Help me get started with sewing machine / monograms... what do I need?

Question

I have been spending a lot of money recently for personalized monograms being sewn on fabric for gifts, etc. Usually I buy these on eBay. What would I need to purchase to do these myself? Obviously a sewing machine (what brand/kind?) also is it software or how do you put the monograms on the fabric? also the little pictures? I am assuming it is simple to do and you just need to purchase some sort of template?

I was thinking if I purchased a sewing machine I could learn how to do the monograms and then possibly have my own eBay auction online 'store' and sell custom items.

Please let me know everything I would need to purchase and how much this would all cost. Thanks!!

Answer 1

There are a number of ways you can go about this.  Personally, I do any monogramming with hand embroidery.  Very cheap, a little slow, a lot of fun. (hint: pad the letters with something like chainstitch first -- gives them a lot more dimension.

Moving up in complexity, any straight stitch machine can do free motion embroidery.  Draw out your letters, start filling them in.  You supply the brain and handpower.  

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Mach...

Suggested knock your socks off reading: Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery (reprinted many times) -- the examples were done on a treadle machine in the early 20th century.

Moving up in both complexity and expense:embroidery only machines can be gotten for a few hundred dollars; I don't know what the limitations are of those simple machines.  Home sewing machines that are combination embroidery and sewing machines are often in the $1-5K range.  You'll have to either buy designs or softwarer to allow you to digitize your own designs.  Don't know much about them because I think machine embroidery looks flat.

If your library has back issues of Threads, do a search for "monogram" here: http://www.taunton.com/cgi-bin/artresult...

Pam Burke's article in issue 101 is particular nice for handwork.