Please suggest what brand of serger to purchase
 

Thanks to everyone that provided suggestions about sergers in general. I have decided to bite the bullet and purchase one. Next question is: "What brand" to purchase. I know the Babylock self threading machine is good but I don't want to spend that amount of money right now. What other less expensive brands do you like and why. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Look at the Brother 1034. It gets rave reviews and it is inexpensive. Check Pattern Review for reviews.

I love my Janome 1100d but I paid $900 for it. I don't use it much but I am glad that I have it.. ;). But, I do admit to some buyers' remorse only because of the $$$ spent. A first for me! LOL!


This was discussed many times...do a search on models.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t199633.html

Sandy

I bought a White 4-spool serger in 1986. It is a workhorse. I did a lot of garment and home dec sewing on it...even 6-hr. quilts. Lately I have had trouble threading the lower looper. (Don't know if it was the machine or just me) While at the shop I saw a basic Janome serger -- not a "self threader" but easier to thread -- and it also does the rolled hem without having to change the plate like my older one. It, too, is a 4-spool. I love it.

I have a Bernina 1300 MDC. It includes cover stitch. If I were buying today I would still get a Bernina, but I would buy one without cover stitch and if I needed it, buy a separate cover stitch machine. Bernina does not have air thread, but they are easier to thread for me.

mltquilt

I bought a White model 634DE- over 20 years ago, and it is still a great machine, though I don't use it all the time. It has a built in rolled hem- 3 or 4 thread stitch- differential feed-color coded lay in threading which is great, and uses regular sewing machine needles. I tried many brands when I bought this one and it was the easiest one to use & thread, and the price at that time was around $400. I just wanted to serge seams so I didn't need anything more expensive. So decide on how much your going to use it, what your going to use it for, how much your willing to spend and go from there.

Juki. Hands down if you want a solid, reliable, easy to use serger at a decent price point.

Babylock has 2 machines in the Eclipse series. They work like the Imagine, but you use a loop threader rather than air. They are a bit cheaper than the air machines. The White is fairly nice, too.

I have, and love, my Bernina. I had, and hated, a Riccar.

My advice is to TRY THEM OUT! Our local Bernina dealer will set up a machine for you and let you bring your own fabric to try out. Look at threading - some are fiendishly difficult, others are easier. Look at quality makes such as Bernina, Husqvarna, Juki, Brother - all these manufacturers make industrial/commercial overlocker machines, and the technology is available in the domestic market machines too.

Make sure that you get a machine that has 4 threads, but that will also overlock using three. A three-thread machine can get frustrating. Ask the dealer if they run taster sessions or post sales training - you can only learn so much from a DVD or instruction book. You can learn so much more by watching, and asking questions of, another user.

As with everything, buy the best you can afford. Make sure it has a guarantee and aftersales care. Then take it home, play and enjoy!

I love my Pfaff, old style, not self threading. I made my own color threading chart. It is a 3-4 thread machine. It does the cover stitch and all.

A friend picked up one at a garage sale and also loves it.

Just try them out. Look for used as someone may have traded up for
Christmas.

Another friend bought an 8 thread serger and still wonders "why?" She has more financial resources than I do though.