Advanced digital technology has taken machine embroidery to an level that was unimaginable in your grandmother's generation. What once took weeks of tedious stitching to achieve textures can be done in minutes with the precision of machine embroidery.

Embroidery machines that were once only affordable for professional sewers are now available in several price points - with something suitable for any home sewer. For maximum flexibility in linking with your laptop computer, look for an embroidery machine with at least one USB port.

Brother SE270D Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine

Look over the built-in designs that come with each machine and the memory card options for adding new patterns. Brother is not just a leading name in embroidery machines with cutting edge computerized machines as well as models using the embroidery cards.

Singer's Futura sewing and embroidery machine is the nearest rival for the Brother embroidery dynasty. Pfaff, the German classic sewing machine, has the Creative Vision line of computerized embroidery machines at a higher price point.

Husquvarna Viking is the Scandinavian die-hard that offers a wide range of embroidery machines for the occasional sewer up to the professional sewer. If machine embroidery is just for a fun embellishment on your creations, then you can choose a lower priced machine for $300 - $500 and spend extra for the embroidery accessories.

For professional sewers, get the highest quality machine you can afford that will stand up to frequent usage. The professional embroidery machines start at $1,000 and up for the ultimate. Regardless of which embroidery machine you choose, you'll have hours of fun creating new designs.

Embroidery machines with USB ports and software capability make the old 30 stitch sewing machines seem like Stone Age gear. Even a lower priced machine that takes embroidery software cards gives you amazing flexibility in creating and editing designs.

The time saved in using machine embroidery over traditional handwork is enormous. Plus, you can get exact replicas of a logo or other design to use for several projects. You can even recreate an heirloom embroidery piece by capturing it in digital photo and using that as the foundation to develop a machine embroidery pattern.

Brother Personal Embroidery Design Basic Software

Some embroidery machines can only receive designs that have been digitized and saved on custom software cards. With these, you're limited to design sets that are purchased from the dealer.

If you want to create your own designs from drawings or photos, then you want a machine that accepts computer input. Most of the embroidery software systems give you the freedom to combine designs, rotate or crop the image, move elements and adjust the size.

The most sophisticated software systems also let you alter individual stitch segments within the total design. This is complex editing and requires more experienced design skills as well as software capability.

Embroidery software is usually brand specific, so your Viking designs are not likely to be received by a new Brother machine. As the machines become more advanced, you may not be able to use older patterns with newer machine.

You'll get the most for your money and preserve your design library by choosing machines with USB ports and direct input rather than relying on pre-loaded embroidery software cards.