Adding embroidery to my business

bitofhonee said:

Hi, I currently have a sublimation business and am looking at add something new. I was looking into adding cotton tote bag embroidery and cotton baby diaper covers to my business. I am wondering do I have to get one of the big commercial machine like a Tajima, or is there a machine that isnt commercial that I will be able to do tote bags in? I just have a home based business and its just myself running it so Im just looking for a 1 head machine that is good and will do the job but wont break the bank at $10-$15k. I will attach some pictures of what I am looking to do. Thanks!

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Hello,
How many pieces a week are you talking? 10? 25? 50+?

If you are doing a quantity of the same design, I would subcontract the work to a place with industrial machines.

I've done quite a few tote bags on a Janome 350e, a hobbyist machine. It's single head, uses a hoop size of about 5 1/2" x 7 1/2", has some built in designs, and takes a USB memory stick on which you download designs. This machine lists for around $1500 but is available for a few hundred less.

I've done designs with 40,00+ stitches but it takes hours and not worth it to do commercially. If you do one or two colors in light designs, it would be doable for low volumes. The hard part is finding the right combination of bobbin thread, embroidery thread, needle style and brand, stabilizer, correct tension, etc.

- Steve

I'd also suggest looking at the Brother or Babylock 6 needle machines... We have one with over 40 million stitches and traded in another with over 50 million stitches, they are pretty bulletproof machines. The max sewing field is 7.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide which is about all you would need on a tote bag. I'd also suggest looking into either Fast Frames or Mighty Hoops if you go down this street.

I have searched for both these machines prices but cant find anything. What do these typically run new and if you had to choose the Babylock or the Brother which would be your first choice? Also, how much additional is the software? Thanks!

The Brother and Babylock machines are identical under the covers since they are both made by Brother, the only difference is the included fonts and/or designs. The older machines are the PR600 series, next would be the 620, then 650, I think the newer ones are a 655. If you want to go bigger, you can look at the PR1000 which is a 10 needle machine with a built in camera for accurate design placement - I have the Babylock ENT10 which is the same as a PR1000E.

You can use any software that will generate PES or DST files, the machines 'like' PES files since they understand the saved color information. You can use DST files which are more widely supported but they do not have actual color information, just that there is a color change required. You have to program the color change information on the machine instead of it being saved in the file.

Is there any specific rules to subing out the work? Do I just contact someone local and tell them what I want and then they tell me pricing. Is there a "typical" pricing structure for this that I should expect or a round about of what they should charge me? I really want to get into this but I am worried if I will be able to work the machine right and the cost is just so much. Thanks everyone!