Embroidery Machines
Almost all the embroidery that you see on clothes nowadays is done by embroidery machine. Gone are the days when women labored over a single blouse for months with a needle and thread in order to embroider it and hand embroidery is now considered to be the forte of the very poor or the very rich. In fact nowadays, machine embroidery is used on couture garments as well. Embroidering heavy and intricate patterns is at maximum, a matter of a couple of hours, what with the commonplace use of computerized embroidery machines.
The entry of computerized embroidery machines has divided the embroidery machine category into two. Hand embroidery machines and computerized embroidery machines. The hand embroidery machine is one where simple zig zag stitches are used to embroider patterns on cloth. The embroidery from this type of machine is known as a free machine embroidery design, and because of the limited features offered by the machine itself, require a lot of expertise to make. You are required to use an ordinary embroidery hoop on your cloth and maneuver it in order to create patterns and designs with your embroidery. The only other thing that you can manipulate is the density and size of your zig zag stitches. So apart from your skill, you hardly have much to start with.
Computerized embroidery machines, on the other hand, hardly put your embroidery skills to the test. The major skill involved here is involved in the digitization of your embroidery designs. This means that you have to convert your design into a digital image and define a couple of basic parameters like size, type and number of stitches etc. The pre programmed designs from your computer can then be loaded on to the machine, which will transfer it to the fabric in no time at all. In some computerized machines, you can also put embroidery cards, which will determine the pattern of your embroidery and the type of stitches. These patterns can include complex designs, faces, logos and cartoon characters along with the usual florals and paisleys that are generally embroidered. In fact, you can even do cross stitch patterns with computerized embroidery machines while this is not possible with a zigzag sewing machine. Finding new patterns and digitizing software is also easy, since they come along with the machine and are also available freely on the internet. The only thing that might stop you from getting one home is the prohibitive cost especially as compared to a zig zag machine.
