Product Description
The Futura™ CE-250 by SINGER® is a fully electronic sewing machine and computer linked embroidery unit. With Futura™, embroidery is a snap. If you can click a mouse you can embroider! It includes standard embroidery design software, AutoPunch software (allows you to digitize your own images) and you can download designs from the Internet or CD collections. So, the actual sewing machine features electronic stitch control which means that each stitch is electronically formed and optimally set so each is sewn with exact precision. 100 Stitch options including 6 types of 1-step buttonholes have their optimal stitch settings pre-programmed but can be adjusted as you see the need. Eleven of the most common stitches are have a 1-touch selector button. Also included is an automatic needle threader, drop feed, top drop-in bobbin with a view plate, needle up/down selector, twin needle control and so much more. As far as embroidery, you have everything here to get started. The CE-250 comes with Windows® compatible software (that will need to be downloaded to your home computer) with a basic how-to/tutorial, 120 embroidery designs, 5 fonts, AutoPunch software (allows you to take a wide variety of graphic files and convert them to an embroidery design) and 2 embroidery hoops. You will be able to work with embroidery designs from a wide range of sources to add to your upcoming project. You work within the software on your computer to layout end edit your designs and then, via a USB cable (provided), you just download to your Futura and you are ready to embroider.
Technical Details
Customer Reviews
2010-03-08
By Gift Card (fredericksburg, va)
I bought this machine Christmas of last year. I must admit i was a bit intimidated by it at first. Once i took the machine out of the box and saw all the parts and looked at the DVD I then put everything back in the box and waited for a good 3 weeks to open the box again. I was determined not to let a machine intimidate me, so I took everything out and followed the instructions. I did get the error message at first about the threading, but because i had read the instructions and viewed the DVD I knew that i was not threading the machine correctly - why blame a machine for human error. So I took it upon myself to learn how to thread the machine correctly and once I had accomplished that task, I had no problems with the machine doing embroidery or sewing. This machine does nice embrodiery work, but you have to experiment with it to find out what the machine can do and what you need to do to to get the machine to do it. So, I bought some cheap cloth on sale and went about practicing the stitches and the embroidery appliques. And the lessons I learned from doing that saved me a bundle on material that I would have otherwise ruined and the frustration i would have felt in doing so.
So, bottom line is that I would recommnend this machine. You must take the time to understand how this machine works and read the instructions and review the DVD (also going online to websites and reading the Q&A's about this machine will also help you. And, it is not about how computer savy or how long you have been sewing - if you are not following the directions for this particular machine none of that is going to help you.
2010-02-16
By Kate A. Clopp (OKC, OK)
I just recently purchased this machine and I can tell already that it is not aligned properly. If you have ever used both a mac and a pc this rates as a pc. It is not user friendly, it is constantly putting up error messages that are erroneous and the designs are askew. Don't bother wasting your money. There is a reason this software can not run on a mac. Macintosh would not accept this level of incompetence! Way too much money for something that doesn't work.
2010-01-24
By Tara Diana Cushing (Olympia, WA)
After more than a year of struggling to embroider with this machine, I truly hate it. It is the most finicky, difficult, poorly designed machine I have ever used or seen. I sold a HuskyStar EM10 to buy this because the Singer has a bigger hoop (almost but not quite 5X7) and have been sorry ever since.
I learned from sad experience, for example, that one must be careful not to "bump" the part of the machine that moves the hoop. If you do, it will change the position of the design so that the part you sew after bumping will not match the part you sewed before.
In order to change the bobbin, or even to check to see if it's threaded properly (which it often isn't since the thread "jumps" out of where it's supposed to be), you have to completely remove the hoop. This, of course, risks that you will "bump" the hoop mover.
The self threader shreds the thread (I use Sulky), and so you must use tweezers and pull the thread forward a couple inches so that it won't break as soon as you start sewing.
The thread breaks frequently for no apparent reason thus necessitating frequent rethreading.
When you turn it on, it may decide that you are using the wrong hoop (in spite of the fact that you are using the same hoop you used the last time you sewed on it. When it does this, you must close the software. Turn off the machine, remove the hoop, turn off the computer, wait a few moments, restart the computer, turn the machine back on, replace the hoop you want to use, then start the Futura software. If you are lucky, this time it will recognize the hoop properly. Sometimes that doesn't happen and you have to go through that same procedure again.
Do yourself a favor. Don't buy this machine. If you do, you will be sorry. As a matter of fact, due to this experience, I will never buy another Singer Embroidery machine.
Tara
2010-01-20
By Digitizer (Louisiana)
This is not a very precise embroidery machine. Does a decent job with broad simple designs. Anything beyond that such as lettering or intricate designs the machine is simply not capable. Shading and outline colums can be as much as a 1/16" off no matter how you adjust or tweak the design. Thread breaks and error messages for unknown reasons are also very common. Spend the extra $200 and get a Janome.
2010-01-08
By B. Gavin
I bought one of these machines for Christmas, only to find out that it isn't compatible with Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
So I had to find a copy of Windows XP to get the software running.
Then, once I got the machine all set up, read all the material and watched all the tutorials... I sat down at the machine to see error after error after error.
First the thread tension was set wrong. The machine is supposed to adjust this automatically, its the reason I bought the machine.
Then I tried to embroider with it, again error message after error message.
I tried to send an email to Singer, but am still waiting for a reply, its been three days.
I have tried calling the support center but never get through. Its as if they are gone out of business or something.
All in all, I am very unhappy with this machine, and I am extremely disappointed in Singer. I expected more from them.
The Futura™ CE-250 by SINGER® is a fully electronic sewing machine and computer linked embroidery unit. With Futura™, embroidery is a snap. If you can click a mouse you can embroider! It includes standard embroidery design software, AutoPunch software (allows you to digitize your own images) and you can download designs from the Internet or CD collections. So, the actual sewing machine features electronic stitch control which means that each stitch is electronically formed and optimally set so each is sewn with exact precision. 100 Stitch options including 6 types of 1-step buttonholes have their optimal stitch settings pre-programmed but can be adjusted as you see the need. Eleven of the most common stitches are have a 1-touch selector button. Also included is an automatic needle threader, drop feed, top drop-in bobbin with a view plate, needle up/down selector, twin needle control and so much more. As far as embroidery, you have everything here to get started. The CE-250 comes with Windows® compatible software (that will need to be downloaded to your home computer) with a basic how-to/tutorial, 120 embroidery designs, 5 fonts, AutoPunch software (allows you to take a wide variety of graphic files and convert them to an embroidery design) and 2 embroidery hoops. You will be able to work with embroidery designs from a wide range of sources to add to your upcoming project. You work within the software on your computer to layout end edit your designs and then, via a USB cable (provided), you just download to your Futura and you are ready to embroider.
Technical Details
- Electronic sewing and computer-linked embroidery machine with LCD display
- 100 stitch options; 6 styles of 1-step buttonholes; 1-touch stitch selector
- Electronic stitch control for precise results; auto needle threader; top drop-in bobbin
- Software, 120 embroidery designs, 5 fonts, 2 embroidery hoops, and more included
- Measures approximately 17 by 11 by 12 inches; 25-year limited warranty
Customer Reviews
2010-03-08
By Gift Card (fredericksburg, va)
I bought this machine Christmas of last year. I must admit i was a bit intimidated by it at first. Once i took the machine out of the box and saw all the parts and looked at the DVD I then put everything back in the box and waited for a good 3 weeks to open the box again. I was determined not to let a machine intimidate me, so I took everything out and followed the instructions. I did get the error message at first about the threading, but because i had read the instructions and viewed the DVD I knew that i was not threading the machine correctly - why blame a machine for human error. So I took it upon myself to learn how to thread the machine correctly and once I had accomplished that task, I had no problems with the machine doing embroidery or sewing. This machine does nice embrodiery work, but you have to experiment with it to find out what the machine can do and what you need to do to to get the machine to do it. So, I bought some cheap cloth on sale and went about practicing the stitches and the embroidery appliques. And the lessons I learned from doing that saved me a bundle on material that I would have otherwise ruined and the frustration i would have felt in doing so.
So, bottom line is that I would recommnend this machine. You must take the time to understand how this machine works and read the instructions and review the DVD (also going online to websites and reading the Q&A's about this machine will also help you. And, it is not about how computer savy or how long you have been sewing - if you are not following the directions for this particular machine none of that is going to help you.
2010-02-16
By Kate A. Clopp (OKC, OK)
I just recently purchased this machine and I can tell already that it is not aligned properly. If you have ever used both a mac and a pc this rates as a pc. It is not user friendly, it is constantly putting up error messages that are erroneous and the designs are askew. Don't bother wasting your money. There is a reason this software can not run on a mac. Macintosh would not accept this level of incompetence! Way too much money for something that doesn't work.
2010-01-24
By Tara Diana Cushing (Olympia, WA)
After more than a year of struggling to embroider with this machine, I truly hate it. It is the most finicky, difficult, poorly designed machine I have ever used or seen. I sold a HuskyStar EM10 to buy this because the Singer has a bigger hoop (almost but not quite 5X7) and have been sorry ever since.
I learned from sad experience, for example, that one must be careful not to "bump" the part of the machine that moves the hoop. If you do, it will change the position of the design so that the part you sew after bumping will not match the part you sewed before.
In order to change the bobbin, or even to check to see if it's threaded properly (which it often isn't since the thread "jumps" out of where it's supposed to be), you have to completely remove the hoop. This, of course, risks that you will "bump" the hoop mover.
The self threader shreds the thread (I use Sulky), and so you must use tweezers and pull the thread forward a couple inches so that it won't break as soon as you start sewing.
The thread breaks frequently for no apparent reason thus necessitating frequent rethreading.
When you turn it on, it may decide that you are using the wrong hoop (in spite of the fact that you are using the same hoop you used the last time you sewed on it. When it does this, you must close the software. Turn off the machine, remove the hoop, turn off the computer, wait a few moments, restart the computer, turn the machine back on, replace the hoop you want to use, then start the Futura software. If you are lucky, this time it will recognize the hoop properly. Sometimes that doesn't happen and you have to go through that same procedure again.
Do yourself a favor. Don't buy this machine. If you do, you will be sorry. As a matter of fact, due to this experience, I will never buy another Singer Embroidery machine.
Tara
2010-01-20
By Digitizer (Louisiana)
This is not a very precise embroidery machine. Does a decent job with broad simple designs. Anything beyond that such as lettering or intricate designs the machine is simply not capable. Shading and outline colums can be as much as a 1/16" off no matter how you adjust or tweak the design. Thread breaks and error messages for unknown reasons are also very common. Spend the extra $200 and get a Janome.
2010-01-08
By B. Gavin
I bought one of these machines for Christmas, only to find out that it isn't compatible with Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
So I had to find a copy of Windows XP to get the software running.
Then, once I got the machine all set up, read all the material and watched all the tutorials... I sat down at the machine to see error after error after error.
First the thread tension was set wrong. The machine is supposed to adjust this automatically, its the reason I bought the machine.
Then I tried to embroider with it, again error message after error message.
I tried to send an email to Singer, but am still waiting for a reply, its been three days.
I have tried calling the support center but never get through. Its as if they are gone out of business or something.
All in all, I am very unhappy with this machine, and I am extremely disappointed in Singer. I expected more from them.
