Single Needle vs Multi Needle Embroidery Machines

On this page (13 sections)

1. Single needle vs multi needle: which machine fits your shop?
2. How do color changes compare?
3. Does stitch speed change the choice?
4. How do hoop area and the hoops in the box compare?
5. Which one handles caps and hats?
6. How do the full specs line up?
7. What is each machine like to use day to day?
8. How much space, weight and power do they need?
9. What comes in the box?
10. Which files, software and support come with each?
11. What should you check before you buy either machine?
12. Who should skip which machine?
13. Single needle vs multi needle embroidery machines: which to pick

A single-needle embroidery machine holds one thread color at a time, while a multi-needle machine holds several colors ready and switches between them on its own. That's the whole difference, and it decides how often you stop during a run.

This page compares the Poolin EOC07, a single-needle machine, with the Poolin EOM, a 15-needle machine. If you're new to embroidery, embroidery machines for beginners covers the basics first.

Single needle vs multi needle: which machine fits your shop?

The right type depends on how many colors your designs use and how often you stitch the same logo. Count the colors in a typical design first, since that sets how much work each machine saves.

Single-needle machines: what the EOC07 gives you

A single-needle machine is the simpler way in, with one needle to manage and less floor space to plan for. The Poolin EOC07 gives you a 15 x 7.9 in embroidery area and four hoops.

A 7-inch touchscreen runs Poolin's InStitch OS3 system, which Poolin says is designed for easy learning. Designs arrive over Wi-Fi or by USB.

The trade is a stop for every color. How to choose an embroidery machine for small business walks through the checks that tell you whether that trade fits.

Multi-needle machines: what the EOM gives you

A multi-needle machine is built for multi-color designs and repeat orders, since the Poolin EOM keeps 15 colors ready at once. It switches colors and trims thread on its own.

Poolin says the EOM's laser alignment helps repeat logos land in the same spot. The drawbacks are size and weight, since the EOM weighs 165 pounds and stands 59 inches tall.

Best embroidery machines for a home business ranks seven machines, single and multi-needle, on the same factors.

How do color changes compare?

The main difference is how often you stop, so the color count is the first test. On the EOC07, every new color means a stop, a thread change and a restart, and the EOM keeps its 15 needles threaded and switches between them.

Counting stops on an eight-color logo

An eight-color logo means at least seven thread changes on the EOC07. The EOM can hold those colors threaded ahead of time, so the machine moves from one color to the next without you rethreading.

Repeat orders make the gap wider

A single logo may need only a few stops, but repeat orders multiply those stops across every shirt, cap or bag. Over a run of the same design, the stops you skip on the EOM add up.

Thread breaks during a run

The EOM has thread break detection, so a snapped thread stops the run and you can fix it right away. On the EOC07, you watch the run yourself and fix a break as soon as you notice it.

Does stitch speed change the choice?

Not as much as color changes do. Poolin gives the EOM up to 1,200 stitches per minute on flat work and up to 850 on caps, and it gives no top speed for the EOC07.

A fast machine that stops for every color can't use that speed, so read speed next to the needle count. Cap work runs slower than flat work on the EOM, so plan more time for a cap than for a flat logo of the same size.

How do hoop area and the hoops in the box compare?

The EOC07's biggest hoop is slightly bigger than the EOM's biggest included hoop, while the EOM has the wider range of hoop sizes. The EOC07's 7.9 x 15 in hoop beats the EOM's 14 x 7.9 in hoop, even though Poolin gives the EOM a larger area, 14.2 x 9.5 in.

The EOC07's four hoops are the 7.9 x 15 in hoop, a 7.9 x 7.9 in hoop and two 5.5 x 5.5 in hoops. Poolin says the long area means fewer rehoops on long designs, which suits lettering and rows of names.

The EOM includes five flat hoops, from 14 x 7.9 in down to 2.4 x 1.6 in, plus two cap hoops. Check which hoop you need if a design uses the full 9.5 in height.

Which one handles caps and hats?

Only the EOM has cap parts in the box. Poolin says its cap system stitches the front, side and back of structured and unstructured caps at up to 850 stitches per minute.

Poolin says the EOC07 handles structured caps, but its box has no cap station or cap hoop. Home single-needle machines are flat-bed, so look for a cap hoop that lists your exact model.

Can a home embroidery machine stitch hats explains what a home machine needs for caps, and best embroidery machines for hats compares the hat options.

How do the full specs line up?

The EOM has more needles, cap parts and a stated top speed, and the EOC07 is far lighter and shorter. The table puts the numbers side by side.

What is each machine like to use day to day?

Both machines run from a touchscreen with guided steps, but the EOM has more to manage because it has 15 needles.

Single-needle machine day to day: the EOC07

The EOC07's 7-inch color touchscreen previews your design and shows stitch progress, and Poolin says it suits people with no prior embroidery experience. You can send designs from the InStitch website over Wi-Fi or load them by USB, so the machine can run offline.

Poolin's InStitch tools also include doodle embroidery software and cost calculators for editing a design before it goes to the machine.

Multi-needle machine day to day: the EOM

The EOM's 9-inch touchscreen runs InStitch OS4, and Poolin says the touchscreen simplifies operation for first-time users. Automatic color change and trimming cut down on interruptions, and Poolin says projects save in the cloud.

Expect more to check before a run, since 15 threads need loading and matching to the design.

How much space, weight and power do they need?

The EOC07 weighs 40 pounds and measures 23 in deep, 27 in wide and 12.5 in tall. The EOM weighs 165 pounds, which is more than four times as much, and measures 21.3 in deep, 28.4 in wide and 59 in tall.

That means the EOM needs a sturdy table, help moving it and clear height above it. The EOC07 includes a thread rack stand, so leave room beside it.

Needles are sharp, so keep your fingers clear of the needle area while either machine runs, and unplug it before you change a needle.

What comes in the box?

Both machines start with supplies, but the amounts differ. The EOM includes four spools of 4000-yard thread, 25 pre-wound bobbins and 50 pieces of 12 x 12 in cut-away stabilizer.

The EOC07 includes six rolls of thread, 20 pieces of cut stabilizer and 25 bobbins. If you're unsure which stabilizer suits your fabric, do you need stabilizer for embroidery explains the basics.

Which files, software and support come with each?

Both machines read DST and DSB files, and both take them over Wi-Fi or by USB, so export your design in one of those two formats first.

The EOM includes InStitch Doodle digitizing software, which Poolin says lets you open, edit and save designs in the cloud. Poolin also says the workflow is clear for people moving up from a single-needle machine.

Poolin offers training videos and one-on-one help with the EOC07, and says EOM engineers give online technical guidance after delivery. Both machines carry a 1-year warranty, so keep the receipt.

What should you check before you buy either machine?

Check the room, the files and the cap plan before you order, since those three decide whether the machine works in your shop.

• Measure the table, the door route and the height above the table. The EOM is 59 inches tall and 165 pounds.
• Confirm your design program exports DST or DSB files.
• Decide how you'll stitch caps, and find a cap hoop that lists your model if you pick the EOC07.
• Count the thread, bobbins and stabilizer you need for the first month.
• Keep the wooden pallet, accessory boxes and fixing bolts for a few days after unpacking, since Poolin asks for them in case of a return.

Who should skip which machine?

Skip the EOM if most of your work is single-color names or small patches, since the extra needles save little time on those jobs. Skip the EOC07 if your designs use many colors and you stitch the same logo often, since each color change is a stop you make by hand.

A first-time owner with little room may pass on the EOM even when repeat orders are coming, since the weight, the height and the learning curve all add up.

If you're comparing Poolin with a lighter machine, Poolin vs Brother embroidery machines puts the two brands side by side, and Brother shows its home models.

Single needle vs multi needle embroidery machines: which to pick

Pick the type by color count and repeat orders. Start with the colors in your usual design, then check the cap plan and the space.

• Pick the Poolin EOC07 if you're starting out, have limited space and want one long hoop for lettering.
• Pick the Poolin EOM if your designs use many colors, you run repeat orders and you have room for a 165-pound machine.

If caps are your main work, the EOM is the only one of the two with cap parts in the box. For the decision steps in order, read how to choose an embroidery machine for small business.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between single needle and multi needle embroidery machines?

A single-needle machine holds one thread color at a time, so you stop to change thread for each color. A multi-needle machine holds several colors ready, so it switches between them on its own and stitches multi-color designs with fewer stops.

Is a multi-needle machine better for a home business?

It's better for steady repeat orders and multi-color work, while a single-needle machine suits a smaller start. The better choice depends on how many colors your designs use and how often you stitch the same logo, so count both before you decide.

How many needles does the Poolin EOM have?

The Poolin EOM has 15 needles, so it holds 15 thread colors ready at once. Poolin says its cap system stitches the front, side and back of caps, and the box includes a cap station, two cap hoops and five flat hoops.

Can a single-needle machine stitch hats?

Poolin says the EOC07 handles structured caps, but its box has no cap hoop, and home single-needle machines are flat-bed. Find a cap hoop that lists your exact model before you plan on hats, and match it to the machine's own hoop system.