I think I need a serger
 

Am getting into making quilted items that require finished seams. Don't know ANYTHING about sergers but I think I need one. Currently I am finishing the seams with a zigzag and then trimming them but I understand that this is what a serger does. Need a little help here......Thanks so much for your input.

a serger uses 3/4 or even 5 threads to cut, and stitch the edge of the fabric covering both the front and back. Exactly like a seam from a ready to wear garment looks like.

I've had 1 since 1996 and I can't live without it now.

You can piece by serger, there are some books out on doing so. Seams are bulkier, though. If the seams are in something like clothes, then a serger is great. I use a standard sweatshirt pattern, make a quilt top big enough for front and back, line it with flannel and finish with lightweight muslin. The inside seams get serged and so does the ribbing on the neck and sleeves. Looks much better.

Serged overedge can be snagged or cut by careless user. Usually just serge over fixes.

All kinds of sergers around. I'd go look at every dealer you have available, and check on how the serger threads. Some older ones can be a real pain. The self threaders (All Babylock) are very nice, but more expensive. Since I also make a lot of clothes, getting one was worth it.

Yes a serger not only finishes the edges of items but it cuts off the
the "scrap".

They are super fast much faster then a regular sewing machine.

I have two sergers.

They have come a LONG way since I got my first machine 11 yrs ago.
Not to mention the prices have come way down since then also.

I bought my second serger at Joann's it was an "open box" display
machine that I got for about $130 (after the discounts and such). It
is a Singer model and is MUCH easier to thread then my older serger
which is a Simplicity. Also try to get a serger that is easy to change
from a 4(or more) thread to a 3(or 2) thread.

If possible look for one that is easy to thread, has a good clear "diagram"
for threading (second serger has one, but the first did not).

About the only thing I really use my sergers for anymore is for the 3
thread rolled hem. I just love the look of the rolled hem the most.

But if you can "test drive different machines and research the.


Good luck and have fun when you get one.

Nothing beats a serger for a tidy edge, especially for really ravely fabrics. I don't use mine often but when I do .. nothing compares !

I also love my serger which I have had for 25+ years. I haven't used it making quilts but I have used of for clothing and all kinds of crafts. It makes such a nice finished seam and edge.

I bought mine because I thought I'd figure out how to quilt with it. Turns out I want precision too much to use it for that. Every time I do use it for something , I am so happy I have it and would never part with it.

I've had mine forever... now have 2, one is set to coverstitch...couldn't live without them, they are such timesavers!!!!

I love my serger, use it in a lot of applications. But due to my advanced years and failing eyesight, I have a Babylock Imagine. Air threading and a needle threader. Perfect for me.

I have two sergers. I do my own mending and always have so having a serger is very valuable to me. I actually bought my second one from my friend when I thought mine quick working. The are not for everyone though. I won't be without one.

What quilted items require serging. I have never used a serger in quilting

You can actually sew a quilt using a serger. I have a pattern to do so. Haven't made it yet. My neighbor actually made one. Nothing quilting requires a serger. A serger is another tool for the sewing room if you choose. It can do many things, I use mine more for mending and sewing myself.

I finally bought a Juki serger from Allbrands.com in August of last year. I have been using mine to make fashion scarfs with the rolled hem feature. It's a lot of fun to use and not as hard to thread as I had imagined. The Baby Lock sergers have the air threading feature which is supposed to be wonderful. Have fun shopping for your serger. I think you will love it once you have it.

I recently got the Brother 1034D and have been very pleased with it. I haven't made a serger quilt, but used it for a quilted bag and have made a bunch of pajama pants for the family. I know it would be nice to have the $5000 self threading one, but this was in the $200 range and so far no regrets.

With sergers like anything else, you get what you pay for. About twenty years ago I worked for a Bernina dealer who made her bread and butter doing custom dressmaking and alterations. Whilie I have sewn most of my life, more than 50 years, I had never done that kind of work. Using a serger in her shop convienced me that I could not live without one. In the years since sergers have become much easier to operate. Several years ago I traded my original serger for a more up to date on that is much easier to thread. I make about 20 Linus quilts a month and use the serger to make the initial envelope. I also use it to finish off the edges of my bedsize quilt backs that I will be handquilting. When I get in the mood to garmet or gift sew the serger always comes in handy. Over the years I have learned to just tie on the thread that I want to change and pull it through the loopers. I rarely have to actually rethread the whole thing. If you are willing to spend a little more money for a name brand one they will probably offer free classes. If you have small children or grandchildren you will find yourself finding all kinds of things you can make for them with a serger.

I have a pattern for different size travel bags and the pattern recommended using a serger to finish all the seams. Not really "quilts" but there is quilting within the design of the bags.....

I just use the overcast stitch on my sewing machine and it works fine.

I've had mine for around 30 years and wouldn't be without it. Mine is a singer and just basic but there are some really awesome machines. Don't know about the new ones but older ones were definitely one person machines. I'd advise shop around try them out.

I have been using a serger for 30 years and won't sew clothing without one. I have never used it for quilting though. I have a Juki 644D. If you are looking for a basic serger just to see how it does with the projects you are working on, the Brother 1034D is supposed to be fairly decent and is not too expensive.

I have a brother 1034D and I just love it easy to thread and use it does everything I need it to do had it for 3yrs. now no problems.

I have an old Kenmore serger from the 80's. I tried not to unthread it - just tie new threads on and pull them through. I recently upgraded to a new serger - Babylock Evolution. It had the two features I wanted, air threading and coverstitch. I do not sew knits but have to alter everything I buy. Coverstitch is the double hem stitch you see on ready to wear knits. This machine is expensive - about $2500 - it will be the last one I buy. I don't quilt on it but I am willing to look into it. I have grandchildren to sew for and do home dec. sewing, tablecloths, napkins, etc. One tip I would give is keep some muslin squares next to your serger. Every time you use a new stitch, make a sample, staple it to an index card, and write your settings and the project you used it on. Saves time not having to look up your stitch and settings every time. Go try them out and buy the best serger you can afford.

One thing I could never understand about patterns and sergers: why do we have to cut off the "scrap?" Why can't the patterns just use a smaller seam allowance so we don't have to keep wasting fabric? I know, I know. A lot of people still use a regular sewing machine, myself included, and still sew with a 5/8" seam. Just seems like such a waste to cut the fabric bigger just to cut it smaller when serging.

If you are making clothes, stuff ravels. I've seen expensive costumes sewn with just a straight stitch and the fabric raveled right out of the stitching.

You could use pinking shears, zig zag, French seam, Hong Kong finish, rolled seam, or serge and keep it from raveling.

I've made kids clothes from Sew Beautiful - they are usually 1/2" seam. Kwik Sew uses 1/4" on knits. I've seen 3/8 at times. Things look neater without strings hanging out.

When my 1981 serger finally gave up the ghost, instead of replacing it, I purchased a foot for my Janome sewing machine that cuts off the fabric. I use a knit-type zig zag (can't remember the name of the stitch) along with the this foot and it works great. Sews slower than a serger, but I dont make many garments these days so this works well. Mine is similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Side-Cutter-Se...er+sewing+foot

if you buy one, save yourself a lot of grief and buy a Babylock with air threading. Threading a serger can be a nightmare. I have two Babylocks, worth their weight in GOLD.

I have a Pfaff, and used it extensively when I made skating costumes and the like. Sure, you can overcast and trim the seam, but it's slow and not nearly as neat looking as a serged edge, in my opinion.

Get a pair of long tweezers, with a bent tip, to thread your machine, it really helps. I've also backed off the tension dials, knotted on new thread and pulled it through, and re-set the tension dials. Works great, and as others have said, doing it this way, you seldom need to re-thread the machine.

Goodgle The 6 hour quilt, it is done on a serger.

Me too. Love my baby lock imagine with air threader! My second serger. I don't use it for quilting, but it is a must if you sew clothes. Would never give it up!

I love my Brother 1040D serger. I purchased mine directly from Brother Corp. I have other sergers but I find the 1040D the best. The best analogy I've heard is a serger is to a sewing machine what a mircowave is to a oven. Both the microwave and the oven have their uses, as does a serger and sewing machine. Some people use their serger's a lot, other people don't even take the serger out of the box it came in. It is different from a sewing machine, but once you have one, I think you will wonder what you did without it. For home dec purposes, it's invaluable. There are several You Tube video's on how to use a serger and The Quilt Show has free Bernina video's on their website, some of the Bernina video's use a serger. When I can, I plan on making a reversible baby quilt using a technique I saw on the free Bernina video's on the Quilt Show. You might find some help on both You Tube and The Quilt Show. Good Luck!

buy a serger!! you'll find that once you've used it you'll wonder how you ever sewed without one!! you probably won't need a serger for e v e r y t h i n g, (like placemats that are binded, men's shirts that have flat felled seams; only two ie's off the top of my head) but they are awesome!!!

I never thought I needed or would use one, but when one came up (new in box) on craigslist for pennies on the dollar, I jumped on it...so glad I did. Now I don't know how I ever sewed with it! I use it to finish those floaty sheer butterfly blouses. It gives such a nice finished edge and no fraying!!

I serge all of my fabric just prior to prewashing. That way I have no raveling, no strings, etc. If I have fabric in my stash that is not serged, then I know it has not been prewashed.

I have owned a serger for longer than I care to admit & absolutely would not like to live without one. I started with a pretty basic one & have upgraded over the years. I now own a Babylock with air threading & that means it almost threads itself. If you have had bad experiences with threading a serger, than a Babylock with air threading is a gift from heaven. Even with using tie on methods etc., air threading is an absolute joy to use, IMHO!

I am on my third serger which is a Babylock Imagine with air threading. Love it! The previous one was a 5 thread machine Pfaff coverlock....loved it. But I no longer make clothes as much as I used to, so I gave it to my DIL. I use my serger for piecing the backings, flatlocking pieces of batting together,finishing off the edges when I cut up old white t-shirts for dish/dusting cloths, etc. I did use it in piecing a quilt once, and yes, serging can add bulk to the seams. I may try it on a flannel project and see what happens.

I had a serger that caused me grief for many years and then went shopping and came home with an Imagine Babylock and felt like I had died and gone to serger heaven!! Love it! Just helped a coworker make a quilt out of her hubbys jeans and we did it on the serger. Worked very nicely. I use my serger often and wouldn't want to be without it. Agree with all the ladies there are many uses for a serger.

I have had a serger for years and years!! It is a wonderful machine to use for a variety of jobs. I use mine for finishing the edges of my quilts before binding. Makes it so much easier and it's quick too. There are a great variety of machines and prices, just be sure and get one where they offer classes. As this will be your first one, you will definately need the classes to understand how they work! Have fun. :)

I tried doing this but I had WAYYYYYYYYYYYY to much fabric
and it was to time comsuming so I stopped after about 3 loads
washed.

I have a serger (actually 2). I have a White serger that was my mom's (mostly metal) that I have threaded with beige thread and my 1994 Bernina that is mine with black thread. I use it to do the edges on pillows I make for my DD and I do know Nancy Zieman has a video on using a serger when you quilt. I use it for tablecloths, napkins, don't make many clothes any more.

I thought about a Serger but my elna's have a overlock stitch and foot and it does a wonderful job to stitch the quilt before binding. I now do all my quilts with an overlock edge, makes it a much more stabilized edge for binding, gets perfect corners :)

The best way I know to explain it is what was told me way back in 1993. Other than finishing seams, it is hard to define what they do, but once you have one and use it, you will always wish you had gotten it sooner. I don't always use mine for quilting, but I love it for all the things it does do.
Judy