If you can’t afford to buy something, make it yourself. Full instructions and code are available to make your own computerized embroidery machine.

“After seeing some computerized home embroidering/sewing machines in
operation, we were intrigued. But they were priced in the range of a
good multimedia PC system. We next happened upon a store where a large,
costly embroidery system was in operation making large jacket designs.
This was in the price range of a luxury car. We decided we’d have to try
to make one much cheaper.”