business and school project discussion... advice please!
what i am looking for is constructive advice, considerations i may have overlooked, etc.
as i stated in an earlier post i am considering a Babylock Embellisher.
To recap: this is a needle felting machine, which means it has up to 12 needles (you can remove them so 1-12 needles) that are punched up and down very very fast.. and that allows you to mesh two fibers, fabrics, or etc together.
it is not limited to wool. i successfully meshed together a silk scrap on top of a bit of top grade quilting cotton, no wool involved.
it changes the texture quite a bit as the fibers get meshed together on some samples, on others it hardly changed.
i used it to make a turned hem on both a wool and a silk scrap.
the babylock can easily mesh stuff into denim, although obviously the tougher the fiber the more chance of breaking needles.
yes i will be posting some pictures.
its MSRP is like 850-900 bucks, but right now its on sale at a good store i know for 450 ish.. basically 500 when you add it all up i guess. (for the record to replace my sewing machine right now with a similar model would be over 600)
yes there is a cheaper version from Singer. i am DEEPLY concerned about the length of warranty (one year for the Babylock, versus 90 days for Singer) and the fact that the Singer has a less powerful motor... i am not going to be a "light user" if i get one.
so to summarize, i am considering a machine that would enable me to make embellished fabrics, one of a kind designs, etc. (the technique of needle felting silk fabrics is actually featured in this months Threads).
i recently found a source for kimono fabric "by the pound" (damaged kimonos, useful for up-cycling) which would make REALLY cool accessories , pins, clutch purses, and add ins to coats and jackets.
right now i have two small businesses that are expressing interest in buying embellished material from me to make their product, or partnering with me to provide the fabric while they do the manufacture of product, IF i get the equipment to do it.
that is not a signed contract but its a definite interest.
this can be done by hand, but the machine does in 30 seconds what would take me anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes of repetitive motion to do, and my hands don't work as well as they used to.....
i believe that this could also be useful for future classes, enabling me to produce a one of a kind fabric for things like pockets , collars, trim, etc
of course this quarter in school i am needle felting designs into a coat, so i do actually have a current short term need..
BUT
this is an expensive bit of equipment that should not be bought for limited use. if i buy it the machine must "pay its way"
does anyone have any suggestions for additional things i should consider?
additional uses?
reasons not to get involved in it?
alternatives?
i freely admit that i tend to get a bit more ambitious about "ideas" than i have time.. and that the needle felting of an entire coat RIGHT NOW is a motivating factor.
as i stated in an earlier post i am considering a Babylock Embellisher.
To recap: this is a needle felting machine, which means it has up to 12 needles (you can remove them so 1-12 needles) that are punched up and down very very fast.. and that allows you to mesh two fibers, fabrics, or etc together.
it is not limited to wool. i successfully meshed together a silk scrap on top of a bit of top grade quilting cotton, no wool involved.
it changes the texture quite a bit as the fibers get meshed together on some samples, on others it hardly changed.
i used it to make a turned hem on both a wool and a silk scrap.
the babylock can easily mesh stuff into denim, although obviously the tougher the fiber the more chance of breaking needles.
yes i will be posting some pictures.
its MSRP is like 850-900 bucks, but right now its on sale at a good store i know for 450 ish.. basically 500 when you add it all up i guess. (for the record to replace my sewing machine right now with a similar model would be over 600)
yes there is a cheaper version from Singer. i am DEEPLY concerned about the length of warranty (one year for the Babylock, versus 90 days for Singer) and the fact that the Singer has a less powerful motor... i am not going to be a "light user" if i get one.
so to summarize, i am considering a machine that would enable me to make embellished fabrics, one of a kind designs, etc. (the technique of needle felting silk fabrics is actually featured in this months Threads).
i recently found a source for kimono fabric "by the pound" (damaged kimonos, useful for up-cycling) which would make REALLY cool accessories , pins, clutch purses, and add ins to coats and jackets.
right now i have two small businesses that are expressing interest in buying embellished material from me to make their product, or partnering with me to provide the fabric while they do the manufacture of product, IF i get the equipment to do it.
that is not a signed contract but its a definite interest.
this can be done by hand, but the machine does in 30 seconds what would take me anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes of repetitive motion to do, and my hands don't work as well as they used to.....
i believe that this could also be useful for future classes, enabling me to produce a one of a kind fabric for things like pockets , collars, trim, etc
of course this quarter in school i am needle felting designs into a coat, so i do actually have a current short term need..
BUT
this is an expensive bit of equipment that should not be bought for limited use. if i buy it the machine must "pay its way"
does anyone have any suggestions for additional things i should consider?
additional uses?
reasons not to get involved in it?
alternatives?
i freely admit that i tend to get a bit more ambitious about "ideas" than i have time.. and that the needle felting of an entire coat RIGHT NOW is a motivating factor.