Serger Recommendations?
#12
have 2 sergers and love them don't know what I did before I had them one for white rhread the other for colours,
they are so simple to thread if you cut and tie a knot on the end of the thread you need to change close to the
spool itself and pull through you can usually be succesful good luck !!.
they are so simple to thread if you cut and tie a knot on the end of the thread you need to change close to the
spool itself and pull through you can usually be succesful good luck !!.
#15
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
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#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 374
There is so much good information and advice in this thread.
I have two sergers. An oldish one, SingerMerrittlock 14u44, and a less oldish one, Huskylock 936. White and black thread respectively. (Those seem to be the most needed in my sewing room right now. Both of them stay set up in my sewing room.) Neither of them thread themselves. The edge cutter is an integral part of the machine. NOTE: If you buy an older machine, make sure you can get replacement blades for the machine's cutter. They do wear and it is very easy to serge over a pin, cutting it in half and ruining a blade.
The manuals are very clear about how to thread the little darlings. It took a little time and effort to learn and sometimes, if I haven't used them for a while, relearn; but don't pass up a really fine serger becaused it challenged you to learn to thread it unless you are having vision difficulty.
I bought the Singer at Sam's eons ago. It has lived through the rough and tumble of summer tours with large drum corps. 120 marching brass and drum players, color guard, and two or three sets of original flags. It went though being in the corps sewing room for the tours I couldn't join. It did alterations, from scratch costumes, repairs, and finally the refurbishing of the marching uniforms. The Husky has not been asked to do that sort of duty. It makes slipcovers for the rv, clothes, repairs towels, makes doll clothes, draperies, etc. It was substantially more expensive than the Singer and has a number of fascinating features and purrs along just like the Singer. The Singer sews with 3 or 4 threads. The Husky with 3, 4, or 5 threads. The Singer is not computerized; the Husky is. I can service the Singer. The Husky benefits from a very occasional trip to the Husky service/cleaning center. Both of them serge beautifully.
Please let us know how your hunt turns out. Enjoy your serger. There are lots of books with suggestions and projects. And you can snag "how to" classes that will teach you new stuff and remind you about the things you have't used lately.
Pat
I have two sergers. An oldish one, SingerMerrittlock 14u44, and a less oldish one, Huskylock 936. White and black thread respectively. (Those seem to be the most needed in my sewing room right now. Both of them stay set up in my sewing room.) Neither of them thread themselves. The edge cutter is an integral part of the machine. NOTE: If you buy an older machine, make sure you can get replacement blades for the machine's cutter. They do wear and it is very easy to serge over a pin, cutting it in half and ruining a blade.
The manuals are very clear about how to thread the little darlings. It took a little time and effort to learn and sometimes, if I haven't used them for a while, relearn; but don't pass up a really fine serger becaused it challenged you to learn to thread it unless you are having vision difficulty.
I bought the Singer at Sam's eons ago. It has lived through the rough and tumble of summer tours with large drum corps. 120 marching brass and drum players, color guard, and two or three sets of original flags. It went though being in the corps sewing room for the tours I couldn't join. It did alterations, from scratch costumes, repairs, and finally the refurbishing of the marching uniforms. The Husky has not been asked to do that sort of duty. It makes slipcovers for the rv, clothes, repairs towels, makes doll clothes, draperies, etc. It was substantially more expensive than the Singer and has a number of fascinating features and purrs along just like the Singer. The Singer sews with 3 or 4 threads. The Husky with 3, 4, or 5 threads. The Singer is not computerized; the Husky is. I can service the Singer. The Husky benefits from a very occasional trip to the Husky service/cleaning center. Both of them serge beautifully.
Please let us know how your hunt turns out. Enjoy your serger. There are lots of books with suggestions and projects. And you can snag "how to" classes that will teach you new stuff and remind you about the things you have't used lately.
Pat
#17
I would never have anything other than a Babylock with air threading. I've had a Bernina and a Pfaff and threading either one would make you lose your religion! The sergers that gave 4 threads are overlock sewing only. Five and more usually include the cover stitch which is LOVELY if you sew a lot of knit clothing...and I do. It puts a double row of stitching on the right side and serves the raw edge on the wrong side.
My best advice since you know so little about sergers is to visit stores and do demos. When you decide make sure your purchase comes with free classes. Buying used is ok if you're experienced but in your case when something goes wrong or you get stuck, you want to be able to take it in and have things fixed/explained to you. There is a lot more to a serger than there is to a sewing machine. If you buy a serger you will not need, nor want, an edge cutter on your sewing machine. Best of luck in your decision...get the very best you can possibly afford and you will get 25+ years of use out of it.
My best advice since you know so little about sergers is to visit stores and do demos. When you decide make sure your purchase comes with free classes. Buying used is ok if you're experienced but in your case when something goes wrong or you get stuck, you want to be able to take it in and have things fixed/explained to you. There is a lot more to a serger than there is to a sewing machine. If you buy a serger you will not need, nor want, an edge cutter on your sewing machine. Best of luck in your decision...get the very best you can possibly afford and you will get 25+ years of use out of it.
#18
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
The tieing a thread on method is grest - until a thread breaks.
I especially ike to have a serger for finishing the seam edges. I also use it for overcasting the raw edges of fabric before I wash it. I use a long narrow finish.
I especially ike to have a serger for finishing the seam edges. I also use it for overcasting the raw edges of fabric before I wash it. I use a long narrow finish.
#20
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,334
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