A serger is not a necessity for a quilter. I have had one for about 20 plus years and love it. It can be a bi--- to thread, I have learned to cut the threads for the upper and lower loopers and tie my new thread on and sew till it comes thru. Saves alot of time and aggravation. I have made quilts with it, if the tension is set correctly, the seam will be as stong as a sewing machine stitch. They do have one that threads itself, rather expensive. I think the people that did not like their sergers may have given up to soon, it does take a while to get to know the machine.