Sequin Attachment

[Debbie Garifi]

I finally am having my sequin attachment installed today. I purchased it when I bought my XT's but held off having it installed until I was familiar with the machines themselves. Does anyone out there have this? If you do, can you give me some things I better ask the Tech while he is here that he may not go over with me, but from experience you would recommend?
Thank you

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Debbie,
Too many comments to reply here. Please feel free to call me on this subject of the Sequin Attachment to discuss verbally.
Best of luck,
Ed 504-258-6260

[Barbara]

Ed,
Please post your comments. I am thinking about getting one.
Thanks,
Barbara Grounds

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Ms. Barbara,
Okay, here goes...
To truly get a good start in embroidery, I believe one must be aware of one's abilities and limitations. It's one thing for a customer to ask you to sew a page of the bible the size of a postage stamp, but it's another thing for an embroiderer to think they CAN do it too.
The Sequin Attachment IS incredible! I've attended two technical classes on them, installed them, trained customer's to use them, and even run them myself. Simply put,... WOW!!!
However, this concept is not for every embroiderer. I believe you should have at least a year's experience on the Amaya system and should be both knowledgable of Design Shop's editing tools and familiar with it's Digitizing tools. If you fall short of this, give yourself some time before jumping into sequins.
Know that if there is any group out there that is making sequin designs available as stock designs like Dakota Collectibles, I and many other tech's and trainers are not aware of it. What this means is that you will have to digitize all of your own sequin stitches. I'm sure in time, pre-digitized sequin designs will be available for purchase but sequins just came on the embroidery scene last year. (Here's a business opportunity for some of you out there.)
Realistically, the hoops used with sequins are limited to large hoops such as the 17.25 X 11.75 inch and possibly also Fast Frames because they are so thin and flat. One must be aware of the limited sewing field due to the size of the sequin sewing head. Sorry but no sequins in the 5.85 in. hoop yet.
Also, this is a very mechanical device that utilizes a pneumatic air compressor to run and is very precision specific. If the needle isn't dead center of every sequin every time, you will be required to make adjustments as necessary or will have a tech visit you. What this means is if your shop is a high traffic shop, or your sewing dept. has a small work area (as is ours), you might experience precision risks. (Bumping into device).
I believe only one size sequin is available at this time (5mm round). However plenty of colors and styles ARE available to choose from.
With all that goes into embroidering sequins, you should be prepared to at least double your pricing to make it profitable. Of course this will vary from shop to shop and design to design.
At our shop, we are itching to get one. However we presently have a steady stream of business and to add something that requires more attention than we can handle right now doesn't seem like a good business decision. Now, when we get an Amaya for our house for weekends and nights to play,... watch out!!
I hope this has helped some of you as you move forward with your thoughts on sequins.
Ed Orantes
504-258-6260

[Barbara]

Ed,
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time for a lengthy explination. I was concerned that the attachment didn't work very well. I realized sequin designs would have to digitized and there were none on the market. I am going to the ISS show in Ft. Worth next month and you have give me lots of questions to ask. Thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Barbara Grounds

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Ms. Babara,
No Problem. Glad to be of assistance.
Maybe I'll see you in Fort Worth. I plan to attend the ISS show as well.
Sincerely,
Ed Orantes
504-258-6260

[Russell Silva]

Ed,

You finally figured out how to post to the message board, I'm very proud of ya.

[levelbest]

You know Russell, Mr. Ed is the Embroidery Authority. If he doesn't know the answer to your question, he doesn't know the answer to your question

[Russell Silva]

Ed is a virtual encyclopedia of useless information and a legend in his own mind.

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

For those of you who don't know,..
Russell and I are very close.
We were conjoined twins separated at birth in the orphanage. Russell was adopted by a couple in Boston and I in New Orleans.
Using the power of the Internet, Amaya User's has joined us back together some 38 years later.
I was the cute one.

Ed