Discover the world of embroidery with our comprehensive guide on different types of embroidery machines and digitizing software. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned embroiderer, find the perfect equipment to match your creativity. From single-needle to multi-needle machines and from basic to advanced software, we cover the features, benefits, and how they can revolutionize your embroidery projects. Elevate your craft with the latest technology tailored to your artistic vision.
Like everything, even in the embroidery business, we have different machines used to make embroidered logos, patches, designs, badges, etc. Now, each machine has its unique way of embroidery, and they have their way of sewing.
List of Embroidery Machines
Some of the famous embroidery machines are:-
Brother PE540D
Janome 12000 Memory Craft
Singer Futura XL-400
Brother DZ820E
Janome Memory Craft 200E
Brother SE400
Singer SE300
Brother PE770
Since there are different machines, there will be different digitizing software, and one single software will not be compatible with all the machines. Each machine will have its loops and stitch method, so one has to choose the digitizing software or vice versa.
List of Digitizing Software
Some of the commonly used digitizing software are:-
SewWhat-Pro (SWP}
Thread
Size It! By Amazing Designs
Punto Embroidery Digitiser
PE-Design by Brother
Millennium III by Proel TSI
MasterWorks Lite by Designer’s Gallery
Monogram It! By Amazing Designs
Letter It! By Amazing Designs
Hatch Embroidery by Wilcom
Generations Automatic Digitizing Software by Notcina Corporation
Floriani Embroidery Suite by G7 Solutions & RNK LLC
FontWorks by Designer’s Gallery
EQStitch by The Electric Quilt Company
EmbroideryWare by JimmySoft LLC
EmbroideryStudio by Wilcom
Embroidermodder
Embrilliance StitchArtist, Briton Leap, Inc.
Embird
Elna DigitizerEX by Elna, Inc.
Elna CustomizerEX by Elna, Inc.
Digitizer MB by Janome
DG/ML by Pulse Microsystems
Digitize ‘N Stitch by Amazing Designs
Creative Drawings by Drawstitch Ltd.
Creative 4D Design Creator by Pfaff
BuzzEdit v3 by Buzz Tools Inc
Buzz-2-Stitches by Buzz Tools Inc
Brother BES4 Dream Edition Embroidery Lettering Software
Bernina Embroidery Software Version 7 by Wilcom
AutoPunch by Singer
Applique It! by Amazing Designs
Each digitizing software will give a unique format that a particular machine can run to make into a patch. The file formats fall under two categories: one is the source format, which is the primary file format of the embroidery digitizing software, and the second file format, which is the machine formats that are specific to a particular brand of embroidery machine. The significant difference between the source file format and the machine file formats is that primary file formats are easily editable; that is, they can be easily resized, edited, and scaled, whereas the same is impossible with machine file formats.
Here are some embroidery machines and the source file formats that run on them:-
PES – Babylock/Brother
SEW – Elna/New Home, Janome 8000/9000
HUS – Viking 1+/Rose/Iris/Scandinavia
SHV – Viking Designer 1
ART – Bernina Artista
JEF – Janome 10,000/11,000/300E/350E
XXX – Singer
PCS – Pfaff
EMD – Elna/Singer
VIP – Viking/Pfaff
VP3 – Viking/Pfaff
DST – Tajima
CSD – Singer
PSW – Singer
Typically, embroidery machines are designed to work with one or two proprietary formats specific to their brand. However, certain formats have emerged as industry standards due to their widespread adoption and effectiveness. Notably, formats like Tajima’s .dst, Melco’s .exp/.and, and Barudan’s .fdr have gained universal acceptance, transcending brand boundaries. As a result, these formats are often supported by embroidery machines across different manufacturers, earning them the distinction of universal digitizing formats that can run seamlessly on most machines worldwide.
I hope this post sheds some light on the types of digitizing software and embroidery machines. The right combination of mind and machine is needed to get the perfect embroidery patch.