42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Deal! Very Impressive!, March 18, 2005
This review is from: Brother PE170D Disney Home Collection Embroidery Machine (Kitchen)
I have been researching and trying to decide, literally for years, if I should get an embroidery machine. I do a lot of craft items, as well as handmade gifts for my entire family every year. The bigger machines are thousands of dollars. I always wondered if these lower priced machines were any good. Finally, after someone close to me heard me talking about it endlessly, they ordered it for me! I was amazed at the professional results!
When you get this machine, make sure you view the instructional CD first, there are a lot of necessary tips such as bobbin winding and proper framing that just aren't in the instructions. The instruction book really is best as a reference after viewing the CD.
First, I took out some scrap fabric and begin playing. Instantly, the tension was set too high and the needle broke. Next, the upper thread got caught in the lower bobbin and another needle broke (luckily it comes with 5 needles!)And you guessed it, another mistake with tension and yet another broken needle. This was because I didn't have the tension set correctly still, and I also didn't put a net on the thread so it was coming out too fast. Just know that once you get through this, you get a feel for it and from then on it is smooth sailing. Now it is rare to break a needle.
The first pattern I made was Mickey Mouse, my kids and I all watched in amazement as it made a perfect, professional Mickey right there before our very eyes! I was absolutely amazed at the quality of the work! A bigger machine could not make it nicer, this was worth every penny plus more! What a deal! Next I monogrammed my daughter's name in perfect lettering. Suddenly, the ideas began to flow through my head about what I could do!
I just ordered the Belle and Ariel embroidery card, and I can't wait to embroider clothing for my daughter.
It does not come with thread (mine came with one bobbin of thread for the lower bobbin only) so you must buy some good quality thread. It can be very expensive for embroidery machine thread (4.50 a piece if you don't have a good deal), but there are some good package deals if you look around online and elsewhere.
Totally worth it for gifts, kid's clothing, monogramming or just for a ton of fun! Pretty soon you will be looking at everything wondering if you can embroider it.
Sometimes they offer this with Free Shipping, if so, then grab it now!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a great little machine!, January 6, 2006
This review is from: Brother PE170D Disney Home Collection Embroidery Machine (Kitchen)
I've had this machine for 9 months and couldn't be happier. After watching the instructional DVD that came with the machine, I was embroidering within minutes. It's very easy to thread, and comes with many designs, including the wonderful Disney designs. I eventually purchased a card reader/writer so that I can download designs, many free, directly from the internet.
The only drawback is that the embroidery field is 4 x 4 inches, so that is the maximum size for each design.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Good starter machine, February 23, 2009
This review is from: Brother PE170D Disney Home Collection Embroidery Machine (Kitchen)
My daughter purchased this machine for me. It was a floor model and she got a fantastic deal on it. The plastic bobbin cover, thread holder disc and upright spool holder were missing, but they were easy to replace. I buy prewound bobbins at Home Sew and they work very well in this machine. I've used it on cotton blouses and thick sweater knits with excellent results. I added the card reader and now have so many designs I will never run out in my lifetime. Freebies abound on the internet. My next purchase will be digitizing software. While I would like a machine that accomodates a larger hoop, the cost versus the cost of the Disney machine, even without a markdown, makes a larger machine seem frivolously extravagant. Do plan to invest in the proper stabilizers, though. You'll save (money and temper) in the long run.
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