If you work with monogram and embroidery, you might be wondering: What’s the difference between a monogram embroidery machine and a sewing machine? And, is going pro right for me?
First, a little history.
Sewing machines were created during the Industrial Revolution. They helped decrease the amount of hand sewing performed at large clothing companies, increasing efficiency and volume.
Today, many households have a $99–$200 sewing machine from Walmart stashed away for weekend crafting or quick garment repairs.
If you’re a regular sewer, you likely have a collection of patterns for pillows, dresses, or holiday gifts. But if you’re interested in adding embroidery to your repertoire, you’re probably curious which tool is best.
While a sewing machine is designed for making or assembling pieces of material into a final creation, a monogram embroidery machine is designed to decorate something you’ve already made.
With one of these machines, you’ll be able to make a dress. With the other, you canadd a design.
It’s true that you can monogram with a standard sewing machine. You can also do some cut-and-sew with a pro monogramming machine. But if you’d like to level up your “finishing touches” game, a monogram embroidery machine could be the exciting new addition you’ve been looking for. That said, automatic machine embroidery requires a significant investment and is probably best for those looking to offer embroidery at their business.
Monogram vs. Embroidery: What’s the Difference?
While both monogramming and embroidery add a personalized touch to fabric items, they’re not quite the same. When distinguishing between embroidery vs. a monogram, monogramming refers specifically to the artful stitching of initials in a stylized font. It’s often used for personalizing towels, shirts, or gifts. Embroidery, on the other hand, is a broader technique that involves stitching any kind of design, logo, name, or pattern directly onto fabric using thread. So, while all monograms are embroidered, not all embroidery is a monogram.
Comparing the Features
Comparing a pro monogram machine to a sewing machine is especially useful for a home sewer who wants to start a business. Or, maybe you’re a business owner looking to add embroidery to your current lineup of offerings. Wherever your embroidery journey takes you, the right embroidery sewing machine can help get you there.
So, what are the advantages of a traditional sewing machine vs. a professional monogram embroidery machine?
Sewing Machine Pros
Affordable sewing machines are everywhere! You can get a high-quality brand at a local sewing center for $300–$500 with features like:
- Built in decorative stitches
- Automatic buttonhole features
- Automatic needle threader
- Even some built-in monogram fonts
Sewing machines are affordable, accessible, and relatively easy to learn. However, when you’re ready to expand your embroidery designs, a machine made specifically for embroidery could be in order.
Sewing Machine Cons
Sewing machines are single-needle, one-color devices. You must stop the machine and thread a new color when you want more than one color.
From a business perspective, this is not efficient. While most monograms are one color, most business logos are not. That’s why creating a left chest logo on 50 polos with a sewing machine is impractical.
A sewing machine used for a few hours every weekend or for a blitz of holiday activity can last a decade. However, it won’t hold up to 8-hour workdays. This is where a professional embroidery sewing machine comes in.
Monogramming with a sewing machine
Monogramming with a smaller sewing machine is tricky. Not because it can’t embroider, but because it’s hard to hoop up your items. And free arm embroidery, though enjoyable for some, is time-consuming.
It’s easy enough to do one or two sets of initials on your trusty sewing machine, but it’s not designed for higher quantities or more professional embroidery designs.
Consider this: how long does it take you to hoop something and load it on your machine? Then, how long does it take to remove a finished garment, hoop the next, and set up to run the design again? A professional monogram machine is designed for production workflows, and you can immediately feel the difference!
With traditional sewing machines, monogram selection is almost always limited to the fonts built into the machine. There’s no room for your creativity or to load any of the hundreds of available premade monogram styles.
Plus, you won’t be able to monogram a high volume of hats with a standard sewing machine.
Most regular sewing machines can’t work on structured caps since they won’t lie flat. It’s just one more reason a pro embroidery machine could be in your future if your business goals include professional embroidery.
Pro Monogram Embroidery Machines: Comparing Features.
Using a professional monogramming machine is a game changer. Here’s a short list of features and models you’re sure to love:
- Multi-needle machines: A pro monogramming machine like the Avancé 1501C has 15 needles–that means 15 pre-loaded colors.
- Computerized monogramming machine: These pro systems offer either a direct connection from your computer or a USB port to load designs. That means you’re NEVER stuck with what’s preloaded.
- Automatic color changes and stops: Imagine creating a four-color design or monogram, loading the blank garment onto the embroidery machine and walking away! A pro monogramming machine can change colors, cut threads, and more, without help.
- Monogram onto caps and hats: Quite a few monogram businesses thrive on 3S cap embroidery alone. The 1501C is a solid choice for this type of embroidery.
- HUGE embroidery field: 22” x 14”. That’s how large you can make a design. Which means you can easily monogram blankets, table runners, and more.
- Commercial construction: That means that these machines are built to run more than a full day, every day.
Most pro monogram embroidery machines come with two sets of common-sized hoops. When handling a large order, you can avoid removing garment #1, unhooping it, and hooping #2 before loading the machine.
Pros know you need to have garment #2 hooped and ready so the machine keeps running. When it’s running, you’re making money!
Making More Money with a Monogram Machine
Did you know that most professional embroiderers charge by the stitch?
A traditional sewing machine gives you 20 square inches to sew out. Unfortunately, that’s also the limit on how much you can charge.
However, the Avancé 1501C has a 308 square inch embroidery field. That’s over 15X the opportunity! That’s just one example of how a professional machine can completely transform your experience and output when it comes to monogramming and embroidery.
- Professional Monogramming Machine Cons
The biggest downside of a professional monogram embroidery machine is the up-front cost.
Most professional systems range from $10,000 to $15,000 or more. But keep in mind: You can typically finance business equipment for a few hundred dollars per month. If you’re making $10-$20 profit per monogram job, you only have to sew out a few dozen items to break even. Whether the investment is worth it depends on how you intend to use the machine.
A few other cons to consider:
Software Training
Commercial embroidery machines come with professional digitizing and design software. You can hire someone to create the designs, but you’ll probably want to learn them yourself.
Luckily, Avancé brand machines often come with StitchEra Liberty embroidery software and a great self-paced online training course.
The Learning Curve
Your new machine will include a touch screen control panel, which you must learn to operate.
There are 15 needles to learn to tension and maintain, and hooping caps is a skill you’ll need to build over time..
ColDesi specializes in helping startup embroidery businesses, and there are live and self-paced online videos for you to reference.
- What’s the BIGGEST Benefit of a ColDesi Pro Monogram Machine?
When you buy a sewing machine from Walmart or your local sewing center, they don’t know your business. To them, being unable to monogram while you wait for a repair is not an emergency.. What’s more, they can’t help you troubleshoot. Unfortunately, other retailers sell thousands of these little machines every month, and you’re just another face in the crowd.
But when you purchase a professional embroidery machine from ColDesi, you’re not alone. You have access to thoughtful embroidery professionals who know what you need to start your business, which means they include everything in your product bundle.
At ColDesi, you get a team that:
- Understands business financing and can help you find it.
- Has technical support people who have worked at or owned embroidery businesses.
- Has a vested interest in your success.
