WWQP Bulletin Board

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Serger

Does anyone have a serger? I am thinking of buying one. Are there any to stay away from or recommendations? Anyone care to share their experience? I would appreciate any pointers.

TIA
Linda in beautiful sunny AZ

posted by Linda in AZ @ 6:23 PM  

10 Comments:

  • At January 26, 2008 at 7:09 PM , Blogger Beth in TN said...

    Linda, What were you thinking of using the serger for? I researched sergers a couple years back thinking I needed it to make good quality wearables and came to the conclusion that I didn't really need one after talking to people who had them. My aunt, who is in her 80s and sewed all kinds of tailored clothes and then has done quilting since her 60s, never had one and said everything she might have done with a serger she used her zigzag stitch for. So I guess it depends on whether you could get the same benefit from maybe a specialized foot for your existing machine (I know Bernina sells a foot with a cutter on it much like a serger, for instance)?? Tell us more!

     

  • At January 26, 2008 at 10:37 PM , Blogger jdb in AZ said...

    My old serger kept breaking threads and was a real bear to rethread. Think of standing on your head and squinting, then holding four threads in different directions til the 1st stitch engages and decides to behave itself. One thread pulled in the wrong direction would break then I'd have to rethread -- time and again, ad nauseum.

    Back in the old daze when I smocked kids' clothes a serger was helpful but the motor wasn't powerful enuff to sew through all the pleats.

    Years ago I stupor-vised a sewing project where we made 100+ preemie gowns and a serger was very helpful. French seams would have worked just as well.

    I eventually drop-kicked the serger off a cliff (o.k. I donated it to charity.)

    If I were to buy a serger today it would have to have a motor powerful enuff to sew through smocked fabric (Bernina), and/or it would have to thread itself (Baby Lock.) But until one of my kids produces a grand-dtr I really don't have a need to invest(!) in a decent serger.

    SeamSTRESS Sally

     

  • At January 26, 2008 at 11:01 PM , Blogger Doris W. in TN said...

    My Bernina 2000DE serger is 14 years old and will serge through anything. It was made for Bernina by Juki. You will want one with "differential feed" as well as easy conversion for rolled hems. I would not be without my serger for clothes, drapes, home dec., cloth dinner napkins, etc.

    Go test drive all the models and find one that is relatively easy to thread. Babylock is a brand that gets good reviews. You might check out all the serger reviews at www.patternreview.com

     

  • At January 27, 2008 at 8:42 AM , Blogger Bunny in IL said...

    I followed the "sewing world" bulletin board for a long time - until they disappeared. It was a great resource. I bought my Viking/Husqvarna 936 several years ago, after reading all the comments on all of the sergers. It doesn't thread itself, but it is very user-friendly, sturdy, reliable, etc. (I had an old Baby Lock previously that was none of the above). I think the 910 is just the same, but without the coverstitch. Try it out! Be sure to take all of your own fabric, anything you think you might ever serge. I don't have any regrets. Also, there is a great yahoo group. Bunny

     

  • At January 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM , Blogger Linda, the Serial Quilter from Oxford, Ohio said...

    I have a Bernina 004D Funlock serger and have had it for nearly 10 years (or maybe more). I don't do a lot of clothing construction but I do serge the edge of my quilts before binding them. That model isn't made any more, but you can find them on auction sites occasionally or for sale. You want a serger that is easy to thread. When trying out sergers at a dealer, sit down and pull all the threads out and see how easy it is for the salesperson to rethread! Sounds cruel, but if you buy it, you will have to rethread the machine yourself and you need to know if you can do it easily.

     

  • At January 28, 2008 at 12:15 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I have had a Necchi for 17 years, and it has been in the shop once -- only because I left a large quilt-sized pin in it and threw off the timing. I love my serger, and I tell my husband that every time I use it, as he bought it for me one Christmas. I sew a lot of garments with a tendency to ravel, and it is wonderful! Although they can be a pain to thread (4 spools), they're worth it. I highly recommend one if you sew a lot.

     

  • At January 28, 2008 at 10:42 PM , Blogger NancyH said...

    I had a very old 3-thread BabyLock serger - must have been one of the first offered to the public. It served me well until recently when something got out of align and I just couldn't get it to work correctly. I bought a Janome from Hancock's on a Thanksgiving Day sale (for just a little more than repairs on the old one). It's a 4-thread and actually threads just like the old BabyLock. My best advice is to sit down with whatever machine you buy and "bond" with it - take the instruction book and go page by page, identifying each part, and going through the threading procedure step by step. They all seem to be color-coded for each thread - I don't think it's that difficult if you go slowly, one step at a time. A serger, in my opinion, is invaluable for making clothing, getting a good edge when hemming a pair of pants, and making home-dec items. Good luck! NancyH

     

  • At January 29, 2008 at 8:54 PM , Blogger Jill from Portland said...

    This is my advice on almost all
    purchases, buy used.
    I'm really happy I have one. I try to never ever have to re-thread!
    But I really only use it for tailoring(quite a stretch) ready made pants & hemming the same.
    I used to serge all my fabric before washing....that went by the wayside.
    I tried the serged quilt as you go baby quilt & it was just to bulky, but the cats liked it.
    I don't even use it for pillowcases because a french seam is neater.
    I wouldn't spend a ton of money unless you have some firm plans.
    (you can buy a lot of fabric for the price of a serger!)
    oh, they do make great quilt rods for the back of quilts!
    Jill

     

  • At January 31, 2008 at 1:32 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    i just bougth a janome suerger from hancocks. it was on sale for 179 and thought it was going to change my life. so far all it is doing is frustrating me to the point i'm thinking of returning it. i know i should give it more time, but also wondering if i really need it for crafting, quilting, and decorating. i would love to know what people are creating with theirs.

     

  • At April 26, 2011 at 12:44 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I have a Bernina serger 2000DE. The lower looper broke and it also needs a new faceplate. The local Bernina dealer said no parts are available to repair it. Online I find what the Bernina shop calls aftermarket parts that they would install but not gaurentee the machine would work. The parts cost $160.00 plus labor......I'm lost without the machine but don't know what to do. I can't afford a new serger at this time.

     

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