| Bernette:234 (Serger) | | Viewed 1332 time(s) |
1 more reviews for this machine | Review rated Very Helpful by 8 people | | Reviewed by: | loti | 
 | About loti | | FL USA | | Member since: 5/27/04 | | Reviews written: 117 | | Sewing skills:Advanced | | Favored by: 36 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 3 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 1/13/13 6:32 PM | | Approx price paid: | $500 | | Had this machine for: | 30 | | Recommended? | Yes | | Online Merchants: | Amazon.com |  | Features
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Discuss Sewing Machines with PR members Sewing Machine Forum | | What loti likes about this machine
This is my first serger. When I bought it, it was a lot of money, I brought it home and my mother went on and on about it, and quickly laid claim to it. I wouldn't see the serger again until she passed away, occasionally she would let me borrow it. Which was fine, because I was working and going to school, so let me tell you about this work horse. It has worked without fail for 30+ years. I believe it's only been taken in twice for maintenance, and that was mostly because I was learning to sew with it and was partly afraid it had gone so long without maintenance that surely something bad was going to happen.
Most of the issues with threading have been user error. You have to rethread the machine entirely, when you hit a snag.
However over the years, I discovered a trick to this, if you lose a thread because you are using old thread or have a break. Turn the machine off, lift the foot and run a screwdriver or awl from front to back, catching all of the threads. So you are essentially loosening the formed stitch and reducing it to a bunch of tails. Go ahead and rethread the thread that was lost and you should be able to procede ahead with no problems.
Working with a serger has it's own learning curve. Getting the tension right is one of them. I found this most excellent youtube video for adjusting your tension at home, and it's worked amazingly well.
Susan Nixon Taming your serger
You manually change the tension on this machine, which is useful. For the most part, once it's set, you don't need to fiddle with it again. I sewed like this for many years, and later discovered, I may not have had "the perfect" balance on the stitch, but these things happen when you are learning. After setting it following the instructions on the youtube video, I've only ever had to "tweak".
Here's what the MO-234 does
2 needle overlock
4 or 3 Thread Convertible overlock
So you can produce 3 different width stitches depending on which needle position/s you use and can change the stitch length manually on this machine.
This machine was bought used and came with a blind stitch and rolled hem attachment.
The rolled hem attachment works beautifully and I was sorry that I didn't learn how to use it earlier.
The blind stitch I have never tried.
I like the telescoping thread guide. It can be lowered to fit in a compact area.
What loti does not like about this machine
I really need to put something under the foot pedal, because lately it seems to be scooting away from me as I serge.
Converting the machine over to the rolled hem, involves a change of foot, the addition of a tension disc, change of plate and a change in stitch length. The instructions are very clear, so that's a like, it just involves a little time and test. So it's not as easy as the machines today, but I never really used it often, it's a small dislike.
The blindstitch attachment also involves a change of foot and plate.
There is no differential feed, now, I've never had a problem with this machine stretching out a seam, and my new serger has this function. We shall soon see if it's a deal breaker.
It really has been a dependable machine that has served me well over the years. And you can still find them for relatively little money. | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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Brings back memories! This was my first serger and I loved that machine. It never gave me any problem but the rolled hem and threading was a bit harder than the newer ones but the stitches and rolled hem were always the best. It is a work horse of a machine, glad your's is still giving you enjoyment.
1/13/13 7:17 PM
What a nice review with good details. Thanks.
1/14/13 5:19 AM
I have this one and it is a really great serger. I bought a new bernina 1300 and find myself still using the 234, I only left it as it needed a new foot control which I since found. That is interesting about the short cut using the screw driver as I always have to rethread totally should I break a thread. It seems to know if you cheat and rethread just one thread. I keep meaning to bond with the new serger but I am so used to the 234 and really like it.
1/14/13 5:37 AM
Great review! Thanks for all that information.
1/14/13 9:59 AM
Thank you for the link! I have a serger that I don't use very much and you have prompted me to get out the manual and use it! I put a piece of rubber bath mat under my sm pedal and it no longer "scoots" or walks. I had the kind with little suction cups on the back-
1/14/13 11:55 AM
Great review! I own this tank too! I still use it for seam finishing.
1/15/13 9:31 AM