Embroidery machines are available in two basic styles: single-needle embroidery machines and multi-needle embroidery machines. Single-needle models have just one needle, much like a sewing machine, while multi-needle models have multiple needles, each threaded with a different color of thread.

When you use a single-needle embroidery machine, you have to stop and rethread the machine every time you want to change the color. With a multi-needle machine, on the other hand, color changes are handled automatically by a computer program. An internal computer tells the machine which needle to use when creating a pattern. Since each needle has a different color of thread, there is no need to stop and rethread the machine between color changes, which can save a lot of time.

High Production Environments

Some situations call for multi-needle embroidery machines. For instance, machines like these are an excellent choice for high-production environments. Companies that manufacture embroidered products should invest in one of these machines since they can dramatically speed up the embroidery process.

By eliminating the need to change the thread color, embroidery projects can be completed much more quickly, even if they are quite complex. Using one of these machines allows businesses to produce a high volume of embroidered items in very little time – especially when compared to using a single-needle embroidery machine.

Creating Designs With A Lot of Colors

These machines are also ideal for creating designs that have a lot of different colors in them. Trying to create a multicolored design with a single-needle embroidery machine is quite labor-intensive. Every time there is a color change, the person operating the machine needs to stop and change the thread. This slows down the process and creates a lot of extra work.

With a multi-needle machine, on the other hand, all of the thread colors are already in place. The internal program tells the machine when to use specific needles, based on the colors in the design. This eliminates the need to change thread colors, making the process of embroidering full-color designs much less labor-intensive.

Looking at an example is the best way to illustrate how machines like these differ. Imagine, for instance, that you want to embroider a monogram on a shirt using a single thread color. In this case, a single-needle embroidery machine would be more than adequate for the job. Since only one color of thread is being used, the process can be completed quite quickly without needing to stop to change the thread.

Now, imagine that you need to embroider a scene that has six different colors of thread on the same shirt. In this case, using a multi-needle embroidery machine is the best option. If you try to embroider a design like this with a single-needle machine, you would need to stop to change the thread color at least five times. With a multi-needle machine, however, the entire design can be created without having to stop to change the thread.

Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of some of the situations that call for using a multi-needle embroidery machine rather than a single-needle machine.