quilter2090

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.

Lori S

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.

mighty

I have one and do not use it .

AlienQuilter

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.

AlienQuilter

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.

alleyoop1

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!

alleyoop1

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!

Nammie to 7

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.

guntherquilter

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.

grandjan

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.