I have been toying with the ideal of getting a serger & was wondering who has one & do you like it. You can spend up to $3000.00 on some & don't know that much about them.

I had one, because I thought I needed it. Wrong. I paid about $900. eight years ago. Never used it so sold it a year later. When My children were all home and I was making clothes for them that is the time I should/or would have used it. Some people have them and use them with their quilting but it was not my thing.

I inherited my mother's Huskylock. Was an expensive machine when she bought it, she paid in the area of $1000 for it. Didn't use it until a few months ago, when I started making Hawaiian shirts for my hubby...it had been unused for at least 8 years, but he oiled and cleaned it and it worked like a charm! I love it for making clothing, hems, anything like that...
Don't think I'd try piecing with it tho...

I absolutely love my serger. I don't use it very often any more, since I'm doing more quilting than clothes sewing. It's practically an antique, bought it new in 1982 for $300. It's a Babylok, and a real workhorse. Through the years, I ran it like crazy until about 6 years ago, when I started quilting, it's only been serviced 3 times, never had any problems with it. If you plan on doing a lot of sewing clothes and such, I would recommend it.

I hardly sew many clothes anymore. Mainly I do machine embroidery & quilting. The teacher at my sewing club is always talking about them & showing uses for it. Sometimes I think she is just trying to sell them. My Babylock Elleago will probably do the same except for the cutting part. But it will limit the number of threads I can use. She showed some real pretty stuff that 4 different threads & it was real pretty. Thanks.

Debra, if you aren't sure if you'll use it alot I would get one from Hancock or someplace like that. You can always upgrade later.

I have the Juno Juki 3434 from Hancock and only paid $179 for it. I love mine!

I have a hard time seeing how it would be used for quilting, but maybe it could. I used mine when I was making leotards, unitards, tights and bathing suits - was great for that!

I have an oldie I guess, bought it new in "94" I think. I have used it a lot for mending, hemming etc. I wouldn't be with out one myself. I just used it this week to hem jammie bottoms (flannel), have one more pair to hem too. I have a pattern for a quilt you can do on a serger! I wouldn't spend big money on it, you can get a decent one for around $200-$300. A lot of people including myself don't use it to the full potential! :-)

I have one, rarely use it. Problem is that most of the serger companies (from what I understand) have gone under. Mine came with a VHS tape so I know how to thread it (sort of), but no manual. Therefore, I have absolutely no idea how to adjust the tensions/what each dial is for/what each thread is for/etc. I think I just need to sit down and put a different color thread on each spindle (mine will do 3 or 4, I guess), sew with it, see where each thread lies, then start playing with the tensions. Time is a problem right now, but I would like to be more efficient at using it. I don't like how loosely the serge stitch is when I work with it.

Just my 2 cents' worth. Good luck.

I just have never wanted one. I don't know what I would use it for.

I use mine when I make clothes or purses etc, not for quilting.

i bought a janome for 299.00. Was always running to the neighbors to fix something for the kids. Don`t use it often but its there when I need it and din`t invest a fortune. Also grat for making pillow cases for the kids with THomas and cars fabric.
Gale

I'm on my second one, wore one out making clothes for my 4 kids and 5 DGKs. Not to mention Halloween costumes for all of them and neices and nephews. I don't use it much for clothing anymore but I love to use it to serge the cut edges of fabric befor I throw them in the wash. It really cuts down on the wrinkling because ravels don't get twisted around the fabric.

I have had my serger for years . .. I really love it when making clothes. It really makes them have a nice finish. I would highly recommend one . . . .

I have a Janome and love it, but I do not use it for quilting projects, more for other types of sewing makes great finished edges for small items like potholders, placemats, tablecloths, etc. (and my dh is not very tall so it works great when it comes to shortening pants etc. no raw edges)

If you use a serger for quilting, then where the seams cross will sometimes break the quilting needles or can cause a timing issue on the machine. I won't quilt a quilt put together on a serger. The crossed seams make a very hard lump. Just FYI.

I have a Pfaff serger and I won't be without it. I used it a lot when I worked at the Bridal shop but not so much with quilting. I do use it when i prewash fabrics to prevent raveling on the cut edges.

I have a Babylock Evolve Wave.
It is fanstastic!
I have owned other sergers, but hated threading all of the loopers and remember where the thread had to go.
The Babylock Evolve and other of their models have a patented air threading system where the threading of the loopers are authomatic, A whoosh of air and it is done.
They have a brand new model, Evolution, that just came out, so the Evolve and other models are less now.
Try this one out at your local dealer. You will love it.
I am taking Margaret Tully's class at my dealer in TX in Feb.
If you cannot take her class, I would recommend investing in her DVD.
Have fun!
Diana in TX

I have had a serger for many, many years I started out with a 3 thread that was all they had when I bought my first serger. I upgraded about 8 years ago to a 4 thread serger. I love the serger it finished edges beautifully and with a professional look. I use it for curtains, drapes, clothing and heming. I do not use it for quilting. I could not be without one. I once watched a sewing with Nancy show many years ago and she showed how to thread the easy was, tie the new thread to the one already threaded in the machine after all threads are tied carfully and slowly pull until the new thread comes all the was through except the sewing needle the thread will not pull through the needle but will until just before the needle. It is so much easier to thread this way.

I forgot to mention that the Evolve and other BL model sergers are 8 thread machines that really make decorative edges very professional looking, of course you can also use 3 or 4 threading if you like.
Good hunting on your new serger.
D in TX

I am selling mine for $180!(free shipping)

Hardly used, maybe a handful of times. Comes with everything. Thread accessories, owners manual, electronic foot control, screw drivers specific for the machine.

PM me if you are interested :)

I have a serger. It's great for clothing, but I, like others here, won't use it for quilting.

I have a BabyLock Evolve and I absolutely love it. I love the jet-threading loopers and the self-adjusting tension. It is so much less frustrating with those 2 features than the other basic serger I owned before. I have a daughter who is vertically challenged (read "less than 5 feet tall") so I use the cover stitch a lot for shortening sleeves on T-shirts and hems on everything from skirts to pj pants and the rolled hem for prom dresses, etc. Now that my friends know I have this machine I get requests from them to shorten stuff all the time. Just slipcovered my sofa and used the serger on most of the seams because I feel like it makes a stronger seam. But this model is very pricey so you have to weigh the price against how much you'll use it.

I love my serger!!!

I have a great serger, my aunt gave it to me many years ago, when she bought it, it was top of the line.. I love it. I use it to piece together my quilts blocks.. Works great.. I use my regular sewing machine to do the quilting and sewing the rows together.. I could see how it would be hard to use on smaller pieces of fabric. I have a 1/4" seam on it and it trims off the execess..

I bought my babylock in the eighties and it just keeps making perfect stitches and runs like a top. I really don't know how I could sew certain things with out it.

I suppose you should think how much you would use it before making such a large investment.
Here is a topper I made with mine last year in a class...

My dealer is a Babylock dealer & I have seen all the Babylock models. Their newest is $3000.00. That nearly blew my mind. I really want a Babylock but will have think real long & hard about it. Thanks for everyone's in put.

I gave mine away.

I have one. But I never use it. I would love to learn to quilt on it. I have tried to get some books from the library on using a serger to quilt but haven't had much luck. I would love to hear more about how you use your serger to quilt.

I have a Bernina 4-thread that was expensive when it was purchased nearly 20 years ago and had a Bernina 3-thread before that. I have used it extensively to make clothes. I use it less now because with the humidity over here, keeping the tension correct is sometimes difficult, but I wouldn't be without one.

I am on my third Bernina serger. Have been using one since they first came out. I make clothes, bathing suits and am forever mending, home dec, hemming or altering clothes for family. Great for putting in zippers. I love the clean finished seams. I would sure miss mine but not everyone likes them. I don't use for quilting because it puts too much thread in the seams.

I am on serger #2. My first was a Huskylock purchased in 1981. When it died, I bought a Viking 936. I would not be without one. I used my primarily for clothes construction (especially for bathing suits and children's clothing) - I now use it for edges etc when I am not using it for clothes.

I got my first serger in 1988, broke it and replaced it in 1993, and that one lasted until about six months ago when Mom got a new one and gave me her old one. In that time, I have used them pretty steadily. Just inexpensive ones... real workhorses. :) I've never had a fancy one.

I am on my second serger. I do use it for making Linus quilts. I use the envelope method and serge that part. I then Machine quilt the turned envelope. I broke the looper on my first Bernina and rather than have it repaired I traded up to a easier threading machine. I use it in fits and starts but it is always plugged in to my serge protector along with the rest of my machines. Many of the newer machines come with the chain stitch. I don't see any use for that in my sewing needs. If you have ever pulled the wrong thread and had a garmet come apart that was serged it was chain stitched.

I have a MY Lock Janome, inexpensive about $125 3 years ago.
Not fancy, 4 thread, use it for many things, not piecing.....
hemming pants, pillowcases, etc. Will do several things, I just haven't learned them yet........

I got a new Baby Lock Imagine for Christmas last year and I love it. It has several different feet and can do some very nice looking things like put a ruffle on anything and I use it when I am making a quick blanket for a gift It looks nice on the edges. Mind even has the instructions on how to crochet edgeing on things. I never used a serger before this one, but have really enjoyed it.

I bought a Husquvuarna one. Spent something like $600. Used it twice. Never did like it.

You should be able to find a dealer willing to sell the Evolution for around $2500 - still pretty pricey though. If you can find a dealer with any left, Evolves can be had for approx. $1800 and Imagine Waves for $1250 or so.

Would love to know how to put in a zipper with a serger.

Love my Babylock Wave.