORS OVER HERE, OMG

Seriously, I have been idly coveting an embroidery machine for a while, but now! Oh man. Pink and black skull cameos embroidered on EVERYTHING.

[maschalismos.livejournal.com]

I have just had a mental image of the Stroppy One or the Stunt Husband standing still to chat with someone for a moment. Then, there is a flurry of pink and black insanity that looks like rumbling cloud of attack cotton candy. When the dust clears, one of those long-suffering men now has a pink and black skull cameo embroidered on their person, one prays on their clothing but MAYBE NOT.

...if you hear from me no more, I've just cracked myself up so hard, I'm dead.

File Formats

[brockulfsen.livejournal.com]

Many machines have closed file formats and poor tools to deal with imported images.

There are third party/hacker tools to convert some file formats.

Search around.

Try not to be tempted by machines with a single active thread feed, rethreading between colours gets tedious very quickly. If you can stretch the budget, get a machine with 2/3/4 thread feeds.

[midnytetragedy.livejournal.com]

I used to do handwork embroidery many years ago, those patterns could get me doing it again. So lovely!

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Keep an eye on Craigslist and you probably have a local auction company that can add you to a list. I bought a lot of my equipment at auction and even a couch at an upholstery company that went out of business.

[valdary.livejournal.com]

Machine embroidery patterns come in several different computer formats.

Be very careful when you buy your machine that it accepts the format of the patterns you want to use.

Good luck with raising funds.

& if you design your own patterns you can submit designs to sell on clothing in a Zazzle shop.

[dravvie.livejournal.com]

Want a really good amazing deal?

Wait for a local wherehouse to close down.

One of my old jobs had an embroidery shop, complete with the easiest to use (but very nice and high quality and super duper fancy!) machine ever, and they closed it, and sold the machine. I live on your coast, just keep your eyes open, and let everyone know you're looking!

You'd probably be able to start up a really cool business with this!

[vwbug.livejournal.com]

I probably shouldn't tell you that once you have one of those machines you can also buy a very expensive fancy program that allows you to create your own images and turn them into embroideries on that fancy machine.

Also, I recommend trying to find a sewing machine shop that accepts trade-ins...you can often get the fancy machines that are used (for about a year, or so) and then traded up for a new model. And they are significantly cheaper.

Again, with the not helping, but this is the fun kind of enabling :).