Embroidery machine decision and pledge drive?

[J C]

TLDR 

I found a cheap embroidery machine,I think its a good idea to get it at some point, possibly now. Vote: Agree now (Insert pledge here), agree later, nah dont bother

This one.

 https://www.gumtree.com/p/arts-crafts/janome-memory-craft-350e-embroidery-machine/1194900558

Why?

We have a craft area now, we can do funky things with textiles I dont think anyone in the area is doing and to prove it Im planning day/weekend long workshop on traditional textile skills alongside some hackery approaches. Its going to be slow going but done right can really open up the space to more members doing cool crafty stuff. An embroidery machine where you can design your own patterns on your computer fits right in.

Money:

Money is tight in hackspace accounts, we have jsut moved and we havenet finished paying for it all. Hence hoping most money for this come from pledge drive im putting in at least £25, hopefully 50 if my finances are strong enough. 400 is cheap compared to its full asking price of 999.99 so its kind of a good deal. Another person nearby is selling it for £500. 

The hackspace may be able to put money towards it if people are interested enough but we need to double check that. 

To help mitigate the cost I plan on running 2 solo workshops teaching how to make your own designs ready to embroider.  £10 per place 10 people per workshop.

It will be an inducable machine at £10 per induction 

All money from these go to the hackspace minus running costs of the workshop (materials tea and biscuits usually)

we may also charge per period of time much like the laser, it will need maintenance periodically after all, likely by a professional. This has a built in timer saying how long it will take to embroider something so that makes it simpler. 

You pledge £20 then your induction and workshop are free. Pledging more would be very welcome. If i need to put more than 2 workshops to accommodate everyone then I will.  

I have next week off so if we get the machine before then I have lots of time to work out how to use it and prepare induction documentation and workshop materials. 

Issues:

the main issue reported with this machine is tension but various solutions have been found to work online so some tinkering may be needed but I am confident this can be solved if t become a problem. Common solutions include buying their pre-wound thread but alternative solutions are there too. 

We have other things to spend money on - I agree - heating may be in imminent one. Hence pledge driving. Although this is expending money I hope to use it to bring money in reasonably quickly but there is no guarantee

Software is an issue for designing the patterns on. Be best solution seems to be using embroidermodder 2. its free open source and beta. Its been in long development but github shows improvements 2 and 3 years ago so not abandonware and its free, open source and designed to work across all platforms. This needs to be tested before we commit to buy, help would be greatly appreciated in this as I havent build from source in ages and dont have access to an apple machine to try it on. https://github.com/Embroidermodder/Embroidermodder

There are other similar machines out there, there are better ones out there (connect straight to computer is a nice touch but using a USB drive like this one does aint bad) but reviews say its easy to use (LCD sceen gives good instructions as you go along), its not too expensive and its not too far a drive to pick it up. 

I have never used an embroidery machine before but with Kim and the internets help I am confident I can learn then teach others. 

Thoughts/ suggestions/ questions?

Vote: Yes we should get it now/ yes we should get one but later/ no dont bother at all. 

If you would like to pledge how much? Aiming for £425 so we can get selection of materials -threads needles etc to go along with it. 

Thanks for reading. 

Joe

. 

[Andy51055]

Agree later (not much, but once we have what we have up, running and settled).
Other than that, excellent ideas. Will pledge.

[J C]

Thanks Andy. One thing I will say about now over later is I have next week off. Some of it will be spent at the space but because of Milos a fair chunk will be at home. So getting now gives me my best quickest turnaround to get the machine from bought to ready to use. Though I can still use the week for working with the software and getting that side of things ready so not a huge issue :)

On 24 Oct 2016 11:05 pm, "Andy51055" <you...@51055.com> wrote:

Agree later (not much, but once we have what we have up, running and settled).
Other than that, excellent ideas. Will pledge.

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[Samwise Wilson]

Can you easily get the consumables for this machine?

Does it do multiple colours with a on the fly swap?

Suppor backing and the special thread come to mind as hot consumables, you can't just use regular embroidery stuff from memory.

[Aidan Dunbar]

Single colour, looks like to have to rethread at each change. It can cope with more than one colour in a pattern though looking from the videos on YouTube.

A quick look and embroidery machine supplies are all over the nets. Fred Aldous doesn't seem to have any though :(

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[J C]

Yeah it does one colour at a time. When if finishes on in a pattern it cuts the thread and prompts you to load the next one, I assume you press a button to say you have done that and it continues the pattern. 

So for easiest solution to the tensioning is to use a pre wound jenome bobbin with jenome embroidery thread. So far I have only found this combination in white and black. 

But with a combination of the proper thread and correct bobbins and advice from the seller who has gotten it to work then I have high hopes. Will also be popping by the local shop repairer in the market and see what they have/ can get/ general service costs. 

https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/categories/embroidery-threads/18?limit=10&sort=highprice&id=18&brands%5B%5D=2 has 200 meters of thread for £3.20 in a range of colours

pack of bobbins https://www.hobkirk.co.uk/janome-bobbin-pack-of-10?cat=17101 for £7

General consumables we can get a stock in an charge by the piece much as we do for the laser cutter.

For thread - the machine tells us how long a pattern will take to embroider even if there are options of different speeds it shouldn't be hard to calculate reasonable thread use into cost per minute to keep us in stock. 

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[Matt Collins]

Or we getting a programmable knitting machine all documented here:

https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Equipment/Knitting_Machine

I think the embroider or that would be a great addition to our kit, happy to put £25 towards either!

[Martyn]

Both! They are good for completely different tasks. I'd love my own design of scarf, but also embroidered logo stuff would be best too. Consider me in for at least 25.

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[J C]

Matt, yep programmable knitting machine is one I'd like us to get as well, and keeping my eye out for good prices on them too. - Mostly on gumtree. such as potentially this one https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/brother-kh950i-electronic-knitting-machine-unusued-/1192169420 but at £600 with our current hackspace funds it more of a stretch and not certain but think more fiddly to use. I think if we go with an easy to use programmable embroidary machine first to build up momentum in the craft area the programmable knitting machine is a good follower in the hopefully near future. Unless we delay on getting the embroiderer and a really good deal on the knitting machine comes up in which case may change my approach :)

[Molly Fletcher]

> On 24 Oct 2016, at 22:18, J C <jap...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> TLDR
> I found a cheap embroidery machine,I think its a good idea to get it at some point, possibly now. Vote: Agree now (Insert pledge here), agree later, nah dont bother
>

Agree will pledge at least £20 but might be more depending if I win an ebay auction I’m waiting on.

--
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[timpin .]

I'm in for £25...

[Aidan Dunbar]

I'll chuck £25 in.

A

[J C]

Thanks for all pledges so far, just under half way :) Kim says she will put in £30 as well. Will put a sheet together at lunch if I get chance or after work. 

Joe 

[Aidan Dunbar]

Pledges accumulated here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tzJYYQDunuTIjKt2p6FWywQnJ_-uiAiklw68gA5q4yw/edit?usp=sharing

On 25 October 2016 at 11:05, J C <jap...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for all pledges so far, just under half way :) Kim says she will put in £30 as well. Will put a sheet together at lunch if I get chance or after work. 

Joe 

[J C]

Thanks Aiden

[Matt Collins]

Can we all transfer pledge money to Hackspace account before we buy this time with an appropriate reference please!

It was a nightmare collating the cnc pledge money, still not sure if that all came through.

On 25 Oct 2016 11:10 a.m., "J C" <jap...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Aiden

[Anzir Boodoo]

Hi,

> On 25 Oct 2016, at 09:08, J C <jap...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Yeah it does one colour at a time. When if finishes on in a pattern it cuts the thread and prompts you to load the next one, I assume you press a button to say you have done that and it continues the pattern.
>
> So for easiest solution to the tensioning is to use a pre wound jenome bobbin with jenome embroidery thread. So far I have only found this combination in white and black.
> But with a combination of the proper thread and correct bobbins and advice from the seller who has gotten it to work then I have high hopes. Will also be popping by the local shop repairer in the market and see what they have/ can get/ general service costs.

Just wanted to chip in here - my Mum has a higher end Janome embroidery machine. In the script for each embroidery piece, the colours are included, and it does all of one colour then asks you to change it. I think you use the same bottom thread all the way through, but any questions I can ask her and she knows.

I should take another look at the design software, as I’ve tried the (horrible) Windows only software, but at my parents’ we only have a really old XP machine and my Dad’s Mac, so a cross-platform solution would be good (although the Janome software does mostly work under WINE)

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[J C]

what Matt said though dont send money yet. when we get enough or close enough will let them know we want to buy it. then collect your money then I will go get it and hand over money. if you cant pay before hand please let the committee know.

[Phil Hutchinson]

Very interested I'll throw in £25. The big issue is software for it. Nottingham just got one and went through this whole process. I've asked my friend to check it out and pass on any .. after the fact.. advice.

[Phil Hutchinson]

[Christopher Stanton]

Gumtree is saying this ad is no longer available.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/arts-crafts/janome-memory-craft-350e-embroidery-machine/1194900558

Is there an alternative we could aim for?

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[Christopher Stanton]

Relevant:
https://wiki.nottinghack.org.uk/wiki/Embroidery_Machine

Software: http://libregraphicsworld.org/blog/entry/embroidery-design-on-linux-now-possible-with-thred

Theirs cost a lot more:
https://wiki.nottinghack.org.uk/wiki/Embroidery_Pledge

Their discussion about it:
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/nottinghack/aMteHIXIXfw

On Tue, Oct 25, 2016 at 12:58 PM, Phil Hutchinson <phil.d.h...@gmail.com> wrote:

Very interested I'll throw in £25. The big issue is software for it. Nottingham just got one and went through this whole process. I've asked my friend to check it out and pass on any .. after the fact.. advice.

[J C]

Bummer, well it was always a chance that would happen, its a the drawback of gumtree. 

there is the same model for £500 which might still be available https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/janome-mc350e-embroidery-machine-/1194027268

I suggest for now keep registering pledges Im happy that so much interest has been gathered already and if pledges keep coming in it give me and anyone else an idea of the money we have to work with in finding another one. There may be a delay in finding a suitable one in our price range but its something I will peruse. 

In the meantime it means we get longer to be sure about the software issue. Which Phil is quite right it could be a pain in the ass. If we can get advice on it all the better. 

Joe 

[frogg...@gmail.com]

Hello all, Froggy from Nottinghack here. Phil pointed me this way as we did indeed recently get an embroiderer (Brother INNOV-IS 750e).

I'd definitely recommend it in terms of the hardware; it practically ran straight out of the box, our only mod was to the power cable for access control.

In regards to the official brother software the Autopunch function work 90% of the time, the rest it will generate a pattern that can honestly snap needles in half. However with a little tweaking of the settings you can get some really really nice patches and such made from it. The machine uses a proprietary memory card to transfer designs, and though apparently it's also happy with USB sticks we haven't tried that yet.

One member had found a neat open source stitch editor, should be on the wiki. It's really handy for unpicking awkward designs if the official software craps out and generates a mess.

We pledge drived the money, and so far it's been well used in the space. I'm fairly sure out wiki page has all the little quirks listed, but I can prod the craft team to add any they may know onto it.

Biggest watch-out is that you'll need a lot of spare needles, and good quality thread, because you go through both extremely fast.

[J C]

Thank you Froggy will take  a look at the wiki. 

Is anyone else who hasn't pledged interested in pledging in a future machine? The same machine still seems to be available at £500 in case lots of you still want to pledge

https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/janome-mc350e-embroidery-machine-/1194027268

I went to the market but missed the opening times of the sewing machine shop there. However they appear to be a dedicated Janome supplier so they should be able to help us with issues or anything we need. Which is rather convenient :)

[J C]

currently on Ebay: 

The same machine as Nottingham got:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brother-750e-embroidery-machine-/112177844085?hash=item1a1e520f75:g:XPsAAOSw4shX~MvY

And another potential machine but needs more research to check for issues  and make sure its suitable

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BROTHER-INNOV-IS90E-Embroidery-sewing-machine-/182318015534?hash=item2a7300242e:g:q9gAAOSwPCVYBUdl

[Beccy Sweetland]

I'll pledge £25 :)

[Andy51055]

On that one we could at least save £25 postage as it's in Leeds. And maybe get an induction from Nottinghack?

[J C]

Thanks Beccy, will this tempt you back down? I dont think Ive seen you visit in ages. 

Andy: indeed, plus can likely view it beforehand. though I expect it may go out of our original £425 goal. Will see how pledges develop.

Joe  

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[Beccy Sweetland]

Definitely! I was actually in on Tuesday a few weeks ago briefly but I haven't been to the new space yet, looking forward to the craft area

[Tom Oldbury (Email #2)]

I'll pledge £25 as well. I probably won't use it, but it would drive more members to the hackspace. And that is always a good thing!

[J C]

Thank you Tom and everyone else who has pledged without intending to use this machine. I am working on the theory of expanding tools and running workshops to more people in which bring more money into the space to buy more shiny tools so every bit along to way to that helps. 

On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 10:55 AM, Tom Oldbury (Email #2) <told...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'll pledge £25 as well. I probably won't use it, but it would drive more members to the hackspace. And that is always a good thing!

[Matt Collins]

Very noble Tom. Much applauded.

On 28 Oct 2016 10:55 a.m., "Tom Oldbury (Email #2)" <told...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'll pledge £25 as well. I probably won't use it, but it would drive more members to the hackspace. And that is always a good thing!

[Samwise Wilson]

I pledge £26 - i want to beat tom 

On Friday, 28 October 2016 11:01:59 UTC+1, Matt C wrote:

Very noble Tom. Much applauded.

On 28 Oct 2016 10:55 a.m., "Tom Oldbury (Email #2)" <told...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'll pledge £25 as well. I probably won't use it, but it would drive more members to the hackspace. And that is always a good thing!

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[Tom Oldbury (Email #2)]

Pledge £27. Bring it on, Sam

[Jon Stockill]

On 28.10.2016 17:55, Tom Oldbury (Email #2) wrote:
> Pledge £27. Bring it on, Sam

Lets not mess around here.

£50.

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li...@stockill.net

[J C]

While I applaud your competitiveness it has to be said that to date the largest pledge is by Kim who pledged £30 on Monday before she was even a member :)

On 28 Oct 2016 5:55 pm, "Tom Oldbury (Email #2)" <told...@gmail.com> wrote:

Pledge £27. Bring it on, Sam

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[J C]

Damn refresh. Hats off to Nav.

[Tom Oldbury (Email #1)]

Nice one Nav. 

On Friday, 28 October 2016 18:07:07 UTC+1, Japoteg wrote:

Damn refresh. Hats off to Nav.

On 28 Oct 2016 5:58 pm, "J C" <jap...@gmail.com> wrote:

While I applaud your competitiveness it has to be said that to date the largest pledge is by Kim who pledged £30 on Monday before she was even a member :)

On 28 Oct 2016 5:55 pm, "Tom Oldbury (Email #2)" <told...@gmail.com> wrote:

Pledge £27. Bring it on, Sam

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[Katie N]

Dead into this!! I can pledge £15

[J C]

Quick update. 

Thank you for everyone who has pledged to date as we have £397 pledged which is fantastic and puts us in range of buying a machine when a suitable option become available again. If anyone else would like to pledge it lets me know what Im working with money wise though i do have a couple of ideas to make up any amount we are short of we find a suitable one just a little more expensive. 

Now the main hurdle is software to drive it. 

I now have a working version of embroidermodder that i am playing with. It looks like it will prepare files for any embroidery machine we might want to buy. 

Its a pain in the backside to install so I have created a live ubuntu stick with it on, so anyone should be able to plug this drive into their computer and you can use the software (it wont install anything but it will give you a temproary and working version of ubuntu all ready to go)

If anyone would like to borrow a set up stick then please let me know and i will prep one for you. 

Side note:

In time there will be a collection of these sticks living at the hackspace with all the software on that we use (such as visicut for the laser cutter and software for the vinyl cutter so people no longer have issues using these machines). When the master version of this has been created we can create personal ones for people to take home, just provide a usb stick- or we could even stock and sell them - lets look at that another time.

Im currently trying to work out how to use the software- I have some ideas but need further work and ideally testing (maybe with help from Nottingham hackspace for checking)

Good news it looks like you should be able to create images in inkscape (sorry not illustrator) and send to embroidermoder for touching up before embroidering, so much like we do with visicut for lasercutting. Testing this at the moment but just need to get the extension up and running. 

Joe.

On Fri, Oct 28, 2016 at 7:54 PM, Katie N <katieros...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dead into this!! I can pledge £15

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[Andy51055]

So it can't use SVG? Shame.

[J C]

Technically it almost can and its something they are working towards but it throws a wobbler usually when it tries to. So the inkscape extension modifies the SVG you create to (usually) stop the wobblers happening and saves it in SVG. I assume it a cleaning up process of some kind. 

So if you want to create in illustrator likely can create an SVG in that move to inkscape to put it through the inkscape extension to clean it up and make it usable.

As I said, testing will be needed. Ill ask you to pass me an SVG created in illustrator at some point hopefully in the next day or two to see if I can get it working. 

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