Ricoma EM-1010 vs Brother PE-800: How Much Time Does a Multi‑Needle Really Save?

Primer: What this test proves (and when it applies)

We’re comparing two real machines, one advantage: automated color changes. The Ricoma EM-1010—a multi-needle—can hold multiple colors at once and switch without intervention. The Brother PE-800—single-needle—requires manual changes for each color. Both stitched the same design at 650 stitches per minute (SPM) for fairness.

Context matters. The design in this test: a multi-color Paw Patrol “Chase” with 27,205 stitches and nine distinct thread colors. The more color changes a design contains, the more the single-needle workflow pays a time penalty. Fewer changes would narrow the gap; more changes widen it.

Quick check

• Same stitch file, same size range (stitched to fit a 5x7 field)

• Same speed: 650 SPM

• Same stitch count: 27,205

• Ricoma ran with preloaded colors; Brother required manual threading for each change

Watch out

• The Brother finish still needed jump-thread trimming. That’s additional real time on top of the stitched duration.

Prep: Files, fabric, hoops, and color management

Files and materials

• The same Paw Patrol “Chase” design was loaded to USB for both machines

• Scrap fabric hooped for both runs

• Nine thread colors organized in advance

• Fresh bobbin in the Brother before starting; one mid-run bobbin swap occurred on the Ricoma

Workspace setup

• Clear machine area and keep thread colors staged within reach

• Simple timing method: use your phone timer; start and stop at the exact moments stitching begins/ends

Decision point

• If your design has many color changes, plan for time spent threading on a single-needle—this is where multi-needle automation returns the biggest dividend.

• If you plan to float bulky items or need table support, consider which machine setup accommodates your material best.

Checklist—Prep

• Design file duplicated to both USBs

• Fabric hooped and stable

• All nine thread colors staged

• Bobbin status checked

• Timer device ready

Pro tip - Planning to run a similar test? Note whether you’ll use magnetic or standard hoops on each machine, as hoop changes influence handling—and your timing notes—even if the stitch speed stays equal. This is especially relevant if you work with accessories such as 8x9 mighty hoop.

Setup: Matching speeds and fair-play controls

For a valid comparison, speed was fixed to 650 SPM on both machines. This isolates the variable that matters: automated versus manual thread changes.

On the Ricoma EM-1010, all nine colors were threaded and staged on the machine at the outset. That’s the multi-needle edge—you configure once and let the machine handle the color changes.

On the Brother PE-800, the operator arranged all threads near the machine, then threaded the first color right before starting the timed run. Some shades were swapped versus the Ricoma to avoid moving cones, but the color plan remained equivalent.

Checklist—Setup

• Stitch speed set identically on both machines

• Color plan verified (same order, same segments)

• Timer start/stop method rehearsed

Quick check

• Can you see the speed setting on the control panel? Confirm it’s 650 SPM before you begin. If you’re logging results, capture a quick photo of the panel for your notes.

Operation: Step-by-step run on both machines

1) Ricoma EM-1010 run

• Hooped the fabric and verified the stitch field

• Confirmed 650 SPM on the panel

- Started the timer and stitching at the same moment

• Let all nine color changes execute automatically

• Paused once for a bobbin change, pausing both the machine and the timer simultaneously

• Stopped the timer as soon as stitching completed

Expected result mid-run: You’ll see uninterrupted progress through color blocks without manual threading pauses. If you hear a bobbin alarm, stop the timer and machine, swap, and restart both.

Final time (Ricoma): 49 minutes, 31 seconds.

2) Brother PE-800 run - Hooped the fabric for a 5x7 area and pre-threaded the first color

• Verified speed was 650 SPM

- Started the timer at the exact stitch start

- Performed manual thread changes for each of the nine colors as the file progressed

- Continued threading changes, checking color selection before each resume

• Stopped the timer right at completion

Expected result mid-run: You’ll encounter multiple pauses per design—each time the color changes. You’ll also see jump threads to trim after stitching completes.

Final time (Brother): 1 hour, 4 minutes, 37 seconds.

Checklist—Operation

• Timer aligned precisely with stitch start/stop

• Ricoma: verify each color path advances without intervention

• Brother: confirm correct color before each resume; keep scissors ready for jump-thread cleanup after

Watch out

• Jump-thread trimming on the Brother adds time beyond the stitched duration. Plan for it in your real-world estimates.

Pro tip

• If you frequently stitch multi-color designs, a multi-needle can free your hands to handle other tasks while it runs. Several experienced stitchers emphasize this “hands-free” time as a major productivity boost.

From the comments (inline)

• A small-business-minded reader calculated that ~15 minutes saved per piece can add up to roughly two hours over an eight-hour day and around ten hours over a forty-hour week. If your queue is steady, those reclaimed blocks matter.

Note on hoops

• This comparison used a compact stitch field and magnetic hooping on the multi-needle for quick staging. If you switch hoop styles or sizes across machines, annotate it in your notes—it affects handling time, if not the stitch time. In some shops, switching to magnetic embroidery hoops changes how quickly operators can re-stage fabric between runs.

Quality Checks: Validate as you go

What “good” looks like

• Consistent tension across color blocks

• No unplanned thread breaks at 650 SPM

• Accurate registration between colors, especially in facial details and outlines

Milestone checks

• After first fill area: edges align with the outline path

• Mid-design: color changes transition without gaps or overlaps

• Final stitch-out: clean details, no puckering, and balanced density

Quick check

• On the Brother, if you see jump threads forming in dense color transitions, don’t panic—that’s normal and trimmed after completion. Budget the extra minute or two for tidy cleanup.

Pro tip

• If you log times by segment, pause the timer when you legitimately stop to address the bobbin (like the Ricoma run did once). This keeps comparisons honest.

Results & Handoff: Timings, trims, and takeaways

Here are the headline numbers using the same file, same stitch count (27,205), and the same 650 SPM speed: - Ricoma EM-1010: 49:31 (one timed bobbin change pause)

- Brother PE-800: 1:04:37 (first-run bobbin was fresh)

Practical note: The Brother stitch-out still showed jump threads that needed trimming after the timer stopped. That adds real minutes to your total job time.

Time delta: approximately 15 minutes in favor of the multi-needle. Over a batch, that compounds. One commenter tallied that saving into about two hours in an eight-hour day and roughly ten hours across a forty-hour week—useful for planning labor.

From the operator’s perspective, the Ricoma’s acceleration isn’t only the clock: it’s hands-free flow during color changes. Multiple commenters point out that a multi-needle lets you step away and handle other tasks—packing, prepping blanks, or customer messages—while the machine runs.

Decision point

• If your pipeline is heavy on multi-color designs, especially those needing many changes, favor a multi-needle for throughput and fewer interruptions.

• If your work is mostly simple, flat items with few color swaps, a single-needle can be entirely viable—some viewers even consider adding a second single-needle for flexibility.

Pro tip

• The creator notes that she kept both machines at 650 SPM purely for fairness. In real production, you could raise multi-needle speed, cutting more time per job.

Context for hooping

• If you’re standardizing your shop, note what hoop sizes you rely on. For example, many single-needle users center their workflow around a brother 5x7 hoop, while multi-needle users may lean on mid-size magnetic formats to simplify positioning.

Troubleshooting & Recovery

Symptom → likely cause → fix

• Frequent thread breaks at higher speeds → speed pushing thread/needle limits → reduce SPM (the creator rarely sees breaks at 650, more at 800–900)

• Mis-ordered colors on a single-needle → manual threading out of sequence → double-check the color chart before pressing start

• Bobbin runs out mid-run → normal wear → pause immediately, replace, and resume (pause the timer if you’re timing a single piece fairly)

Open question from the community

• “Why did the design stitch out different?” The creator asked for clarification and did not provide a specific reason. If you observe a difference, confirm you’re using the same file, same size, same density, and that thread shades match closely.

Watch out

• After you finish on a single-needle, set aside dedicated time for jump-thread trimming—don’t hand the piece off before a final clean.

Quick isolation tests

• Run the same file on both machines at the same SPM with the same bobbin freshness

• Photograph your settings screens before each run for later comparison

• Stitch a small color-block sampler to verify tension before committing to the full design

Maximize Your Workflow: Choosing the right path

When a multi-needle shines

• Multi-color designs with many changes (hands-free color switching)

• Projects that don’t require constant fabric handling—so you can work on something else while it runs

• Shops that benefit from higher possible SPM on multi-needle platforms

When a single-needle still makes sense

• Hobbyist or light commercial work with simple, flat items (towels, blankets)

• Budget-conscious setups where duplicating a single-needle adds flexibility

• Secondary workstation needs—some viewers maintain both a multi-needle and a single-needle at different locations

From the creator’s replies

• Single-needle garments (like baby onesies) often need babysitting to keep fabric out of the stitch area; multi-needle hoops and clearances can reduce that hands-on time.

• The creator also points out that multi-needles typically ship with a broader ecosystem of hoops and accessories, increasing versatility.

Planning notes on hooping systems

• If you’re standardizing around magnetic solutions, document which frames you use per machine. For single-needle users exploring accessories, terms like magnetic hoop for brother pe800 and embroidery magnetic hoop often come up when organizing a repeatable workflow. For multi-needle teams, phrases like ricoma em 1010 mighty hoops and mighty hoop embroidery can help you inventory compatible options in your SOPs.

Scope reminder on software

• A reader asked which software to draw/convert designs for a 10-needle workflow; no specific programs were cited in this discussion. Choose tools that export the formats your machine accepts and that match your digitizing skill level.

From the comments: Fast answers to common questions

Q: Does a multi-needle really free you to do other work during a stitch? A: Yes. Multiple commenters emphasized that you can step away while the machine handles color changes automatically.

Q: I expected the single-needle to take much longer—why didn’t it? A: At 650 SPM and with disciplined thread swapping, the single-needle came in about 15 minutes slower on this specific file. The more color changes a file has—or the faster a multi-needle runs—the larger the gap.

Q: What about day-to-day time savings? A: One viewer’s back-of-the-napkin math: 15 minutes saved per item can mean ~2 hours reclaimed in an 8-hour day, ~10 hours over a 40-hour week, assuming steady work.

Q: Any timing corrections? A: One commenter noted 1:04:38 on the Brother run; the creator used 1:04:37 in the final summary. They’re effectively equivalent for planning.

Q: Can both produce comparable quality? A: Yes. The side-by-side finishes looked comparable; the major difference was time and the extra jump-thread cleanup needed on the single-needle.

Parting note - If you record your own tests, note hoop formats in your log. That’s especially helpful if you rotate between formats like magnetic hoops for embroidery and traditional ring hoops across machines or projects.