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If I might draw on your expertise ... Babylock Evolution or Babylock Enlighten and CoverStitch?
KevenHester   Beginner TX USA Member since 12/24/07 Posts: 19	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/30/12 9:09 PM Evening, ladies (and gentlemen) ... New to sergers here - and thank you all for the resource you've each offered in this site as I've worked the purchasing research. I'm about to pull the trigger on my serging dreams. Have decided on Babylock as the air threading just makes one less thing for me to have to learn. I'm now trying to finalize the plan between an Evolution or an Enlighten and Cover Stitch combo. Perhaps some of you current owners can tell me what the advantages and disadvantages of the set up(s) might be - aside from the dedicated v. changing the set up. Are there other differences one might consider? Sharing your knowledge and hands on experience would be greatly appreciated.
Sharon48   Intermediate Member since 5/17/12 Posts: 96	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 12/1/12 0:55 AM I have the Evolution and absolutely love it! It is so easy to switch to the coverstitch that I can't imagine why someone would buy two machines. The Evolution does so much more - go to utube and check out all the little video clips, if you haven't already. I have a lovely small sewing room and have my Evolution on one table and my BL Ellisimo Gold on another table, with a storage credenza between them. I don't think I would like to try to fit in another machine, as I like having the space to spread out my projects. The main point is why get two machines to do what this one amazing machine can do??(TMO)
Sonoma33   Intermediate CA USA Member since 5/10/09 Posts: 1655	Login to reply to this post In reply to KevenHester << Like this post Date: 12/1/12 1:12 AM I also have the evolution and can't say enough things about how wonderful it is. YES, it is EASY to switch. That said, if I had a giant sewing room I could see having two machines and not having to switch at all, but that would also mean additional thread. So, I'd only do that if I had room for multiple machines to sit out at all times and plenty of thread storage. ------ Berninas 830LE ♥ Artista 630PQE ♥ 930 Record ♥ Juki TL2010Q ♥ Pfaffs Creative Performance ♥ Passport 2.0 ♥ Singers 221 ♥ 301 ♥ 500a ♥ Kenmore 1040 ♥ Elna 'Grasshopper' ♥ Tacsew T500 ♥ Babylock Evolution
sewsally   Intermediate WA USA Member since 8/18/02 Posts: 1200	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/1/12 1:26 AM I used to have a combo machine (not Babylock) and I hated changing the functions. Now I have a BL Imagine and separate BL coverstitch and am happy. I recommend the Enlighten because the lighting is better. If you have the room, get the separate machines... its just easier. I should mention several friends have the Evolution and love it but one hadn't used the coverstitch function in a while and really didn't know how to switch without looking it up. She used my CS instead. This was at a retreat. -- Edited on 12/1/12 1:27 AM --
KevenHester   Beginner TX USA Member since 12/24/07 Posts: 19	Login to reply to this post In reply to Sharon48 << Like this post Date: 12/1/12 1:33 AM Thank you, Sharon ... I appreciate the insight. I have been checking some of the videos on YouTube and it looks to me like it's rather painless to convert the Evolution back and forth - but then I haven't had to do it repeatedly. The curved sewing radius between the options is one thing that made me curious. As far as re-threading goes - LOL - nope, that would be a "fun part". Changing needles - something I'll have to do regardless. It's kind of apples to apples, I guess. Is there anything that the Evolution can do that the combination of the Enlighten and Cover Stitch can't? And vice versa. Maybe I've just over-researched and need to get my behind out of the computer monitor and to the Babylock dealer. Again, thank you - most sincerely!!
KevenHester   Beginner TX USA Member since 12/24/07 Posts: 19	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 12/1/12 1:38 AM Wow, ladies ... thank y'all so much!! You truly are helping me in my final approach. That would be an awful lot of thread. LOL! Space, however, isn't an issue. After Christmas - I'm moving all the furniture out of a rather large bedroom and renaming it "the sewing room". I'veFinallyRaisedTheKids, Kev
wendyrb   Advanced CA Member since 12/30/11 Posts: 1274	Login to reply to this post In reply to KevenHester << Like this post Date: 12/1/12 1:41 AM You can't go wrong with either choice! The Auto Tension for serging is what has me euphoric with my Evolution. No more long sessions trying to find the best stitch tension. It simply happens immediately. You're gonna love it. There have been many discussions on your questions; I suggest doing a search- top left above to see what you can find. Also go test drive both options. Apparently the Evolution has a wider foot and that makes it move differently. One comment was the narrower foot on other models makes it easier to make tighter turns. If you make clothes for young children or dolls, etc. that would be good to sample 1st and see what's comfortable. The Evolution has been a perfect fit for me. What a relief after 20 years with a machine that just exhausted me with the endless sampling before I could do anything. ------ Sometimes she didn't always follow the recipe. Pfonzie- my honey Pfaff Creative Performance, Bernina 930 and 830, Evolution serger.
Topshelf   Intermediate PA USA Member since 4/9/07 Posts: 179	Login to reply to this post In reply to KevenHester << Like this post Date: 12/1/12 5:34 AM I have the BL Evolve ( first generation Evolution) and I love it for all of the wonderful things it can do. It makes me smile every time I use it. Although it is easy to switch from CS to Overlock, I recently decided to get two seperate machines for coverstitch and serging. I decided to keep my Evolve for coverstitch and got an Enlighten for serging. I'm thrilled with that decision. They both do the Wave stitch and one can back up the other if one of them is in for repair. I love the Enlighten for serging because the feet are more narrow and easier to serge around curves. I don't know what the price difference is between the Evolution and Coverstitch machine, but I would get both sergers again in a heart beat. I love BabyLock sergers!!! ------ Topshelf Pod
Sewmissy2   Advanced MO USA Member since 12/5/10 Posts: 95	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 12/1/12 7:38 AM One thing to consider in getting the Evolution over the 2 machines is that you can combine stitches with up to 8 threads. Consider combining the chain stitch with the 4 thread overlock like you see on ready to wear jeans seams (5 thread safety stitch). There is a wonderful handy laminated reference guide that tells you how to set each type of stitch and combo you are likely to use, though I have heard there are up to 87 that you could put together. I have decided it will be the Evolution for me..still dreaming and hoping to get it someday.
LynnRowe   Advanced BC CANADA Member since 3/9/09 Posts: 6765	Login to reply to this post 3 members like this. Date: 12/2/12 3:36 AM I had the BL Evolve, and did end up trading it for the BL Enlighten and BLCS. For me, since I sew a lot of knits and my order of construction requires me using the serger, the CS, back to serger, and more CS, I found switching back and forth during construction of a single garment was a PITA, regardless of how easy the switch was to do. I also found the necessarily wider foot and dogs of the combo machine made it more difficult to serge over crossed seams and on curves. The Enlighten serger has a much smaller foot and feed dogs, cutting knives moved closer to the needle, and a tighter turning radius; so tight a radius that I can serge tight curves on the Enlighten as easily as I can on a sewing machine. The BLCS coverstitch machine is a dream, and to me it does a slightly nicer coverstitch than the combo machine did. As I use my serger and CS machine a lot, the convenience of not having to switch needles and thread back and forth, the tighter turning radius, and the smaller feet and feed dogs are what made me decide to go with the 2 separate machines. If you won't be switching back and forth often on every garment, the combo Evolution may be perfect for you. Either way, they are superb sergers and CS machines. ------ I heart Panzy, Pfaff Creative Performance, the sewing machine love of my life! And Rupert (Pfaff 2023), Baby (BL Enlighten), Victor (BLCS), Ash (Bernina 350SE), Pal (Bernina 530), Kee (Bernina 750) and the Featherteen Flock! Most of all, I heart Woo (HimmyCat). Until we meet again, my beautiful little boy. I love you.

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