Why is Embroidery so Expensive?

Embroidery prices can be a bit surprising to the first-time buyer. Many people assume it involves simply putting a design on a machine and pressing a button.

Here are some of the reasons embroidery can be so expensive:

Embroidery machine – Home machines can cost as low as $500 and upwards of $20,000. Yes, four zeros. Here is a link to my machine: https://babylock.com/machines/multi-needle-embroidery/venture
Embroidery stand – A sturdy stand on which to place your machine is a MUST: Embroidery machines vibrate during stitching and unstable surfaces can result in disaster if the machine falls. My stand cost $800.
Embroidery hoops – Most machines come with a few hoops, but you’ll still need specialty hoops for embroidery things like caps, belts, stockings, onesies, sleeves, totes, tablecloth borders, etc. For my machine, specialty hoops cost hundreds of dollars each.
Embroidery stabilizer – Stabilizers come in a wide variety of types and one 10-yard package of stabilizer is about $25. Improperly stabilized items can result in irregular stitching or easily distorted embroidery. You must have stabilizer to secure your fabric or item to get a quality stitch-out. Some varieties include tear-away, wash-away, cut-away, no-show mesh, cover-stitch, etc.
Embroidery thread – At an average of $6.95 per spool of thread, this can become expensive very quickly. Imagine the many colors available.
Fabric and notions – There isn’t a single embroiderer I know who doesn’t have a stash of fabric for their designs. Other notions include: needles, scissors, temporary spray adhesive, rulers, markers, bobbins, snaps and snap setters, various types of tape and clips, D-rings, O-rings, etc, etc, etc.
Digitizing – Digitizing is the process of taking a picture, drawing, handwriting, etc., and converting it to a file that will be recognized by the embroidery machine. Depending on the complexity of the design, digitizing fees can run between $20 – $50 for the service. If you want the actual digitized file (to take elsewhere) that usually is an additional fee, typically $140 and up. Digitizing education can take several months, or even years to perfect.
Education – No good embroiderer goes into business without proper training. While a limited amount of general training is available online, quality training comes with a hefty fee per class.