bearisgray

I plan to make some clothing again - I have an odd shape that ready to wear does not match - and I would rather modify the pattern than my body.

(I rather doubt that Dolly Parton, Kim Kardashian, and others like them buy their clothes "off the rack"_

I use it for serging the edges before washing. I was also making bags and using the serger to ifinish the edges. Even the edges inside that did not show. I also finished the edges of some satin angel costumes that had not been finished. Some person thought that trimming the fraying threads would solve the problem. Ha!
It's also good for finishing the seams of pillowcases - if one does not do the French seam finish.

I don't use iti "all the time" - but often enough to make it worth having one around.

For finishing raw edges, I usually use the three thread combination.

I just had my ancient (probably from around 1965-1970) Baby Lock BL3-407 two or three thread serger repaired because it had the narrowest "bite" compared to the other ones I have. This one is a bit of a stink-pot to thread, but as I said, I iprefer the narrower width of stitching that it makes.

I gave my daughter a Singer 5 thread serger - which I highly doubt that she will ever use - it makes an okay stitch - but is extremely noisy when running.

Mine are all "older" - like the rest of my machines. I have learned that stiffening the ends of the threads with something fray-check before attempting to thread the machines helps.

From what I have heard - if one can afford the self-threading ones - they are worth the price.