Good idea - I have one that has been sitting unused for 9 years - keep telling myself, "Someday", but I wonder?? Just don't make garments much anymore.

I got my serger in a funny way - waiting at local small airport one morning for 1st flight of the day, headed to a friend's wedding - arrived too early, visited with an airline worker. She married a widower, didn't sew & had his late wife's serger to get rid of. I was wearing a shirt with embroidery on it - she asked about it. The rest is history - when I returned from my flight, I called, picked it up for a song, & never use it!

I wouldn't be without mine. I've use it almost daily for the last 20 years, just not for quilts, except to surge the edges of the fabric for washing. Both of my Singers are my work horses.

If I didn't have my serger, I wouldn't sew clothes, home furnishings or much of anything else. I don't use them for quilts, but I sure use it for everything else. And like someone else wrote, I finish the ends of my fabric before I wash it to keep it from raveling. I have done rolled edge hems on miles of ruffles with mine!

If you really want a serger I would start with an inexpensive maybe used or refurbished. I saw some at Kens sew and vac (on line) starting about $200. This had a good warranty.

Babylock is very good, but I purchased the EZ Lock Serger (looks like it is now called American Home Serger) from NancysNotions.com at a very reasonable price. If you aren't happy with it they have a 100% guarantee even after you try it out. It is very easy to learn to use. Not intimidating at all. (It is even on sale right now)

I've never used one but I love they way they finish ends so nicely!

Re: threading, definitely a pain....but I've had mine for about 8 years and only once had to rethread from start to finish. Usually I catch it before it runs out, tie on a new thread, pull it all the way through to just before the needle, trim the knot away and thread the needle. Just like in my industrial machine, works like a charm!

I have a White super lock right now it is a 4 thread and I had a babylock 3 thread and I like both of them. I used it a lot when the grand kids were small, the GD loved the panties I made for them on the surger

I have a White 4 thread, it is nice and easy to use! WAY better than my Moms, hers is a Phaff 5 thread and a PAIN to thread!!!

make sure whatever you buy is easy to thread :thumbup:

I used mine today to overcast the edges of some upholstery fabric that I was given, that I am using to make a purse. I also use it to finish the cut edges of fabric before I wash the fabric. And I still sew clothing.

I would buy a used serger from a reliable store before I bought a cheap serger from a place like Walmart (not sure Walmart actually sells sergers). Tension adjustments can be difficult on sergers, and I would prefer a good machine backed by a reliable store.