How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
I'm trying to figure out which machine best suits my needs. There are 6, 9, 12, 15 and probably more or less needles on any given single head machine. Disregarding the fact that it's just cool to have the ability of extra needles on a machine, which means less manual color changes per piece, what is the average number of color changes per design?
Does my startup need to have a 15 needle setup, or will a 6 needle get me through most of my jobs?
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
thats a tough call. Really depends on the designs at hand. 6 is probably ok yet if you can squeeze the 15 it would be best. The moment you get the 6-clr you'll be hit with an 8-clr design.
Might be best to get the 6-needle and just manually add the color changes like you mentioned, hoof it for a bit until you can get a bigger machine.
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluid
thats a tough call. Really depends on the designs at hand. 6 is probably ok yet if you can squeeze the 15 it would be best. The moment you get the 6-clr you'll be hit with an 8-clr design.
Might be best to get the 6-needle and just manually add the color changes like you mentioned, hoof it for a bit until you can get a bigger machine.
That's what I was thinking except for like you said, the moment I take in the 6-clr I'll get hit with a design requiring more. I just wondered about the average because most of what I see in town is 2 or 3 color left chest or hats. The price is definitely more convienient on the 6 needle right now starting out, plus it would be easier to take to events.
Oh, by the way, love the new avatar.
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
You won't regret a good six needle machine and if you do need more than six colors(rare), you can change while the others are stitching. I have never regretted buying my six needle machines and have never had a problem. A well digitized design has as few stitches and colors as possible so it really isn't a big deal unless you get into mainly doing jacketbacks. For those of us who have 15 needle machines also, we still have to change threads. I know I must have 150 different colors and am picky about the colors I use since I don't focus on logos.
Jim
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
This may sound stupid but if you don't want to do manual thread changes then why not just do 6 color max jobs and outsource the rest? Your average logo-wear is only going to be one or a few colors anyway and anything bigger than that you can still send out to be done.
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Quote:
Originally Posted by binki
This may sound stupid but if you don't want to do manual thread changes then why not just do 6 color max jobs and outsource the rest? Your average logo-wear is only going to be one or a few colors anyway and anything bigger than that you can still send out to be done.
Just a thought.
Well, my only thought is that I may want to get into the retail market and do multi colored large designs on certain items. Other than that, it's just because I can do it cheaper for myself than someone else can do it for me.
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Even though I focus on things other than logos and names, I think you'll find that is where the bulk of your income will come from unless you find a niche market. Multiple logo and name orders are big money makers and require much less prep time. Even I will relent and do them once in a while
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Quote:
Originally Posted by imeccentric
Even though I focus on things other than logos and names, I think you'll find that is where the bulk of your income will come from unless you find a niche market. Multiple logo and name orders are big money makers and require much less prep time. Even I will relent and do them once in a while
Jim
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What do you focus on?
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Go for the 15. It allows you to keep the standard colors in the center positions, and change out the side spools between jobs.
Your need for a 15 will increase if you buy a catalog of designs and if you do a lot of one up sewing.
We sell one very popular product for Mom's that will often use all 15 colors and sometimes we have to set a stop in the middle of the sewout to do a second change of threads so we can get all 20 colors on the shirt.
You won't want to get stuck with run of 10 logos and be one needle short!
We sometimes have to take one or two needles out of production until we can get a tech (me) in to make an adjustment to stop thread breaks etc.
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tim3560
Well, my only thought is that I may want to get into the retail market and do multi colored large designs on certain items. Other than that, it's just because I can do it cheaper for myself than someone else can do it for me.
Then you have answered your own question. Good Luck.
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Quote:
Originally Posted by binki
Then you have answered your own question. Good Luck.
Well, not fully. It's all unknown at this point what will work best in my area. It's obvious though that a bigger machine will answer most if not all needs whereas the smaller machine can still satisfy most needs but still leaves room for dissappointment, or at least more work.
I may work for 5 years without having a single order over 6 colors. Or I may get a couple jobs per month that require 7 or more colors.
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Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
Tim,
My focus is on dog shows and lifelike portraits. Even dogs rarely take more than six colors but the portraits usually take around 10-15. To be really honest, if I were you, I'd get a six needle machine and add sublimation to your line. It adds a lot of versatility and doesn't put all of your eggs in one basket. We added it recently just for fun, and I am impressed with how well it has gone over.
Re: How many color changes are in the average embroidery design?
I...Like Fluid... say go with the 15. That is what we have. It allows us to leave the primary colors we normally use in the center positions and not have to change them for people that want names in other colors like hot pink and such. It does save time if you are doing walk in items.
How many color changes are in the average embroidery design? 
