Date: 7/27/08 9:55 AM

OK, I've been reading posts about sewing machine vs sergers, but I still am unsure. As you may remember, I am sewing dog and cat toys and someday I'd like to get into beds too. I have 2 good sewing machines but now am wondering if it is necessary for me to have a serger? In the past I have either finished the seams by hand (but I know this won't be feasible the busier I get); otherwise I've also just did a close stitch with the sewing machine to close up the seam.
I'm looking for some educational advice on sergers and my purpose...if I need one, any suggestions?

Thanks

Date: 7/27/08 10:47 AM

I don't know what your budget is, but my recommendation for a low cost serger (just above $200) is the Brother 1034D, which many PR members love. If you can afford to spend about $600 I'd recommend a used Babylock Imagine with jet air threading and automatic tensions. I have the next model up, and these sergers are the easiest to use and virtually indestructible.

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The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale.
Richard Dawkins

Date: 7/27/08 10:54 AM

Do I need one though?

Date: 7/27/08 11:07 AM

It would depend on how much you sew and if you want to do serged finishes. I use mine from time to time not daily though like I do with a sewing machine.

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Joel Richter Former Flight attendant with a Major US Carrier.
Sewing Machines, Baby Lock Nancy Zieman Ellegante, Baby Lock Ellure Plus, Viking Platinum 730 and a Singer Serger. My new Serger is a Pfaff 4764 and it runs nicely. Added a new Machine today a really beauty Pfaff 130. Newest Addition a Baby Lock Coverstitch only machine. Newest addition Bernina 440QEE. Now A Viking Designer Diamond :) Now a new Viking Huskylock 936 Combo Serger. Sold machine the Viking Platinum 730 and the PFAFF 4764.

Date: 7/27/08 11:13 AM

You will be amazed at how much faster you can do your finishing work with a serger. They really zip along compared to any home sewing machine I have ever used. I have actually been so accustomed to the speed that I have had to start looking at the idea that I may have been using my serger more than I need to. Some applications I have been using in the past should probably not be serged and I am now starting to look more at pinking edges or even doing a simple fold over and stitch. That's how much I love my serger! If you are trying to sew commercially in any kind of volume, I don't know how you could manage without one for very long. I recall someone years ago telling me she rented one for a week - that may be a good way to see if you would use it or not. OTOH, I recently bought a very nice, older, used White serger for $60 (the local dealer was asking $300 for the same used model) and that may be a way for you to get into serging for not much money.

Reply to Mariskie
Date: 7/27/08 12:23 PM

Mariskie, if I were going to sew commercially, I wouldn't do it without a good serger.

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The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale.
Richard Dawkins

Reply to Mariskie
Date: 7/27/08 1:17 PM

If you're already thinking about what a serger can do for you, I strongly suggest that you go to a good dealer and start looking around, test driving them.

Make a list of what you think you really need one for: finishing seams quickly. Then think about how often you'll use it and how user-friendly you want it to be for your purposes.

I also suggest that you look at a few finished products out there in the market and see what serger stitches you've admired and would like to use on your own products. Make a list of these serger stitches and find the serger that will create them, suiting both your $$ needs and how user-friendly you want your serger to be.

I can't stress the "user-friendly" enough since most give up on their sergers because too much effort is applied to one thing or another.

I'm one who would rather go over my budget on a serger if it meant that it would do everything I want it to do quickly, easily and beautifully.

Don't let the dealer sell you on features you don't need--mine did that. Although I have a serger that is a workhorse, I wished that I had shopped around. There are plenty of sergers to choose from . . . so take your time and consider carefully.

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Her needlework both plain and ornamental was excellent, and she might have put a sewing machine to shame. ~James Edward Austen-Leigh, about Jane Austen

Date: 7/27/08 1:23 PM

Yes, you need one. Everyone needs a serger.

It makes sewing knits a dream and they always look professional inside and out. Also, if you are sewing a woven and want to have a nicely finished seam allowance, you can do a 3 thread serge around the edge of the cut out piece of woven fabric and then sew it together on your regular machine. It will look like RTW and there will be no hanging threads. I do this with all my work pants.
-- Edited on 7/27/08 1:24 PM --

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Marilyn
http://marilynsrags.blogspot.com/
Since January 2009 86 yards out and 108 yards in.