So you’ve heard the hype, you’ve watched the videos and seen the price tag - £7,499! Now you’re wondering if the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic is as good as everyone is making out. The simple answer: it SO is! We took part in our training at Husqvarna's head quarters on the 22nd October and collected our showroom model. Since then our sinks have been full of dirty crocks, we haven’t cooked a decent meal and we’ve barely left the house!
Ok, so maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get it - we’re smitten! Below we’ve outlined our favourite features so far to give you an insight into this incredible piece of modern machinery. We think it makes sewing and embroidery easier and more enjoyable than ever before! We've also included a picture of our first project completed using the Epic so you can see the results for yourself.
Aesthetics
With a name like the Epic this embroidery machine certainly has a lot to live up to. The appearance alone is a good indication it will. With its smooth, sleek lines and Ipad sized screen it is immediately obvious this machine is something new and exciting. On closer inspection the screen even displays pretty floral patterns whilst you sew. Simple touches like this make your immediate working environment pleasant and help to get those creative juices flowing.
The screen is the largest on the market allowing you to display more designs and options than ever before. Not only can you display more designs, it is easier than ever to rotate and move them, duplicate and join them. You simply pinch, swipe and stretch the image with your fingers in the same way you would use a iPhone or tablet. It's much quicker and easier to use than machines that require a stylus. You can zoom in, edit and travel around the screen quickly and efficiently. Gone are the days of struggling to turn your design idea into a reality, if you can imagine it you can do it with the Epic!
Thoughtful Features
Once you’ve created your designs using the state of the art touch screen it’s time to move onto stitching them. Husqvarna have thought of every little detail here too. From the automatic electronic needle threader (no more squinting!) to the largest work space on the market (almost 12” to the right of the needle and 5” deep) it's great for quilting and large projects.
Not only this, the 30% larger than normal bobbins that can be filled on the side of the machine whilst your machine is stitching. This means you don’t have to stop to refill even when working on the largest of embroideries. The auto tension settings and automatic free motion settings ensure perfect stitch quality every time. One of our favourite unique features of this machine is the ability to create applique within the machine saving time and effort. There are also a variety of fancy stitches that allow you to choose how to finish the applique and create beautifully and intricately detailed quilts.
Another unique quality of this outstanding embroidery machine is the latest LED lighting technology. No more shadows in the work area! Even with the sewing room light off there was enough evenly spread light from the machine itself to work as easily as with the ceiling light on! This is great news for anyone who is working in an area/room where the ambient lighting isn’t so good. The LED lighting is also fantastic for colour matching since it has a daylight effect and therefore gives a true representation of the colours viewed.
The Interface
The JoyOS advisor built into the Epic’s operating system is another pioneering feature of this first class embroidery machine. The help offered through the software means the machine is easy to understand and use even for beginners. For example, simply choose the weight and type of fabric you will be working with on the screen and the machine will automatically set the correct tension and stitch size for your project! The Epic really does remove and reduce the mundane tasks normally necessary to sew with a machine and allows you to enjoy the best bits - the design and the creation of your masterpieces!
Need a quick refresher or some advice on how to complete a sewing task? You’ll find just what you’re looking for in the 120 tutorials available on the Epic - you don’t even need to move from your machine! Built-in detailed descriptions and videos demonstrate a wide range of dressmaking tasks. These include how to insert different types of zips, attach waistbands, create suitable finishes for hems and different types of seam finishes and more.
This incredible resource also includes extensive help and advice on embroidery covering a wide variety of topics. From basic embroidery techniques and which stabilisers to use right through to more complex tasks such as thread velvet, using twin needles, applique, cross stitch, lace and cutwork. Every step of the way there is guidance and support to help you get the best out of this amazing machine.
Advanced Features
So, we’ve talked about the fact you don’t need to move away from your Epic thanks to the tutorials. In fact it can practically make the dinner for you! Unfortunately though, it actually can’t and in such instances you might have* to move away from your machine (*NB: not ‘want’ to - you will never want to, trust us!) Not to worry - even when life gets in the way you can carry on sewing and embroidering with the Epic thanks to even more fancy technology! The machine will carry on stitching and will send updates to your phone via the Husqvarna Android and iOS apps. The app lets you know when you need to change threads or your embroidery is finished. How clever is that?!
Whilst we’re talking about fancy technology, the built in WiFi also enables you to send designs from your computer to the machine. You can even store your designs in the cloud and then upload them to the machine. Any updates to the software including new stitches will automatically update through the WiFi when you switch your machine on. It really is a kind of sewing world wizardry if you ask us! If you haven’t got access to the magic of WiFi there are two USB ports you can use.
Embroidery Hoops
Finally let’s talk embroidery hoops! The Epic comes with three embroidery hoops including a large hoop measuring 360mm x 260mm. If you’re impressed by that you will love the fact you can also actually work on embroideries measuring 360mm x 350mm with the aid of the Majestic hoop. This can be purchased separately and is the largest on the market (there’s a theme here, right? Now you know why it is called the Epic?!) These features give you the ability to create large designs with one hoop rather than continually re-hooping.
What is truly amazing is the fact these features are so simple to use thanks to the exclusive Husqvarna Design Positioning feature. This negates the need for templates. It dawned on us that there aren’t any gimmicks, just very clever software that makes truly remarkable embroidery so easy to do.
Our First Project
So let us share the first project we’ve worked on - an embroidered cushion. We’re incredibly pleased with the results. The embroidery quality is faultless and for those quilters amongst you the free motion stippling was a dream to do. The tension is perfect and has a very even stitch quality.
Conclusion
We can't end this review without mentioning the price. There's no getting away from the fact that £7,499 is a substantial amount of money. A few of our visiting customers have mentioned that you could buy a small car for that amount of cash. However, you can't compare the Epic to a small car. You need to compare it to a Rolls Royce. When you absolutely have to own the best most technologically advanced sewing and embroidery machine on the market, there is no option other that the Designer Epic.
We hope this article has given you a good initial insight into the capabilities of this state of the art embroidery machine. There are endless features we could and will write about in further articles, but the simple truth is this: the Husqvarna Designer Epic makes completing advanced sewing and embroidery tasks simple and fun. Using the clever technology employed by Husqvarna is not only second nature to the modern sewer, it helps you to integrate sewing and embroidery with your everyday life. A machine that helps us complete more projects, more easily, more of the time? We’re in!
If this little taster has got your imagination running away with you, come and have a demo in our showroom to see it for yourself. We’ll happily share this dangerously addictive device with you. Well maybe, just for a little bit! If you can't make it to our showroom, then the next best thing is to view our 20 minute video and full specifications on our Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic page. If you've got any questions please call us on 01283 210422, email us at [email protected] or contact us via Facebook or Twitter.