What allorache likes about this machine
This is a VERY preliminary review, but I am so impressed I had to comment. I am probably an advanced beginner sewer, new to serging. I work full-time and help care for my mom, so I don't have much free time to learn. I was interested in a serger because I kept reading things like "now this is so much easier if you have a serger". But I was very intimidated by them being notoriously complex to thread. when i read about the jet-air threading, I figured if I was going to buy a machine, it was worth spending extra money to save myself a lot of frustration. So this was my early (Black Friday) Christmas present to myself. I am just amazed. The salesman spent about 1/2 hour showing me how to thread it. I brought it home, unpacked it, looked at the manual, spent maybe another 1/2 hour or less threading it again and -- boom! I was serging away. I changed out thread colors, fixed a nightgown with a splitting seam, and made two belts. I am just so impressed that it is so easy to begin using. I will have 2 2-hour lessons from my dealer, and I've ordered some books on serging, but I just wanted to say if you don't have a lot of time to spend learning how to thread or re-threading every time you need to use it, this is the machine for you! What allorache does not like about this machine
Nothing, so far. The only thing I DON'T like is how Babylock markets their machines. It's like how buying a car used to be. They don't allow dealers to ship machines. They don't include any price information online, you have to go to a dealer. Then at the dealer they have these "list" prices that are a joke, then you bargain as best you can for what it really costs. But you have no leverage. I don't think I got a great deal, but to shop with another dealer, I would have to go at least 50 miles away, and that is not practical for lessons, service, etc. So, I gritted my teeth and paid for it. On the other hand...what is the point of getting a cheaper machine if you have to spend hours and hours learning it and setting it up every time you want to use it? With my limited free time, I would never usei t. |
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Congrats on a superb wonderful fabulous serger! The jet-air threading is terrific...but even more important is something you will not ever have to deal with now; fiddling with thread tensions. Enjoy your most excellent and deserved early Christmas gift!
11/24/12 11:17 PM
i agree 100% about the price thing. it's such a big mystery. like a secret society. some retailers are better than others. enjoy your machine. i hope u got the bundle with it. i got the evolution yesterday. not out of the box yet.
11/25/12 1:48 AM
You got the best serger. Mine is still going strong after many years. Eventually you may wish to add a cover stitch machine to your studio.
11/25/12 3:56 AM
ajoseph if by bundle you mean the 6 extra feet promotion ...no. They told me that's only if you pay "full retail". I purchased the elastic foot, with "20% off" which brings it down to what you can get them for on Ebay, and I ordered a blind hem foot on Ebay. As I learn what the other feet do and need them, I will get them...
11/25/12 6:42 AM
The last two lines of your review are spot on! I, too, have a Babylock Imagine--bought it over a year ago and LOVE it. I had a Pfaff Hobbylock for 18 years and although it stitched beautifully, it was such a chore to thread, test out stitchings, etc. Last time I used it before I traded it in, it took me an hour to get all the tensions right for a perfect, "easy" rolled hem. With the Babylock, it's perfect in about five minutes or less from installing the threads, changing needles, adjusting switches and knobs, to doing a sample stitch. I've used my BL so much in the last year I actually went through 3 huge serger cones. Now that's a LOT of serging and finishing!
11/25/12 8:18 AM
BTW, I got my 6 extra feet off Ebay for about $125. It's worth searching for a good price for them.
11/25/12 8:19 AM
I had the Babylock imagine for 8 years and just bought the Evolution which is another fabulous machine, so easy to change from 4 thread to cover stitch!!!
11/25/12 1:20 PM
Welcome to the Baby Lock club! I know you will love it. I have had the Evolution for 1 year now and I am still amazed by it. I made a tee shirt today in 4 hours. That included changing to cover stitching. I told my husband that on my old Viking serger it would have taken that long to change thread and fiddle with the tension. Today I was tension free!
11/26/12 11:56 PM
so glad you love your Imagine. I have had mine for a couple of years and LOVE it. I can thread it in a couple of minutes
11/27/12 7:32 AM