Hello everyone!!

This is not a last minute Christmas gift but something I have always wondered .... Are the basic sergers and embroidery machines that they sell at Hancocks a good deal??

My mom has wanted a serger for as long as I can remember and it seems that our Hancocks always has one on sale ... But I didn't know if it was a good one ... I believe the brand is Janome.

Also, I have always wanted an embroidery machine but am not sure what brand to get ....

What do you guys suggest??

Thanks for all your advice!!

I would go to my local sewing machine dealership over a Hancocks. Your local dealership should carry a few different manufacturers and even have used machines to choose from.

I agree with Candace. I would buy used from a reputable dealer any day if given the choice. With this sort of thing you get what you pay for.

Ditto! Not to mention having the support of a dealer is so important - you won't get any technical support at a Hancock's for sure!

Here's the other opinion: I never go back to the dealer for help. I tend to sew late at night and I've yet to find a local shop open past 6pm.

I've bought machines online and at local shops and I learn best by watching videos and reading online. If your mom teaches herself things easily, go for the machine at Hancock's. If she likes to ask lots of questions and to be shown things, then a local shop with lessons and classes would probably work better.

I have a singer serger.... works great for my needs.. never a problem.. but those ( all I understand ) is a booger to thread!
I have a brother embroidery machine and love it.. but one thing I would do differently is I'd get a better detailed screen, and I'm get one that coudl make bigger diesgns.. (mine only will do 4z4 and I'd really like it to do at least a 5x7 as well....

When looking for an embroidery machine, I would suggest one that atleast has a 5" X 7" hoop :D:D:D

I've had Pfaff (Hobby Lock) sergers, they are really good. I've had a Janome serger, but it was pretty complicated and I changed out to a Baby Lock. This is the easiest and by far the best serger for my use. I used to sew clothes but now, not so much. So I'm not too much into sergers, but when one is needed, nothing else will do.

As far a an embroidery machine is concerned, I concur with amma - look for one that has AT LEAST a 5x7 hoop. Any smaller, not too useful in the long haul.

I have a brother Innovis 4000D It is very user friendly and you can embroider without classes right out of the box. It comes with 4x4, 5x7 and 6x10. Go to a brother dealer and look at them. Mine has a automatic needle threader on it which makes changing threads a dream and you can connect to the internet or attach a jump drive. multiple websites on line have free designs. Very important to have a easy way to get designs into your machine like a usb port. Any questions let me know.

I bought a BabyLock serger 15+ years ago at Cloth World (later bought out by Joanns)....I wish I would have gone anywhere that would have given lessons. I usually am able to teach myself just about anything, but I have never been successful in doing so on this serger.

So it has sat in a closet for most of those years unloved, untouched and unused. It is one machine that needs instruction, hands on, not just via self learning. So I would only now buy a machine from someone who also gives lessons -- and the first few should be FREE!