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Serger Thread Advice - Brand and Colors Just bought serger and need to buy thread
1975Jumby Intermediate CA USA Member since 8/19/08 Posts: 515	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/4/13 12:43 PM Can anyone recommend a good thread I can buy to start with my new serger? My dealer recommended Maxi-Lock and I read something about Wawak.com sewing supplies. I went there and they sell the spools for 1.99, which I think is a good deal. But I noticed that site had tons of other thread and I'm a little overwhelmed. Is Maxi-Lock an all around good thread for serging? Also, when it comes to colors, I was told colors like ivory, rose, light grey and a navy blue are good colors to begin with since they blend better with a variety of fabrics than primary colors like red, blue and green. Is this a good rule of thumb and can anyone recommend any other colors? Thanks! ------ Babylock Ellisimo Gold Babylock Enlighten Kenmore 1914 Kenmore 1814
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6124	Login to reply to this post In reply to 1975Jumby << Like this post Date: 2/4/13 1:10 PM Maxi-Lock is the serger thread that most people on PR use. It's an excellent thread, and I highly recommend it. As far as colors go, that depends on the colors of the garments you sew. I wear a lot of black, dark gray and jewel toned colors, so the dozen serger thread colors I own include: royal blue, teal, emerald, hot pink, fuchsia, black, white, dark gray, brown, red, and purple. With those colors, I can get an almost exact match for almost everything I sew. If you don't want to buy three or four serger cones of each color you can wind your serger thread onto bobbins and use a Bob-'N-Serge which is what I used to use before I decided it was much easiere to buy three cones of each color. By the way, although some people are happy with blending, I'm not one of them. In the beginning, I used medium gray on everything, and soon decided I didn't want my serger thread to "blend" -- I wanted it to "match. ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins
PattiAnnJ   Advanced OH USA Member since 12/3/06 Posts: 5000	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/4/13 4:04 PM I think you already have answered your own questions. I wouldn't hesitate buying from WAWAK. Kinda sounds like a duck when said out loud!
LynnRowe   Advanced BC CANADA Member since 3/9/09 Posts: 6804	Login to reply to this post In reply to 1975Jumby << Like this post Date: 2/4/13 4:41 PM Maxi-Locks from Wawak. ------ 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.
allorache Advanced Beginner OR USA Member since 12/10/11 Posts: 74	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 2/4/13 4:46 PM So...what did you get??? I was following the thread as you were deciding ------ Now a Babylock girl almost all the way - Ellegante 3, Evolution, and Melody. Plus a Sailrite LSZ-1 for those heavy duty projects
Jodi B.   Intermediate VA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 617	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/4/13 5:07 PM I'm another who likes my serger thread to match. I use Maxilock (usually), and I have a small rainbow in all of the colors I sew with. I didn't get them all at once when I started, but have slowly acquired them over time.
1975Jumby Intermediate CA USA Member since 8/19/08 Posts: 515	Login to reply to this post In reply to allorache << Like this post Date: 2/4/13 5:31 PM I ended up getting a Babylock Eclipse BLE1 used for $350. It has the jet-air threading and was barely used. I just didn't want to spend too much on a serger when I haven't used one before, but was lucky to find a Babylock that had jet-air threading and under $500. Although the tensions are manual, I don't mind for now. I can always get an Imagine or Enlighten down the road if I see my serger use increase....or maybe this will be all that I need. I like the fact that I didn't spend so much because I can now think more seriously about adding the second sewing machine to my sewing area. Now I'm trying to buy some thread....the color thing is driving me nuts. But wow...WAWAK has some awesome prices. The maxi-lock is only $1.89 if you buy 10 or more and the shipping is pretty cheap! ------ Babylock Ellisimo Gold Babylock Enlighten Kenmore 1914 Kenmore 1814
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7003	Login to reply to this post In reply to 1975Jumby << Like this post Date: 2/4/13 8:21 PM Quote: I ended up getting a Babylock Eclipse BLE1 used for $350. It has the jet-air threading and was barely used. WHAT???? Where on earth did you buy this for this price??? ------ "We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7003	Login to reply to this post In reply to 1975Jumby << 3 members like this. Date: 2/4/13 8:30 PM Okay, it's my turn. Now keep in mind I can be the "red haired stepchild of PR" so it's now or never. Sure, Maxi-Lock is the standard serger thread. But their black color SUCKS! As in "S-U-C-K-S". It has bits of the thread when it goes through my needles, it makes the needle threads break, and just recently I feel it's responsible for jamming my machine. This is the black color. I like Guterman's Mara 100 thread that Wawak sells. It's fine enough for serging and strong enough for sewing. No little thread bits, no problems, no nothing. As to a variation of colors..I don't follow the rules with that. I've almost been outcast amongst my quilting friends because I use two different colors in my machine for quilting. But those friends don't know the benefits, and I've shared them here on PR through the Tips and Techniques link (has to do with ripping). Given that, who the heck cares about specific colors? If you were to mix them, such as any color you wish, you might be pleasantly surprised. I was told by a woman who owned a Bernina serger (as well as two Bernina sewing machines AND a quilt shop) that I should use beige in my serger. Do you think I listened? I did, but I didn't "follow through". I bought yellow, purple, tan and white for my "newbie serger threads" and found the balance was beautiful--something I couldn't get if I stayed with the ho-hum beige, as suggested. Then I started looking through my box of threads--which mixtures should I try? Oh my, oh my. What I've come up with is whatever my heart tells me, and I've been much happier. So unleash that creative potential! Whip that "ho-hum standard" into place and decide on a group and go with it. ------ "We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6124	Login to reply to this post In reply to Miss Fairchild << 3 members like this. Date: 2/5/13 5:39 AM I'm surprised you've had a problem with Maxilock's black colored thread. That's the color I use most often, and I've never had a problem with it. Perhaps you received a bad batch of thread. ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins

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