How much do you use your Serger?
 

Been thinking about getting one but don't know if I'd use it enough to justify the purchase.. And it would have to be very very easy to thread and use or I know I'd not use it much..

So how much do you use yours, and what do you use it for? And lowest price for simple and easy to use is also most important to me, so what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance..

I rarely use mine. I never use it for quilting. I've used it in the past when making pillowcases and pajama bottoms. I broke one of the needles 2 years ago right before Christmas and I have yet to put a new needle in it. Just a couple of weeks ago I took it from underneath my sewing table and put it away in a cabinet. I bought a used Singer on Craigslist for $80. The owner had paid $300. It sat idle at her house too ;)

Interested in the responses. I don't know if I would use one and have thought about getting one.

I don't have one and never felt the need for one.

I bought one many years ago (not cheap, it was $600) and it was the biggest waste of money for me. It a Simplicity brand and has been nothing but trouble since day one. No matter what way I try for threading, I can never get it working right after changing threads. I've had it serviced a few times and it will work for a short time, then same thing if I change colors. I think there is too much slack in the thread and the thread picks up the wrong way underneath. I'm going to bring it to my guy and trade it for partial payment on service to my featherweight.

When it did work, it was great for curtains and such. If I were ever to consider another, I would get a self threading one...but it's not even on my wish list anymore.

I, too, bought a used one on CL. Paid about $50 I think for a Brother 4-thread machine. Wasn't sure how much I'd really use it so didn't want to invest big bucks. She lost the manual and I actually paid $20 to get a copy of one. Not a great copy and the threading diagram was the pits. Had it serviced at my regular dealer for a reasonable fee. Then found out that a not quite local to me LQS was offering classes on sergers. The 3-4 classes were another $50 or thereabouts. VERY good instructor. Well worth my time, $$ and gas. All that said, I think I've used it 1 or 2 times since then. Overall I'm happy with the route that I took for this purchase and the total $$ spent. It's there if I need/want it for something without having spent really big bucks. And the books/instructions I got in the class are all still there for reference. The best tip for threading from that class...tie the new thread to the old and just pull each one through...at least then you know you have it at least threaded correctly. Another big tip - keep a log of the various adjustments you make for different techniques. Write down your baseline settings; then when you do a rolled edge, for example, write down those settings. This way, when you want to go back to normal serged edge, you know your settings and reduces the frustration factor.

I bought a Juki last fall. Love it, just wish I had more time to play with it.

I use mine pretty frequently. I serge the edges of fabric before I wash it to keep strings out of the pump of my washer and our septic tank, I use it for inserting zippers, making receiving blankets, and I do a lot of odd request home decor. I just bought a used Juki off Ebay for heavier fabric I am going to be working with on a project. I love my serger and if it dies I will buy a new one immediately. Mine is a Janome built Kenmore. A small serger compared to some, but it has been a true workhorse.

They are very useful if you do any garment sewing for finished seams etc. Mine didn't get a lot of use until I started making clothing items for grandchildren. If you do like garment sewing it can make projects go fairly quickly.

a million years ago when I did a lot of garment sewing I wore a serger out.. lol it was a used one but a real workhorse. Then I didn't sew much of anything for years. I sold the serger. Two years ago right before my husband died he bought me my new sewing machine and a Baby Lock serger. I have yet to even take the cover off the serger! Makes me feel guilty every time I see it!! This was a surprise purchase from hubby or the serger would not have been bought. :( guess I should sell it.

I've only used my serger once for quilting (and rarely for clothing sewing). Very expensive, difficult to thread. It's not worth it IMO.

I have a couple but haven't used them much for a couple years. I think my mom may have done a simple-block-shapes quilt with one. I've found them useful for overcasting, sewing knit clothing, sewing set-in sleeves and trouser crotch seams, piecing for wide draperies .... any place where you want a non-bulky seam or a seam with some give to it.

Since mine are all older, they are a pain in the rear to thread. I think the newer ones may be easier.

I just bought a 1980's era Juki off Craig's List along with 91 cones of thread for $25. :) For the $$ I have invested I think I got a great deal. I have some small crafty items in mind for it and I have a large curtain project in mind. Having never owed a serger before this, yes it did take me 2-1/2 hours to thread it the first time but now I "get it". There are great videos online that helped me learn (and understand the 'why') of threading a serger.

The manual came with it so that was a help. I've run off samples of thread tensions as was suggested on one of the videos I saw.

For $25 I'm having fun in a new sewing field that I've never experienced before. Would I pay mega dollars for a new one? No.

I think they are great for garment sewing, especially knits. Don't need it for quilting at all. I have not sewn garments in a number of years but am now just getting back into it. I need to find a spot for it in my sewing room. I just made a blouse and just pinked most of the seam edges because I was too lazy to get it out. If you have a diagram for threading it isn't really hard, and once you've done it you can tie on like someone else described above, and then rarely have to do it again. A serger definitely has it's uses, but not a necessity.

I use mine all the time...for clothing. I don't think I have ever used it for quilting. I love mine. It's a little older and simple. I can thread it and have never had a problem with it. Oh, that's a lie, I serge the edge of the quilt before I put the binding on. I just like that it's all enclosed and it cuts off the extra for me at the same time. But I've never used it for piecing. I also serger the edge of loose woven fabrics before I wash them.

Bought one years ago...had made one jeans jacket and thought I would want to make more...
I never have...and the serger just sits there. I am selling it to my niece...I think...she said she wants
it but hasn't gotten back to me for awhile. Guess it is time for me to contact her again.

I have a serger and I never use it for quilting, but I do use it on and off with some clothes and pillowcases. I've seen people use them in quilting and there is so much you can do with a serger, but I just haven't spent the time to learn how to do all the different stitches. I don't use it all the time, but wouldn't give it up for anything.

I have a Brother 1034D (about $200) I got about a year or so ago. Then Mr. Stitchnripper started having some health issues and after my first burst of using it a lot, I haven't used it or any of my other machines for a long time. Of course it would be great to have the Babylock auto threader, but that is about $5000, and for my purposes not necessary. I did take a serger class and did learn to rethread. You might want to do a search because we have discussed sergers recently and you might learn even more about them.

When I made garmets for my kids I did use it but now it gets used to serge the edges of material. As soon as I get home with new fabric for quilts I serge the ends and wash the fabric then I know it is ready to use whenever I am ready to make a quilt. As others have said when the thread gets to the end I tie it to the next spool of thread and don't have any trouble threading.

Just a helpful tip- thread your serger with a different color for each needle. Then you can see what each thread does and which one needs adjusting. I have a Huskylock and I don't use it for quilting, but for garment making- it's wonderful. Do I have issues with it? Sometimes. Can it be frustrating? Sometimes. Mostly I think it is user error because I can fight with it for an hour- leave it for a while, come back and it's fine. LOL i guess you need to evaluate what your needs are, decide if a serger is what you want. If it is, watch for a sale or good deal. If offered classes, take them so you will be able to understand how they work, why and you can have fun with it.

It depends on what kind of sewing you will be doing. In garment sewing, a serger is great. In quilting,it is not as inportant. That said, I watched a Fons and Porter program and the guest used a serger to make perfect Drunkard's Path blocks. It would be difficult to use it to make very difficult quilt patterns, but for less intricate patterns it would work well. I was watching a Sewing with Nancy episode and she said she uses her serger for a lot of her sewing. I think because it is a newer type of sewing machine, there is some hesitation to use it.

I have one but really don't use it nearly as much as my sewing machines. It does not have much use in my quilting mostly other types of sewing.

I have one and do not use it .

I have a serger. Don't use it much but I do like it. When I made my last quilt (Dragon Quilt - posted it in the picture section) I planned on backing it with Minkee but did not want to do a lot of quilting on it. I used flannel instead of batting and quilted the top to the flannel using the ladder stitch to secure all the seams. Then, I used my serger to trim the top/flannel batting and secure the edge of the quilt. It went really fast and did not have to use my rotary cutter, ruler or mat. Then I spray basted it to the Minkee and did simple stitch in the ditch around the panel and one border to secure it to the Minkee. Turned out great.

Just remembered. When I bought my serger, got free classes from LQS. The teacher showed us how to make a quilt as you go baby quilt using the serger. It was a log cabin and started with the a square (in sandwich form) for the middle. then put the next piece (pretty sides together) on top with the batting on top and the backing on the bottom with pretty sides together, then serged the edge, flipped the bottom/backing out and the top/batting over that, and kept doing that for the entire quilt which was just one log cabin block. Serged around the edges of the completed top. Made for a very sturdy baby quilt that could withstand repeated washings. You could use a pretty serge stitch and not worry about binding.

I got a new Bernina serger in October and I used it a lot. I made lots of pillowcases for all the little people (and some big ones too) in our family for Halloween and Christmas. I've even made Valentine's and Easter for our little granddaughter. In addition, the bee I attend did a service project making pillowcases for sick children which were donated to our local children's hospital. I have pillowcases all cut are ready to make for the grown-ups in the family for Christmas 2013 - just have to stitch them. I also use my serger for dressmaking projects. I LOVE it and am so happy that my DH bought it for me as an anniversary gift. He's a sweetie and definitely a keeper!

P.S. I know some people use sergers for quilt piecing. I haven't done that yet, but I know someone who has and who teaches it. I've also seen a class where fancy threads were used in the bottom loopers to create decorative "ribbons" to embellish art quilting pieces. There are lots of uses for a serger - just need to learn all of them - will probably take the rest of my life!

I use mine to serge edges when sewing clothing. Also use it to serge the edges of flannel receiving blankets before crocheting around the edges. When I purchased a new sewing machine the dealer wanted me to use my serger as a trade in - I knew if I sold it I wouldn't get another one and I use mine enough to know I don't want to do without it. The newer sergers have many more features than mine which would be nice but not nice enough to get a new machine. Also many of the newer models are very easy to thread.

I bought a floor demo Babylock Imagine Wave Serger. I live 45 minutes from Nancy's Notions. Got it out of the box and have never touched the tensions. It has done perfect serging. (I also have a Babylock Cover Stitch machine and it has worked great right out of the box.) The Imagine Wave was 50% off. Sale price $800. It has the "jet air" threading for the loopers and is super simple. This is the only machine I have found that has the jet air threading. It also has double needle threaders which are great. I use it for pillow cases, doll clothes, hemming stuff, making pillows, dog beds, hemming table cloths/napkins for friends. I use it to hem bath towels--after I cut the holes off--and make hand towels for my husband in the "man cave". I use the ladder stitch as trim on shirts. I don't think I use it as much as I could, but time is a factor. I wish I had it when I was making clothes for the kids.

I use my serger for garment sewing and home dec stuff. I've only ever used it on two quilts and they were both way out of the usual. I got a request for a pieced quilt made entirely out of heavy satins, sort of like neck tie fabric, and the fabric raveled around the edges so badly that I serged every single piece before I sewed them together. Needless to say, it was a really, really simple quilt--basically 5-inch squares. The other one was a "pillow" quilt I did for a little girl's room. There is probably a better name for them but there is no quilting involved. You make a bunch of little"pillows," all individually stuffed with fiberfill and sew them together, then line it. I did that all on the serger just because it was faster and easier.

I think you are talking about a Puff or Biscuit quilt. I just made one of those and if I ever make another one I am going to pull my serger out of the cabinet, replace the broken needle and use it! Thanks for the suggestion!!!

I use it to sew finished seams on items for sale (fundraisers), grandkids' clothing, or anything that needs a tidily finished seam. That's what I bought it for, and that's all I use it for. The other uses do not interest me in the least - just don't like the look.

I don't use either my overlock or coverlock. They just sit in their boxes in the back of the closet. They were a big waste of money.

I have had my Serger for 30 years. I LOVE it, use it all the time. Use it to serge the ends of all my fabric before washing it. Use it for quilting when the fabric is kind of thin or frays more then others. It is a fabulious tool and I use it for lots of different things. If you also so clothes it is most valuable for knits. It is a wonderful time saver for finishing seams.