ok girls and guys , I have it in my head to purchase a serger. I,am retired and just want to play with one. am I crazy? you know when you get something in your head and can't jet it out. anyway either talk me out of it or tell me the one I should buy, remember I'am a beginer at sergeing, though I qulit and sew alot I've never owned a serger. I've been looking but it's really confuseing. Looking to spend around 500.00 I looked at babylock and if I was sure I would use it that would be my choice ,but I'am real good at wanting something and then never useing it after I get It . I would consider a good used on If I knew what to look for. Need your help in picking one Thanks in advance. :D

Hi Clair
I had one years ago, gave it to my niece - it's great for finishing off t-shirts and pull on pants (I made a lot of play clothes for the kids when they were small) just check to see if lessons will be given at the place you plan on purashing it from. Good Luck
NormaBeth

Clair good luck..I bought one a few years ago..then it sat in the box unopened for about 3 weeks..I ended up taking it back..I was terrified to open it *L* hope you have better luck with yours...crafty_linda_b

I thought about this, and the only use I would have is when DH and I are working on items to send to the soldiers overseas. Right now we have our grandaughter serge the edges of the sand scarves and cooling scarves. I can't see a need for one to quilt with. Especially since I would have to buy one.

Hi
I have a Huskylock 340 (Husquvarna) and love it. Not really used for quilting but great for finishing off seams in garments and general sewing. Kids' tshirts, nighties, etc. Good for just a nice finished look for knits, and especially useful if you are making garments from frayable fabrics.

What are you planning to use it for? If you are thinking about sewing the pieces together that go into a quilt with the serger, then all that extra thread from the serger adds a ton of weight to the finish quilt. It is excellent to use with bridal fabrics, or fabrics that ravel. It's good for finishing seams in clothing. Unless you are going to use it a whole lot, I would vote against the expensive one. Go to the LQS and play on theirs, try out different models. Check on Ebay or Craig's List for used machines. The money you save will buy a lot of beautiful fabric. I have a serger and it sits and sits! I don't make my clothes any more. I'm learning to quilt. I used it a lot with bridal fabrics and some craft things I did. But not inot that anymore.

You need to have a lot of patience. When I taught quilting at a local sew n vac shop, I used to break out in a sweat when someone wanted a demo on a serger. I don't know how much they have changed in last 10 yrs., but threading was a pain.

I bought mine to shorten hems on my knitted clothes. In fact I have 2 of them-- an entry level Pfaff that has a lovely rolled hem and an almost top of the line Pfaff that is a cover stitch. Since discovering quilting I no longer sew garments and these machines just sit unused in the back of the closet. Before I would sink much money into one of these machines I would see if I could borrow or rent one. Failing that I would go to a reputable dealer, get a lower priced machine that would offer good trade-in value if you find that you would really use one much of the time.

I use mine to cover (serge) the raw edges of fabrics before washing them.

Also great to finish edges of things like bags and pillowcases - minimizes that "home-made" (vs custom-made) look.

I have heard that they are much easier to thread now (self-threading?). When DM and I bought our embroidery machine they gave us a serger. We took a class to figure out how to use it, made a few t-shirts, and never got it out again. I agree that if all you are doing is quilting, you don't need it.

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.

Clair, I, too, wanted to try a serger. Didn't expect to use it except for crafty stuff and maybe some home dec. Searched on Craigslist until I found the right deal. It's an older machine and does not self thread. Only paid about $40 so not much lost if I never used it. By accident I was at a new-to-me LQS and they offered serger classes to anyone who wanted. $10/class - cheap at the price. Taught you how to thread the machine, make a pillowcase, etc. There were more advanced classes which I did not bother with as I wasn't planning to do garment or decorative sewing with it. Haven't really used it much but glad I have it. After the first class found out the tension was messed up on one of the threads and had it serviced for about $75. All in all I'm happy with my decision. I definitely would not buy a new one for the $$ involved for something I may never really use. For under $200 I have a decent machine, know the basics and can work my way through the rest of it...or go back to the shop and take some more classes. You definitely want a 4-thread machine. The greater the number of threads, the more fine the work you can do. Good luck with your decision.

Clair,

I, too, was curious about a serger a couple of years ago. I had a couple of friends who use theirs all the time.

So, I bought a new Singer 4 thread machine for less than $200. at WalMart.

I learned how to thread it one my own, then took a class that showed different uses.

I used it fairly often, and enjoyed it. Then, I went to the Houston Quilt Show last November and stopped by the Babylock booth to see what was new. Big mistake! lol

They had a show special on the Imagine, a four-thread, self-threading machine that is a real beauty. (And they were offering 2 years interest free.) The rest is history.

I sold my Singer for $100.00. and I love, love, love my new machine. As a test, I used it to piece a Turning Twenty for my DD. It worked great, an accurate 1/4 inch, and is really fast.

I won't use it much for other piecing, but I use it for lots of other things.

Bottome line, like others have said, start out on the cheap to see if you'll use it. Then, if you like, trade up.

Have fun.

I never had one and for years thought - what the heck do you use it for? Well, I picked one up at an estate sale and now I'm wondering how I lived without it. Complicated? Yes! I have my son take care of changing thread.

I have had various sergers over the years and the most frustrating thing is the threading. If you're going to get one, get the Babylock with the jet air threading, it's worth the extra money.

I do a lot of quilting but don't use the serger for that as it adds too much thread in the seams.

Love my serger for everything else!

I have had a serger for years (Singer), and although I wouldn't get rid of it now, I wouldn't go out and buy one if I were you. The need for a serger is so very occasional, that you will go years without even getting it out. Pretty well everything you do with a serger, you can pretty much duplicate on a good sewing machine. Hope that helps!

i have one, have had one for 2 years now, have never used it, dont know how to use it, keep saying i need a class or instructions on how to use it, and there it sits!!! good luck with yours.....gina

I don't believe a serger is a machine you would use enough to
compensate for the price. I have read you really need a 'good'
serger. Cheap ones you will have a lot of probelms getting the tension right. You have to buy a lot of thread to sew on one.
I would put the money into buying a better machine for quilting/embroidery.(?)
I have been quilting for 40 years and have never thought I needed a serger.

I have a baby lock...got on line at the Walmart...about 199 a few years ago...haven't used it a great deal but I like it when I use it.
The good thing with walmart..you can return within 90 days.
Happy stitching.

I was thinking of buying one last year. I looked at some and the sales person said they are great for sewing clothes. I thought about how many clothes I really make ...not many and decided to wait. A couple of months later a great deal came up on the Bernina 440QE and I spent my money on that instead. If you do a lot of garment sewing, I think you would like the new self threading ones.

I bought one years ago at Wal-Mart and it does
the trick for me. They are not used as much
as sewing machines, but are useful for certain
items. They can do more than just serge seams.

Years ago I purchased a 5 spool Singer serger, top of the line in its day. It came all threaded with white thread but I wanted to make a jumper out of black denim. So I rethreaded with black thread. Would not sew properly. So I rethreaded with white thread. Still sewed improperly. Went back to black. No go. Curious about which spool was causing the problem I rethreaded it in five different colors so I could get a visual on which thread was not threaded right. Thing sewed the most beautiful rainbow colored seam. Dang. So, I sewed the jumper with rainbow seams and then gave the machine to my best friend. I did not need that hassle. Now, if I take a hankering to have anything serged (background squares of fabric for hand applique usually) she does it for me. That's just my story but I say if you want one, get one. You may love serging.

I have had my Brother surger for about 12 years. I use it for making flannel chemo caps & for edging anything that ravels easily. And also for garment sewing, especially knits.

If you are not sure, I would go to the dealer & ask if you could just practice with one or take a class & see if it is what you really want. If not hooked on it, money that you would spend on one could be spent on fabric for quilting.

I have had a juki for lots of years and loved it so much when it died that I bought another one. I love it. I have done lots of sewing other than quilting so I use one pretty often. The one I bought a couple of years ago works great and my girlfriend loved it and found one on ebay. I spent about $350. Any place that sells them will let you play with a demo.

I bought a Brother 1034 serger on Amazon. I think they're about $229 now and free shipping. Comes with attachments and does a nice job. I found I don't use it much but I like to having it. I just made a pillowcase and finished the seam and it looks professional. I would advise against a used one. I bought one and found it couldn't do rolled hems because it didn't come with the plate needed. It only had 1 attachment with it. So I re-sold it and got the Brother. For the price you can't go wrong.

Hi Clair,
I PM'd you. I have one I'll sell you - it is brand
new, never used. PM me if you want to discuss it.
Marcia

Depends what you want to do! They are great for creating stretch garments and great to finish edges when dressmaking and most do a great roll hem. Babylocks are great as they have jet air threading and no tension making it very easy if not a babylock look for one that has an easy looper threader as it will make threading so much easier.

Have had a serger for years, didn't have the classes of which I could have used. I am on my second one, the first was a 3 spool, this is a 4/5 spool. Have never used the 5th. Do much of my sewing with it & just wouldn't be with out my serger. Would love to have a second one like it just to not have to change colors.

Babylock is my choice with the self treader. If you've never had a serger and really would like to USE it that's the only way to go. Treading a serger is the most exasperating. I've had 2 of them and love them. I still want the Babylock.

I love my Singer serger. Bought it about 30 years ago and it's still going strong. Don't use it now as much as I did when I was making clothes for DD and I. Use it to make a few clothes for DGD and to serge raw edges of fabric that won't be sealed in a quilt before washing. Do rolled hems on napkins, etc. I'm a shortie - have to shorten everything I buy - so serger is a must.

Check them out ask how hard it is to thread. I have a Janome it is so hard to get the one thread through I have to use Floss threaders I get from my dentist it works good