serger?
#41
I have a I have a Brother 1034D serger my hubby bought when I first started sewing, because my sewing teacher said it is nice for knits. I wanted to make T-shirts with long enough sleeves, and knit nightgowns.
Since then, I got roped into quilt classes and have been doing that. lol. The serger has been sitting around, although I bet I could have used it to make the fleece booties and other projects I've done, I found out since that I have an overlock stitch on my Janome. I checked out the Brother 1034D serger and it gets five stars for ease of use and function. The price is right, it was $165 at CostCo online. I don't have an account, but hubby used his boss's account. (He surprised me, I had told him I needed to learn to sew before I learned to serge.)
I envy those who have a self-threading serger. I am now taking a class, and surprised myself by already remembering how to thread it and then learned to do curves. Next week we do rolled hems. We are going to make napkins of cotton, and a scarf of slinky fabric. My teacher said self-threaders have their own issues, some love it, some run into problems.
Since then, I got roped into quilt classes and have been doing that. lol. The serger has been sitting around, although I bet I could have used it to make the fleece booties and other projects I've done, I found out since that I have an overlock stitch on my Janome. I checked out the Brother 1034D serger and it gets five stars for ease of use and function. The price is right, it was $165 at CostCo online. I don't have an account, but hubby used his boss's account. (He surprised me, I had told him I needed to learn to sew before I learned to serge.)
I envy those who have a self-threading serger. I am now taking a class, and surprised myself by already remembering how to thread it and then learned to do curves. Next week we do rolled hems. We are going to make napkins of cotton, and a scarf of slinky fabric. My teacher said self-threaders have their own issues, some love it, some run into problems.
#42
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bosque County, Texas
Posts: 2,709
For me the question was "How much was I willing to pay for the self-threading feature on the serger?" not "Do I want a serger?" Here's a couple of questions I had to answer. Can I thread a regular needle without using glasses? Do I get frustrated when the thread misses the needle eye? How hard is it to get into the position needed to see the eye in the lower looper needle? How much easier or harder will these things become in the next 10 years? Bingo! I'm too old to NOT buy a self threading serger. Even my regular sewing machine is self-threading plus being computerized to do everything but cut my material for me.I'm just too old not to be part of this century's technology. Divide the price by the number of years I expect to use the machine and it's done to about $100 a year cost. A $100 serger is very cheap. Mine is the Babylock Imagine.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cedar Falls, IA
Posts: 923
I had an old White serger for 20+ years and basically outfitted my children with it! Lots and lots of little pants and tshirts and sweatshirts. Nothing like a serger for knits. The old machine didn't have differential feed so I had to be very careful not to stretch things, but it still worked. When that old machine finally died I bought a new one. My requirements were that it have differential feed and be easy to convert to a rolled hem stitch. I ended up with a Bernina 1300MDC that I get along with just fine.
In addition to clothing, I have made all kinds of home-dec stuff with the serger - pillows and curtains especially. It handles heavy fabrics that fray very well. I also have made dozens and dozens and dozens of rolled hem napkins out of wonderful fabrics - one of my standard wedding shower presents. I also use a rolled hem edge on flannel receiving blankets.
As to ease of threading, a lot depends on just how handy you are. I thought about an autothreading machine, but it just didn't make the "most important" criteria for me. Most of the time I just pull the threads through when I change colors so it doesn't take long. Even if I need to rethread from scratch it only takes 3-5 minutes for a 4 thread, and half that time is doing the regular needles! I do recommend differential feed though - that is a great help on knits.
Pam
In addition to clothing, I have made all kinds of home-dec stuff with the serger - pillows and curtains especially. It handles heavy fabrics that fray very well. I also have made dozens and dozens and dozens of rolled hem napkins out of wonderful fabrics - one of my standard wedding shower presents. I also use a rolled hem edge on flannel receiving blankets.
As to ease of threading, a lot depends on just how handy you are. I thought about an autothreading machine, but it just didn't make the "most important" criteria for me. Most of the time I just pull the threads through when I change colors so it doesn't take long. Even if I need to rethread from scratch it only takes 3-5 minutes for a 4 thread, and half that time is doing the regular needles! I do recommend differential feed though - that is a great help on knits.
Pam
#44
A tip I adore, every needle has a groove on top of it. If you just aim for that groove the thread will go in the eye. I used to use a portable light, the auto-thread function on my Janome, reading glasses, scrunch down, etc. Now I just push the thread above the needle and it goes in every time.
Originally Posted by TanyaL
For me the question was "How much was I willing to pay for the self-threading feature on the serger?" not "Do I want a serger?" Here's a couple of questions I had to answer. Can I thread a regular needle without using glasses? Do I get frustrated when the thread misses the needle eye? How hard is it to get into the position needed to see the eye in the lower looper needle? How much easier or harder will these things become in the next 10 years? Bingo! I'm too old to NOT buy a self threading serger. Even my regular sewing machine is self-threading plus being computerized to do everything but cut my material for me.I'm just too old not to be part of this century's technology. Divide the price by the number of years I expect to use the machine and it's done to about $100 a year cost. A $100 serger is very cheap. Mine is the Babylock Imagine.
#46
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: At my LQS
Posts: 2,326
If your budget allows it I would highly recommend a Babylock Serger. Babylock is the only serger on the market with air-jet threading. It also has auto tension.
So many people let their sergers sit idle because of threading and tension problems. With the Babylock...you will have hassle free, ready to go serging.
I love my Babylock...had it for 9 years...troublefee.
So many people let their sergers sit idle because of threading and tension problems. With the Babylock...you will have hassle free, ready to go serging.
I love my Babylock...had it for 9 years...troublefee.
#47
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: At my laptop
Posts: 280
Originally Posted by TanyaL
I bought the Babylock Imagine in August and I haven't stopped using it since. I made several clothes for my GD and now I am making placemats and napkins for Christmas gifts. Some are quilted and edged with the serger, some are machine embroidered and edged with the serger and some are just reversible and edged with the serger. I love the edging the serger does so much more than the binding that I had to do before I bought the serger. It looks so much more professional. Having the serger to sew clothes with cut the sewing time by about 3/4! I'm also making some silk scarves for the young women on my gift list. Very simple. 2 yds of silk for $30 will make 3 scarves and I can put a rolled hem on them in minutes. Very pretty and inexpensive gifts and so much easier than using my rolled hem attachment on my sewing machine. I had heard remarkable things about what the differential feed would do on the serger and now I can say that it is all true. I wouldn't want to try to sew anything at all with out doing all I could on the serger. It's like the difference between cleaning your carpet with a broom or a vacuum! If you've always used a broom then you don't understand the difference a vacuum will make. The same is true about sewing with a good serger.
#48
Originally Posted by sally's girl
I want to purchase a serger and would like some opinions on which one to consider buying. Thank you
John
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