A Brief Background on Embroidery Machines

Embroidery machines are a special type of sewing machines that can create delicate and complicated embroidery on different types of cloth, fabric and even paper. The designs created are controlled using embroidery software. Some designs are included when you purchase a software and you can also download designs from different websites for a small price or even for free.

The development of embroidery machines have allowed the growth of the home-sewing industry by allowing homebodies to create designs that in the past were done by hand or by large factories. Even though embroidery machines are expensive, supplies are cheap and can be found in any fabric store as well as sewing machine shops.

In using embroidery machines, anyone can create any designs such as images, motifs or monograms. The art of making these designs need patience, determination and practice. The most common types of designs that you can create using an embroidery machine are: landscape, floral, faunal, religious, solemn, geometric, letters, numbers etc.

For many centuries, the art of embroidery is done by hand. However, around 1830, Frenchman Josua Heilman created a machine that could create elaborate designs. In 1850s, a factory opened with twelve embroidery machines in operation.

Other kinds of machines that existed as a contemporary of the modern embroidery machine are:

1. Cornely machine - first appeared in Switzerland in 1860 and still used today
2. Handmachine - this machine was invented before the modern embroidery machine. The handmachine, however, was operated by hand.
3. Schifflimachine - first appeared in the 1860s. The precursor of computer, the Jacquard Punched Cards, was employed by this machine. This machine allowed the growth of the embroidery industry in the 19th century.

Most modern embroidery machines are operated using computer softwares. In the early 1980s, Wilcom Company introduced the first model to the market. The first model was operated using a micro computer, unlike the Schifflimachine that is operated using punch cards. In the modern model, the design is digitized into the computer. In the succeeding years, models were developed and some machines allow multi-users.

In operating an embroidery machine, you need first to create or download a design from your software file. If it is necessary, you can edit the design or combine it with an existing file. After the design is made, load it to the program, stabilize the fabric and click start.

The supplies that you will need in creating embroidery projects are a software, design files, fabric stabilizer, embroidery hoop, thread, needles and in some cases, bobbins.