PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,284 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,284 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
12 
Member since 3/10/15
Posts: 34
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 7/5/17 9:12 AM ET
I am starting fresh with new sewing machines which I plan both to be Babylock. Probably will get a serger and another machine for whatever the serger won't do. I am thinking about the sergers, Ovation or Evolution and am wondering about which other machine to get. Has anyone used the two sergers I mentioned, what is your opinion, do you love them or wish you had purchased something else? What machine do you recommend as the second machine and why?
  
Member since 3/4/05
Posts: 5265
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 7/5/17 10:41 AM ET
In reply to missush
How much do you want to spend on a second machine? The Rachel is popular and very portable. Lyric is bigger and has the nice needle threader. Soprano is the top mid-range model with everything...automatic pressure sensing/adjustment(known as AHA), pressser foot lift on pivot, etc.
Approximate price range would be $500-$1700(USD)
  
Member since 1/18/05
Posts: 7553
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 7/5/17 11:22 AM ET
I've had both the Evolution & Ovation.

Ovation offers more room to the right of the needle which is fabulous for coverstitching. It provides better lighting. It has a knee lift - which honestly I'm not in love with.

The one thing I don't like about the Ovation is the presser foot doesn't raise very high.

It seems to me that the presser foot raised higher on the Evolution.

I really enjoyed the Evolution. I never had a problem with it. There were a couple of times when very very thick seams went through the pass sluggishly though. Overall, the Evolution is a very nice machine.

Threading is very easy on both machines. Switching from serging to coverstitch is the same on both machines.

Both machines are great options. Some people prefer to have a separate serger & coverstitch machine if you have the room. Personally, I don't mind switching from overlock to coverstitch. It's very quick with BL machines.

Ultimately, it comes down to how much room you have & how much you want to spend. Both the Ovation & Evolution perform their functions very well.


------
My Herd: Bernina 790 Plus Upgrade, Bernina 735, Babylock Triumph, Bernina Record 931. Sewing Makes My Crazy Life Normal.

Member #25631
  
Member since 6/4/16
Posts: 11550
Body Type:
Send Message
thumbsup 4 likes
Posted on: 7/5/17 2:56 PM ET
Love my Soprano. Does everthing I need and is still normal sized. If I were to upgrade, I'd jump all the way up to Destiny2. I never tried the Evolution, but I do have an Imagine, a BLCS , and a new Ovation. I find I'm using the Ovation for coverstitching and the Imagine for serging more. None are hard to thread. I tend to use my serger for serging knit seams way more than finishing edges for wovens, so the better turning on the Imagine works well for me.
I think all these decisions depend on budget and more importantly, what kind of sewing you do most.
  
Member since 3/10/15
Posts: 34
Send Message
Posted on: 7/5/17 5:03 PM ET
Thank you ladies for your input, much appreciated!
  
Member since 9/16/16
Posts: 1094
Send Message
Posted on: 7/5/17 9:04 PM ET
Bought my Ovation in October. It's a really awesome machine. Like the lady said above, I wish the presser foot would raise more.
------
Bernina 770QE, 530 Swiss Red, 1120
Bernina Q24 Long Arm
Babylock Ovation
Cricut Maker
Cricut Joy
  
Member since 4/21/17
Posts: 8
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 7/5/17 9:35 PM ET
I loved both the Evolution and the Ovation. They are, essentially, the same machine in most ways, with the Ovation having a few extra bells and whistles. If you tend to do a lot of cover stitching on bulky or larger projects, the extra space on the Ovation will be a bonus. Personally, I do nearly all my serging activity on or near the fabric edge - seaming, hemming, cover stitch hems, necklines, etc. so the extra space to the right of the needle wasn't a must have. Although I had the budget for either machine, the other main differences like the knee lifter, front presser foot lifter, etc. are nice little extras, but for me not worth the additional $1300 price difference. The Ovation is a lovely machine, but I adore my Evolution and plan to enjoy it for a while and wait for the next generation of BL machine (they're always upgrading their line from time to time) to really wow me into a trade-up. Either way, you should be pretty happy with your new BL!
  
Member since 8/6/12
Posts: 1647
Send Message
1 Replies
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 7/6/17 0:19 AM ET
Ovation hands down. I've had Evolution and traded for Ovation. Liked it so much I bought another Ovation. One for coverstitch and one for serging.

Learn to use your left foot on the foot pedal and you'll love the knee lift.

Also, Ovation has presser foot lift on the front of machine - so much better!!
  
Member since 2/23/05
Posts: 226
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 7/6/17 11:24 AM ET
I have the Evolution Serger and the Ellisimo Gold, about 4 or 5 years now. Also have the Soprano about 1.5 years now. Love them all. I leave the Ellisimo set up for embroidery most of the time which is why I wanted the Soprano for day to day sewing...while I am doing embroidery.
  
Member since 9/16/16
Posts: 1094
Send Message
1 Replies
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 7/6/17 5:20 PM ET
In reply to sewdoggie22
You are clearly wealthy and have a lot of sewing real estate. Would be awesome to have 2 Ovations, but not for me.
------
Bernina 770QE, 530 Swiss Red, 1120
Bernina Q24 Long Arm
Babylock Ovation
Cricut Maker
Cricut Joy
  
12 
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Metro Textiles
NYC Fabric Store
Specials!
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics