There are tons of great embroidery machines out there, but there is, of course, a problem. Many of them, especially the cheaper ones, are capped at smaller sizes like 4″x4″!
While this is an okay size for things like patches and pocket tees, it’s not desirable for larger designs like the ones found on jackets! That’s why in this article, we’ll be talking about the best embroidery machines for large designs.
Best Embroidery Machine For Large Designs
Editor’s Pick!
Brother Innov-is NQ1700E
The Brother NQ1700e is is a great compromise between price and size.
This affordably priced machine offers a large 6″x10″ embroidery area, making it a great size to work on almost any project you could want.
While there are, of course, embroidery machines with larger embroidery areas you’ll be paying a pretty penny for them. So, think long and hard about whether or not you really need that extra embroidery space.
The NQ1700e also comes with Free BES Blue Software (valued at $410). This is great entry level embroidery software that allows you to access 800+ additional embroidery designs, 199 pre-digitizied fonts, editing features, scanNCut compatibility, and tools to help you make appliques!
Though, the machine itself has plenty of other great premium features to take advantage of. It also has a good amount of throat space (8.3″), and it hums along at a respectable 850 stitches per minute. It also comes with some fantastic premium features, like an upper thread sensor which lets you know when the thread is running low, an automatic thread cutter & needle threader, automatic thread tension, quick-set bobbin, a USB port. Embroidery machines with USB port allow you to upload the custom designs you make right to the machine.
You’ll also be able to see a realistic preview of your designs on the LCD screen before you start stitching, and you can also use it to edit your designs, change thread colors, etc. In short, the NQ1700E is one of the best deals around when it comes to embroidery machines.
Click here to get the best price on the Brother NQ1700e
Janome Memory Craft 14000
The Janome Memory Craft 14000 is a fantastic combination sewing and embroidery machine which offers a spacious 11.8″x9.1″ embroidery area for your projects.
It offers a slightly larger embroidery area when compared to the NQ1600E, but the price is not nearly as nice.
However, it does have some nice features. For starters, this machine is very fast, and you’ll be able to sew and embroider at 1,000 stitches per minute.
This extra speed could be very useful if you plan to use your embroidery machine for a home-based business, like Etsy. The Memory Craft 14000 will help you zip through your orders much quicker than on a less capable machine.
You may also have noticed that this machine has gotten a 5 star rating from consumers! That’s because it’s a real workhorse – sewing smoothly and doing beautiful embroidery work. However, it also comes with a lot of features which make working on it both quick and easier.
These features include a top-loading rotary hook bobbin, automatic thread cutter, automatic thread tension, automatic needle threading, memorized needle up/down, a free arm, free motion sewing capabilities, accufeed flex for controlled detail work, included AcuFil software for quilters, speed control, start/stop buttons, programmable jump thread trimming, and a lot more.
Like most machines, the Memory Craft 14000 has a USB port which you can use to import your own custom designs, BUT it also has something else! This machine has a real time PC connection, allowing it to effortlessly work with your PC through WiFi, a rare feature in a machine like this.
You’ll also enjoy a huge 7.7″x4.7″ full-color LCD screen. On-screen you can edit, rotate, or tweak your designs – or preview them before you start sewing. In short, while the Memory Craft 14000 is certainly not a cheap machine, it is a joy to use and well worth the money if you can fit it into your budget.
Click here to get the best price on the Janome 14000
Baby Lock Pathfinder
The Baby Lock Pathfinder has a lot to offer and when compared to other embroidery machines which offer the same, it actually comes in at a pretty good price point.
For starters, you’ll be able to embroider designs up to 8×12, which is a fantastic size for almost any project.
This dedicated embroidery machine clocks in at nearly half the price of the Janome Memory Craft 14000, and while you won’t get the sewing capabilities or some of the fancier features – if you only care about embroidery then it may be the better choice for you, and it will actually embroider a bit quicker than the MC14000 at 1,050 stitches per minute!
A very unique feature of the Baby Lock Pathfiner is the sensor pen. This sensor pen allows you to pinpoint where your design needs to go and make adjustments on the fabric using the sensor! It’s a pretty cool feature. The Baby Lock Pathfinder also has a “needle beam” which shows you exactly where the thread will go on the fabric.
This machine also includes a quick-set top loading bobbin, with a thread sensor so you’ll know before you run out of thread. You’ll also enjoy automatic thread tension, which helps to keep stitching accurate, and an on-screen sensor which helps you to select the hoop size.
You’ll also get a large 7″ LCD touch screen which you can use for editing your designs, setting up the machine, changing thread colors, etc.Though there are still even more features. Because the list is quite lengthy we’ve opted not to list them all in this article.
Though overall, we think this machine is a fantastic value for the money. It offers some truly awesome features, has a generous embroidery area, and it will cost you nearly half of what most comparable embroidery machines will run you!
Click here to get the best price on the Baby Lock Pathfinder
Let’s get crafting!
