CraftsByRobin

I'm wanting and will be getting a serger in the future. I'm starting my research now, as I wanting to eventually make simple clothing items for myself. Also I understand you can use them to a small extent with quilting. I'm self taught to some extent on quilting - and looking for classes to teach me to read patterns for clothing. I want to make myself casual jackets and vests.

Sorry I digress. My questions would be:

Do you own a serger? If so what kind of serger do you own? What do you use it for? Do you have quilting uses for a serger?

Any and all advice and/or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance ...

~R~

pocoellie

Yes, I own a serger, a Baby Lok(1982), it's an antique now. LOL But it's got probably a million miles on it, but since I started quilting, I've only used it occasionally and not for quilting, but I have read of quilters using them for quilting.

Stitchnripper

I have a brother 1034d which I like. Use the search function above for some earlier threads. Many recommend the air threading one but it is quite spendy. I can thread mine. There are videos on line and it comes with good instructions. Also decide if you want an overlock function. I don't use mine for quilting although there are tutorials and you tube videos on line showing how to do this. Good luck on your search!

Pam S

I have a Babylock Evolve (about 10 years old now) with the air jet threading and self-adjusting tension. My first serger had neither of these and, believe me, if you will use your serger a lot it is certainly worth the $$. Unlike my first one, thread never breaks and tension is never a problem. I used to use mine to sew children's clothes when my girls were little, have made slip covers and curtains with it, use it for hemming (have a vertically challenged DD) particularly when the garment is knit or a slippery fabric. Guess you can tell I love my serger. I have made a couple of charity quilts on the serger - just simple 6.5" squares. Went very fast but it makes the seams rather bulky. I wouldn't want to use it for anything but a "dragger quilt" for a child where utility was more important than precision.

DACO48

One piece of advice I would give, no matter the make or model, write down the factory setting of each knob before you ever touch it, that way if you get it out of wack, you can always refer to those settings to get it back to default setting. I marked mine on a piece of painters tape and taped it to the machine so as not to loose it.

Nammie to 7

Mine is probably 25 years old. I use it to serge the edges of receiving blankets and to finish edges of seams when I'm sewing clothing. I don't sew a lot of clothes anymore but am teaching my granddaughter to use it for her projects. I've never tried to use it for piecing a quilt. It would have to be pretty basic piecing I would think.

alleyoop1

I have a Bernina serger which I've had for two years. I have made a ton of pillowcases for cancer kids with it. I have not quilted with it but my Bernina dealer does offer a class on piecing a quilt on a serger. Have worked on one blouse with it too. I'm not much into sewing clothing like I was when my kids were young. I love my serger and wonder what I did without it for so many years.
My advice is to get a serger that is the best you can afford from a dealer who is close to you so you can take guide classes and have a support team and for service calls.

jitkaau

I have a baby lock evolve. It is so simple to use with air threading and automatic tension, that I sew with it more than my other machines and I have lots of extra feet for it. I have made quilts on it. Nancy Zieman has a lovely one and Kaye Wood has a quick one you could try.

celwood

I own a Babylock Evolve serger and love it. I was lucky enough to win it a couple of years back. Love the auto threading feature.

QltrSue

I have a mechanical Elna 634 bought some time ago. I love it. It is perfect for what I want to do and didn't cost an arm and a leg! I have used it for napkins, placemats, edge finishing on trims for bags and to construct simple summer garments (capris and skirts). Oh, and pillowcases, too! The threading is color-coded and very easy. I have used it in a class for simple patchwork piecing, but I wasn't happy with my results, so I use the regular sewing machine for that. If I were shopping for a serger, I would consider what I wanted to use it for and try out many different types at the dealer. I might also bring my own fabrics to try them out. JMHO. Good Luck on your hunt and have fun!