What Kind of Machine Do You Need to Embroider Hats?

If you want to produce high-quality hats be very careful which hat embroidery machine you buy! While there are plenty of machines that are great deals, the majority of them won’t work for cap embroidery because they are flat-beds.

What you really need is called a free-arm machine, specifically one that can utilize a cap driver attachment. This attachment allows you to embroider all the way around the surface of the hat, without crushing it flat.

Every hat you’ve seen in a retail store was embroidered this way, and unfortunately, these machines aren’t cheap. But, in this article, I’ll highlight some of the most affordable options for getting into custom cap embroidery for those willing to invest in high-quality results.

Looking for a multi-needle cap embroidery machine that offers the best bang for your buck? The SWF 12 MAS is one of the most affordable options on the market, and it comes with the cap driver for free!

In almost every other case you’ll be spending $500 – $2,000+ just for this accessory. And, it’s a pretty cool one too – it’s a quick change cap driver – which means you don’t need any tools to take it off. It just slides in place, allowing you to quickly load the next cap, and finish jobs faster.

This machine is also a multi-needle, so you’ll be able to have 12 thread spools ready to go for embroidery, which significantly cuts down on labor that would otherwise be spent manually swapping out every color for the design.

You’ll also enjoy some great features such as WiFi design transfer, and the ability to manage and network multiple SWF machines together using their included software as your business grows and you need to buy more machines to keep up with demand. Its easy to use interface even features a “fix it” button, which will automatically address error codes for you and get you back on track fast.

SWF is a trusted name in embroidery that stands behind their products. You’ll get an unprecedented 7 year warranty, as well as tons of excellent support documentation and videos to help you learn to use the machine.

Above you can see the awesome results that this machine produces. The right shows how you can use the machine to make popular 3D puff embroidery designs, and on the left, an extra large flat cap stitch out.

Not the machine for you? Check out my other picks below, or learn more about the SWF 12 here.

Top 3 Best Small Business Hat Embroidery Machines

Need a free-arm embroidery machine for hats at the best price? The Brother PRS100 is the cheapest cap driver capable machine you’ll find.

Yes, really. I wasn’t kidding when I said these machines are expensive! But, thanks to the machine’s free-arm and optional cap driver attachment, it’s well worth the price if you want to be able to deliver real, high-quality cap embroidery.

But, this machine can also help you do some other unique and troublesome embroidery jobs. The cylindrical free-arm on this machine can be used to embroider on sleeves and socks, customize shoes, and even embroider on bulky bags. Anything you can fit under the needle is fair game!

But, in addition to it’s increased creative possibilities, the PRS100 has many more useful features.

This includes being able to embroider at a speed of 1,000 stitches per minute, or you can tone things down with speed control when working with delicate threads or materials.

You’ll also get automatic thread tension, an automatic thread cutter, thread sensors, and a neat DropLight LED positioning marker. This is a cool little laser that helps you position the design where you want it to be on the garment.

Like most any product Brother sells, the PRS100 produces high-quality, beautiful embroidery, and is also incredibly easy to use. Below you can see the machine hard at work on a cap, and how even bulky bags are no problem for this multi-talented machine.

Why is the Brother PRS100 so much cheaper than the other machines on the list? It’s because it’s a single needle. That means the machine will stop and you’ll need to re-thread it for each color change. This can slow down production, but if you don’t mind manually changing out thread colors to save some money, then this is a fantastic machine for a budding small business.

The only other negative for this machine is that the cap driver accessory is not included. You’ll need to budget an additional $500 for it.

But, it’s an excellent and affordable embroidery machine for hats and shirts, or anything else you throw at it.

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Tajima is one of the most trusted names in embroidery. You’ll find them in almost every embroidery shop, and owners rave about them. This is one of Tajima’s entry level models for small businesses and start ups, but you’ll find that they have not skimped on quality.

This is also a multi-needle machine, with 8 needles to the SWF 12’s 12, but that’s generally more than enough. You’ll still be able to use the free arm to embroider on nearly any item you can think of, but like the PRS100, the cap driver is an additional accessory you’ll need to budget for.

It’s also an excellent machine for beginners as it’s easy to use, and there’s plenty of documentation to help get you started. Plus, with 8 needles, a free arm, and a generous embroidery field, you’ll be able to make everything from professional caps to sleeve designs with this machine.

Using the LED cross hair lasers, you can expertly line up your embroidery placements every time, and the thread trimming helps you save time with snipping and clean up. Every machine also includes Tajima’s free Writer software, which allows you to easily add names to existing designs.

The Tajima Sai does exceptional work on any embroidery job you throw at it, but like the PRS100, this machine also does not come with the cap driver accessory. You’ll need to budget an additional $2,000 to get the cap and frame set up, unfortunately.

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