How to: connect your craft room
Crafting may be steeped in tradition, but with so many smart machines and gadgets now available it’s never been easier to bring your craft room into the digital age.
Whether you love embroidery, cutting paper and fabric, or experimenting with sublimation and fabric printing, Brother’s innovative range of creative tools are designed to work together seamlessly – bringing your ideas to life in an instant.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of our most popular creative machines and explore how you can connect them using Brother’s Artspira app to unlock even more potential.
Am I limited to the embroidery designs in my Brother embroidery machine?
Long gone are the days when embroidery meant spending hundreds of hours bent over a hoop with a needle and thread in your hand – with today’s embroidery machines you can personalise just about anything at the touch of a button. Whether you’re decorating garments, toys, hats, gifts, or home décor, Brother’s smart tech puts you firmly in creative control.
There’s a huge range of Brother embroidery machines to choose from, with options to suit every skill level and budget – whether you’re just starting out, or looking to upgrade your professional kit. From compact, beginner-friendly models to advanced machines packed with premium features, it’s never been easier to add custom embroidery to your modern craft room setup.
Almost all Brother embroidery machines come pre-loaded with motifs and fonts, so you can get stitching right out of the box. When you’re ready to expand your collection, you can simply connect your machine to the free Artspira app for even more inspiration – from downloadable embroidery patterns and seasonal templates to guided projects, design tools, and more (some patterns, tools and templates are only available to those who take out an Artspira+ subscription, some patterns may require in-app purchases).
Artspira connects wirelessly to compatible machines and lets you design right on your phone or tablet with no computer needed. This level of flexibility means you can tailor each project to suit your skills – keep things simple with ready-to-go patterns, or take your work to the next level with custom designs.
Which Brother embroidery machine is best for beginners?
Whether you’re completely new to embroidery or looking for a fun, fuss-free way to get creative, the Skitch PP1 (Brother’s smallest free arm embroidery machine) is the perfect introduction to connected crafting.This compact, affordable machine is designed to work exclusively with Brother’s free Artspira app. With just a few taps, you can send your design straight to Skitch and start making – no computer needed. Its free arm and magnetic frame make personalising tubular items like bucket hats, tote bags, trouser legs and T-shirts easier than ever before.
Cut and create
Perhaps paper crafting is more your style? Brother’s innovative range of connected ScanNCut machines provide the ultimate tool for cutting paper, fabric, vinyl, foam, and more. Want to take it to the next level? Just like Brother’s embroidery machines, you can connect compatible ScanNCut models directly to Artspira, giving instant access to tons of extra content, fun project ideas and design tools.
The ScanNCut works as a stand-alone tool or as part of a connected craft room setup – especially when paired with an embroidery machine or sublimation printer for stunning multi-layered makes.
Perfect prints
Sublimation printing is a fantastic way to create high-quality, long-lasting designs on items like mugs, T-shirts, tote bags, and more. It uses heat to transfer dye onto a variety of different surfaces for professional designs that won't fade or crack over time.Brother's SP1 sublimation printer takes this technology to the next level, offering an easy-to-use solution for crafters looking to produce their own custom designs at home. Whether you're designing gifts, creating unique products for your small business, or simply adding a personal touch to your home décor, the SP1 delivers quick, bright and hardwearing results right from your desktop.
Fantastic fabric
If you’re looking for the perfect way to round-off your connected craft room, why not try a fabric printer? Brother’s PrintModa is an exceptional tool that makes professional fabric printing easier and more accessible than ever before – and just like our other smart machines, it connects seamlessly to the Artspira app for even more creative possibilities.
The PrintModa Studio FP1 uses advanced inkjet technology to ensure every design is vibrant, crisp, and durable. Unlike traditional fabric printing methods, PrintModa transfers your designs directly onto fabric without the need for additional heat, offering faster results without losing quality.
If you connect your Brother PrintModa Studio fabric printer to Artspira it gives you access to pre-designed patterns, project ideas, and the ability to create your own artwork directly from your phone or tablet. Once you've designed your fabric motifs, simply send them wirelessly to your PrintModa printer to start creating. There’s no need for a computer or complex software – meaning even those without a computer at home can become fabric designers.
How do you connect your craft room with Artspira?
While you can connect singular Brother machines to Artspira, the magic truly starts to happen when you connect multiple machines.
If you’re an embroidery user, that may be connecting both a traditional flatbed embroidery machine and a free arm machine like the Skitch, or something from the PR range. Use Artspira to resize designs and stitch out your creativity across a vast range of products.
As you can upload your own designs into Artspira, you can use the same motifs across a variety of machines – sublimate it onto a mug, stitch it onto a bag, print it onto fabric for a bandana, cut it in vinyl for window stickers… the possibilities are endless!
Quilter? Why not print Artspira quilt panels on your PrintModa Studio fabric printer and quilt using Artspira library patterns?
Upcycler? Use your Brother sewing machine to make garment alterations and add your own stamp with the Artspira embroidery motifs.
Garment maker? Add embroidery designs for unique makes, add ScanNCut embellishments to really make things pop.
Mixed media artist? Bring all your skills together with personalised fabric, cut vinyl, free motion and embroidery – you can even use Artspira to sublimate onto white embroidery; perfect for intricate detail, gradients and sublimating onto dark materials.
Do I need an Artspira+ subscription to get connected?
You’ve set up your craft room, you’re connected to Artspira, and you’re loving all the creative possibilities these handy machines can provide. But can you take it further? Of course you can!
While the free version of Artspira gives you access to a great selection of pre-designed motifs, project ideas, and the ability to create your own custom designs, upgrading to Artspira+ takes your creativity to the next level.
As a subscriber to Artspira+, you'll gain access to an expanded library of premium designs, including unique patterns, fonts, and project templates. Plus, Artspira+ offers enhanced functionality, such as additional project features and advanced design tools. Upgrading to Artspira+ ensures you have everything you need to easily bring your creative ideas to life.
Whichever Brother machine you choose, check for wireless connectivity, so you can connect to Artspira, other Brother mobile technologies and receive machine updates as soon as they’re released. Whether you have one Brother machine, or more, keeping connected expands your creative horizons and speeds up efficiency like never before.
As important as it is to connect out craft rooms, it’s also important to build connections. Why not head over to our social media channels and join the ever-growing Brother crafting community?
Not only do we post free projects, downloadable patterns, product releases and exclusive competitions, there also a worldwide community waiting to connect with and inspire you. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn – make sure to give us a follow too.
