At a quilt show this weekend, I got a chance to use a serger on a QAYG charity baby quilt. It was super fast and fun. I've always wanted a serger for sewing clothing but hadn't thought of it for quilting. My question is, what should I look for in a serger if I go shopping. Should I buy it at a shop where I can get lessons? I've been sewing for years and quilting for just a few years so I'm familiar with regular machines, but not sergers. Would appreciate your suggestions.

My was from a lqs and they have been so helpful!

The most important feature to me is how easy it is to thread. They even have machines now that will thread themselves, but they are super expensive!

I have one but I don't use it much. It's a pain to thread and I have a hard time keeping it sewing. It is a older one so maybe the newer ones are better.

I would make sure a serger I was looking at has differential feed, four thread capacity and is easy to thread. There is a brand that has "air threading," I think it is called. Supposed to be super easy to thread and that makes it easier to use.

Edited to add: It's the Babylock brand that has air threading. Here is a link to their site.

http://www.babylock.com/sergers/

Have fun searching for your machine.

Get one that is air-threaded (much easier and a time-saver!), has differential feed (makes working with stretchy fabrics easy), and I would recommend getting a 5-thread serger so you have the cover stitch (hem finishing stitch that looks like double-needle sewing; check the hem of a t-shirt to see it).

I have an older 4-thread serger without air-threading, and I think I would have used it a lot more over the years if I had gotten the air-threading and the cover stitch. The cover stitch can be used decoratively on quilts.

Thanks. I checked out the babylock website & a few others. They will not publish the cost so that tells me they are really expensive. There is a cheap Singer serger on Joann's website. Looks like I have a lot of comparison shopping to do. I will probably try to buy locally so I can get help if I need it.

I have one that I never use. THe novelty wore off.

It's better not to get any serger at all than to get a cheap one. Really, they can be terribly frustrating!!! Plus, they are not in any way a necessity for quilting purposes.

Check Amazon, Overstock, and eBay to get an idea of pricing on brands and models you are interested in.

I got a new Brother serger last dec. and i LOVE it! Super easy to thread and runs like a top. I don't know how i lived without it
By the way...it was under 200.00!!!!!

I so agree with this. A cheap serger is worse than no serger at all. I have a love-hate relationship with my 'good' serger. It can take a long time to get the tension right. Sometimes I don't have the patience.

I use my serger frequently. It wasn't expensive at all - I found it on close out at Sears for 50.00! It was the last one and the box was still sealed. It is a 4 thread with differential feed. It certainly isn't the top of the line but it meets my needs. I had no idea what a serger was used for but when I saw the price, I figured I could learn!

I would like one with all the bells and whistles but until this one buys the farm...

I have my older Pfaff serger. It is wonderful. Has 4 thread capability, chain stitch, and cover stitch. Yes, I have to thread it but with those little blue dental thingies it is a breeze to thread [and I have arthritis in my hands!]

It isn't computerized, was on sale [great that], and is a true workhorse.

I thought of upgrading but decided that mine was more than just OK ... it was comparable ... and I could then use that money for something else. The bells and whistles were just more money and not really a NEED ... and soon even downgraded from a WANT.

I got it from a LQS/sew & vac and had free lessons with it.

Several LQS's have used sergers as the owners traded up. So, if you have any budget concerns, you can look at them too.

ali

You can get a 4 -thread serger that converts to a cover stitch. Personally, I would stay away from a 5-thread. I use mine for making pillow cases mostly, as I rarely make clothes anymore. They do not take the place of your sewing machine.

Thanks for all the advice. Lots to think about.

I just got a new serger. It is a Brother Imagine. It will thread all 4 threads. I had a regular type serger that I had to thread myself and it was so much trouble that I didn't use it. As soon as I got this new one I gave the old one away. The feature of never having to thread the lower loopers or even having to thread the upper needles is wonderful! It came with a set of accessories. All I have used so far is the ruffler, but I have never made ruffles so easy in my life. One step make the ruffle and attach it to the fabric and finish the seam = all in one pass thru the serger. The purchase price includes instruction and a warranty plus the first cleaning and "tune-up" at the end of the year. At any time I am having trouble with it, either understanding how to do something, or if I have jammed it up somehow, all I have to do is take it in and they will fix it. It cost less than my husbands last set of golf clubs, about the same as a week and a half at a nice hotel or a week at a very nice hotel. And it will probably last the rest of my lifetime. I haven't had this much fun sewing ever!!

I bought a 3/4 Singer in the late 80's. It's been very, very good to me. Know nothing about their quality now, so can't recommend. My friend got a $$$Juki and has had nothing but heartache.
Get lessons. I work in a fabric store and see too many people buy one and then just let it sit because they're intimidated.
Some sergers are easier to thread than others. Try them out - don't just let them pull the threads through at the store to show you how simple it can be - do the threading yourself and you'll know if you should consider the machine or not.
Before buying, read buyers' reviews online.

Hope you find one to love. I always say my serger changed my life. Really, I do!

I would buy from your lqs, you get free lesssons. That will make it worth it. Unless your experience at it or know someone that is willing to work with you and your serger. Stop and think about the fact that your working with 4 or 5 threads, it can be challenging if you don't understand it. I think the newer machines are easier to thread.

When you look at sergers make sure they are color coded and relatively easy to thread with all the places that need to threaded (up to four counting the two needles) can be accessed without extreme difficulty.

mltquilt

I've got a serger and I do use it. But I don't use it nearly as often as I do my sewing machine. If I had to get rid of one or the other, the serger would be the one to go.
I think the most important thing to consider is ease of threading. They can be a real headache to thread. If you do get a serger, be sure to get one where lessons and support are offered.

If you've never had a serger before, definitely get it from a dealer where you can get lessons. Besides showing you how to thread it, they can show you how to do all sorts of things with it that you would never think of yourself. I have the Babylock with the jet-threading feature and love it, love it, love it. Traded in my old one specifically to get the self-threading and it was worth it, along with self-adjusting tension (tension can be a real problem, almost as problematic as threading!). That said, they are expensive (paid over $1500 for mine with the trade-in about 5 years ago) so if you don't think you'll use it a lot, it may not be worth the extra expense to get the self-threader and you can get a perfectly good serger without all the bells and whistles for a couple hundred dollars. Good luck.