I'm new and want to purchase singer futura

I'm back!

At $480 I'm guessing you're referring to Futura CE-100? Can you name the software that's $200--is it the Futura CE-100 Auto Punch Software?

Unfortunately, embroidery machines don't understand image/graphics files. In order for an embroidery machine to recreate an image file into stitches, the image must first be digitized. I guess you knew this already; hence you're planning to buy a digitizing software.

The problem with the software you're thinking of getting is that it has very limited capabilities and is misleading. It's simply too good to be true to be able to take any image and let the digitizing software do all the work for you by "auto" digitizing it with minimal effort on your part. It may be able to digitize very, very simple designs if you have a vector file of the image. I do not recommend Futura Auto Punch or auto digitizing software similar to it for digitizing.

If you want to invest on a low-cost digitizing software that is MUCH better than Futura Auto Punch visit Embird and have a look at their "Embird 2004 basic program" AND "Embird Studio" ($250 together). High-end digitizing software are in the $10,000+ range.

It's important to understand that digitizing software is just a tool. Even if you purchased the most expensive software with all the bells and whistles, it's only useful if you know how to use it. It's generally recommended to become good at embroidery first before learning digitizing. Having said that, if you're just going to embroider a few custom designs over and over, you may want to consider letting a pro digitize the designs for you.

It depends on how many stitches the design has. Keep in mind that using a home machine for commercial purposes may void warranty. The Singer Futura CE-100 model is on the low-end of home machines. It's low cost makes it attractive to people just starting out or experimenting with machine embroidery. Generally, you usually get what you pay for with home machines. Low-end home machines are not really meant for heavy usage.

If you do 10 pieces a day that's 300 pieces on a 30-day month. If you can profit $3.75 a piece, that's $1,125. If you're good at selling, you can invest in a much better home machine in a few months or even commercial machine. If the CE-100 breaks down in a few months and the warranty is void, you've already got your money's worth. If you're serious about starting an embroidery business, payment plans for commercial machines are very flexible. There are sooo many advantages of having a commercial machine. It pays for itself if you're serious about making money.

Beginners in machine embroidery will most likely not be able to digitize. You should assume this to be on the safe side. You will need your design professionally digitized. The rate for digitizing is based on per 1,000 stitches or by design complexity. The average stitch count for left chest logo is around 6,000 to 8,000 stitches. Some digitizers charge $7/1,000 stitches, some $12/1,000, and some less than $4/1,000.

You need to get a special hoop for cap embroidery for the CE-100. Check out the Hoop-It-All Multi-Purpose Hoops With Cap Sewing Feature - http://www.sewingembroidery.com/hat_hoop.htm.

And of course, you also need to purchase the basics: embroidery threads, prewound bobbins (or wind them yourself), needles, and stabilizers/backing.

You don't need to know how to sew to embroider :D

To be honest, both of the other posts here seem like they are written by two folks who have never used autopunch and are trying to sell other products. Yes, you can use autopunch to digitize. I have it, use it and it's not hard. I am not a sewer and this was my first attempt at embroidery. Within a week of trial and error I was doing custom designs on photoshop or illustrator, and digitizing them with autopunch for the final output.

Yes, you do need to simplify your design. If it's a very intricate or complicated design, you won't get really great quality like with a commercial embroidery machine. But if you can simplify it and and keep it in solid blocks (gradients don't do well), you should be OK. Anyway, after all the learning curve is done - it's as simple as pressing the button and changing the threads as you need to. You need to babysit the machine a little too.

And all that talk about voiding the warranty if you want to sell your embroidered products also sounds like someone trying to sell another product. I'd call singer on that one, because it sounds pretty ridiculous. Tons of women use their machines (sewing or otherwise) to make things to sell at fairs, etc. and I don't think Singer would be in business if it voided a warranty everytime Grandma Smith sold a quilt to her neighbor. 10 designs a month doesn't sound like a major corporation to me.