I think they would be great for securing the edges of fabric before washing prior to quilting.

I just bought a Brother Project runway and I love it. It is much easier to thread than the one I had for 20 years that is retired and in the attic (I can't part with any of my machines). I make a lot of pillowcases for the million pillowcase challenge and that is what I use the machine for mostly.

I bought a refurbished one for about $200. I did a quilt on it where I serged the wrong sides of 2 pieces together with indigo thread and sewed it down with a straight stitch. It does have a special effect to it, although it wouldn't apply to most of the piecing/quilting work that we do.

I serge the edges of all my quilts before I bind them. I also serge the edges of the binding before I sew it on - it stabilizes the binding so that the top layer doesn't shift away as you are sewing and the serged seams help fill the binding and make it "stuffed."

I made a whole quilt with a serger once - a snowball quilt for my new granddaughter. The back of that quilt was the prettiest quilt back I'd ever seen. :)

I serge the edges of quilt labels, press them under and applique them to the quilt.

I serge scraps of muslin into 2-3" rectangles and keep them in a bag with small safety pins. When I cut fabric from a large piece of yardage or batting, I write the size of what's left on the scrap and pin it to the leftover. The next time I'm looking for a backing fabric or piece of batting for a small quilt, I can just look at the tags to find a piece that's big enough without having to measure every one of them, again. When I cut more off, I draw a line through the old measurement and write the new measurement underneath. :)

I have one, but I never use it. I found out that my sewing machine does an overlock stitch, so I have no need for it. I tried to give it away, but .... Still have it! If I ever have a yard sale, it will be in it!

The only time I have ever used a serger was at the Houston Quilt Festival where I made a pillowcase for the million pillowcase challenge. It was way fun, but I can't see as I would have a use for one with the sewing I do. Your comments are very helpful to make me realize a new toy that isn't used it costly indeed.

i sew garments as well as quilting. i have a 4-5 thread serger. love it for getting tight seams that won't come out and are nicely finished. also use it for the narrow hemming feature on napkins, table clothes, clothing, scarfs etc. you can use the flatlock features to join together two straight edge fabrics and have nice decorative seaming that show. Don't think i'll use it much for quilting per se though i have seen baby blankets done using fleece or flannel that were nice.

I have the Baby Lock Imagine Wave and a Baby Lock Cover Stitch. The Serger I got for half price at Nancy' Notions ( 45 minutes away!) as it was a floor model. The cover stitch was 35% off. They are wonderful! I took them out of the box and have not had to touch the tension! They both have the "air threading" which is fantastic! I use the Serger for doll clothes, garment sewing--and dog under wear--for dogs in heat. The cover stitch I use for decorative stitching on shirts or whatever. I have used the serger for hemming napkins and table cloths for friends. I have not used them for quilting--yet. If you have the money and want to play, why not?! I would be concerned that the cheaper models may need some tension adjusting and not have the air looper threading. I would not like that. Am I spoiled--YEP, but I work hard for my "play money" to support by sewing and horse habits!!

I recently found my White serger on Craigslist. It's barely six months old, retails for $599 and the seller never opened it!! She was asking $125 for it still in its original wrappings. She admitted to me that she bought it on a whim and was just too intimidated to try it out. That's so silly!! I just went for it - set it up, followed the easy instructions to thread it, set the double needles in and now I'm having a ball learning all its capabilities. Ladies, blow the dust off your sergers and have some fun!!

I've got a Baby Lock Evolve which I use more often than my sewing machines as I have many feet for it and it is a fast, easy threader.