I found this forum on the internet accidentally...I now see there's a Forum for Embroidery. I'm going to link this thread to that Forum.

Sorry about that!

Dax

You need to do a whole lot more research on machine embroidery and sewing in general.

For your uses you will require a commercial machine for what you want to do. The home machine companies void warranties if their machines are commercially used. Secondly you have to watch the copyright, intellectual property thing selling commercially embroidered items. See the US government site on patents, copyrights, and trademarks for information.

I would do a general search on machine embroidery, get yourself comfy, because it will be several days to go through all of it. There are no shortcuts.

I agree with stitchntime9.There's a whole lot to learn and it's not exactly a quick learn either.Those of us that have been sewing for years still struggle with the embroidery phase of sewing,plus you also have to be computor savvy for most of the programs,which is why i still struggle.I've been sewing for 50 plus years,but not very computor smart,i'm learning but it's a slow process.

As she also stated you have to be aware of copyright infringements.There is tons of homework for you to do,and for what you want to do,there is no such thing as a cheap machine for that.
Good luck in your venture,if you should persue it!!!
Kathi

Thanks!

tapping finger... ... ...

Not what I expected... .. .

Maybe I'll stick to propagating plants!!!

Thanks A lot!

Dax

Ok..

The images I wanted to use say this under Copyright Information:

" Sewn items of this design may be distributed commercially with no limitation. Grand Slam Designs will not be held liable for any consequential damages or monetary losses as a result of using this design."

So, all I want to do is embroider these smaller images on Fleece Sweatshirts or shirts...I'll even forget about the hats for now.

Even though the Embroidery machines aren't warrantied...Could't I still use for example a "Brother PE-150V" to do the images onto fleece? Or, is the machine not capable of stitching an image onto this type of material?

Here's a few examples of the "simple" images I would embroider:
Example 1

Example 2

Etc...

I ask: Am I still in need of a heavy duty machine and do I need to worry about copyright laws?

This is all I planned on doing.

Thanks again for your knowledge!

Dax

(I should also mention)

I'm not talking about 1000's upon 1000's of these. Just some here and there as a hobby and for a few spare bucks to pay for the machine. (I'm on disability and gardening is my "extra small amount of income" and I thought maybe, just maybe something else like this could generate some fun and a few extra bucks.

Thanks again,

Dax

WELL THEY SELL THE DESIGN,SO I GUESS AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MASS PRODUCE THEM,THEN YOU'D PROBABLY BE OK.

Sorry didn't realize the caps lock was on.
If you're just going to do sweat shirts etc,then just a regular embroidery machine,brother etc should be ok.
Kathi

Hi. I'm new here. I have an emb. machine. First tip: go to a reputable dealer in your area and try one out. Do not be afraid of a trade-in. Many, many people trade-up after they have worked with a machine for a while. I am one of those people. I traded in a Deco by Bernette that served me well for five years. Decos are a good entry-level machine. You could do the size 4 x 4 with Deco cards or convert other versions through a card box like the Amazing Box-I believe. I now use that box because I have some Deco cards but use an upgraded machine, the Bernina 180. This enables me to use other brands of cards. If they are not copywrited designs, as mentioned by the others, you can make garments and sell them in places such as craft fairs or even ebay-lots of crafters sell there. I know that those who do commercial work buy the 6 and 12 thread machines because they are doing designs for other businesses, companies, etc. and that's not what you are looking to do, if I understand you correctly. Personally, I don't think that emb. machines are that hard to use-like anything else you make lots of samples and learn about stabilizers, hooping, etc., etc. Some of that you learn from your dealer and also from books such as Jeannine Twigg's "Embroidery Machine Essentials". It is a fun hobby and nothing to be afraid of. Assess your needs in a machine, see if you want to do other sewing too. If that is the case, then you will want to get a combination machine. Happy hunting!

Thank you Cherra, thank you Kathi.

I actually just got back from the fabric store as Mom needed some thread and spoke to someone about these machines. I think I learned more from you guys though. They only had Singer from 500-1000 dollars but she assured me that I could embroider fleece with the brother machines.

Again thanks a lot. Thanks to the original posters as well!

---I'm sure I'll be back to this forum once I get a machine, but... "Mom says, not until the kitchen is paid for!!!"

Happy Holidays!

Dax

I don't think anybody mentioned the other costs that are associated with embroidery machines. You have to buy stablizers some run $20.00 a roll and the thread is different from sewing thread. You'd be looking at another $500-1000 in supplies to do the embroidery. Usually Mother and I get supplies for her machine when Joann's/Hancock's has it half price. I don't know how much of a market there would be on ebay for the designs on fleece, because mass produced stuff at walmart is usually less than $10.00 and you'd have at least that much in your embroidery alone. The items that sell are the personalized and monogramed. Not trying to rain on your parade, but giving another realistic view on the embroidery machine.
Susan in Bama

I have to agree with LoganHogan. You can't compete with the cheaper labor from overseas. Also, whoever pays for it, there's S&H for the buyer to be added to the cost. Study the machine and and figure a way to customize your work.

Very i n t e r e s t i n g...

'Another' not what I expected!

The person who helped me at the fabric store last night said they sell the thread for these machines cheaper than anyone... That I did pick up from the conversation.

I think you guys are right.

I think I'll just be happy with having my Aunt make me some fleece sweatshirts for myself. She has a Brother 270SD or something like that.

Thanks for all the information. I think this is officially a "wrap up."

Regards,

Dax

From a consumer's standpoint, I wouldn't order an emb. sweatshirt from ebay. I have bought handpainted items of clothing at craft shows, however, because I don't have the talent to do-it-myself and I really admired them. If you DO get into the hobby, I think that would be the way to go. Apparently there are many chapters of the American Needleworker's Guild (I believe that's the name of it-could be American Embroiderer's Guild) and within them are many machine embroiderer's. I write to a gal who is in one. She is always passing along tips to me that she gets from the meetings. If you have no other way to contact someone who does ME, that would be the way to just chat it up a little and ask all your questions. I would not say I have spent hundreds of dollars on threads and I've done a fair share of ME. I DO buy on sale at JoAnn's and I go through stabilizer very slowly and generally get it at Walmart because that is the only notion store in town. Take your time and remember what I mentioned about trade-ins of the better brand machines.

Well Cherra, I'm officially 'scared' away from doing what I thought would be an easy money-maker. In all reality, There aren't a lot of Conifer Collectors and surely most of them probably wouldn't be interested in a fleece top with a 2" by 3" monogram of a conifer or group of conifers. I thought by using the word "conifer" however, that it would show up on ebay and maybe attract attention to people buying seedlings and cuttings, etc. I think for now, I'll search the internet and see if I can find anybody else selling or making what I wanted to make for myself and sell for others and then report back.

Thanks for your encouraging thoughts,

Dax

Dax,
Since your aunt has a machine you might could work out something with her where you pay her to embroider a few pieces for you, put a picture of one on ebay and see if you have any takers. I personally would give my left ovary (ok it gives me fits anyway, LOL) for an embroidery machine. It's not feasible for me to get one, Mother has the ULT and I live 5 minutes from her, so it makes more money and sense for me to have her do my embroidery or use her machine. That's just a thought.
Susan

To embroider on fleece you don't need much stuff. You'd need bobbin thread, and the 3 colours to do those 2 designs. You'd need some water soluble stabiliser and that's it. Not an expensive outlay. I've done a lot of fleece embroidery for xmas gifts and I don't think you can find cheaper things to embroider than fleece scarves etc. Mittens are another fun thing to make and personalise. You'll need to personalise the items to make them more fun - people's names etc but it's not difficult. I'd say go for it as you're not trying to do really expensive items.