Serger Suggestions?

[Fraugee728]

Hey all!

I've been sewing for over 10 years, but don't have a serger.  I really hate trying to deal with knits on my sewing machine and have decided to purchase a serger.

I had my eye on the  Huskylock 936, since it has the coverstitch as well, but the $1400 sale price (and the sale is now over...) made me just a wee bit shy.  I'm thinking I'll just go with something that doesn't have a coverstitch, since I don't really want to spend that much cash.

I see that Sewing With Nancy has an EZ lock serger for $249, and was wondering if anyone had one of these or has ever tried one out.  Otherwise, if you have a recommendation for a serger that is under $500-$600, I'd be very appreciative!

Thanks!

[SpottedFrog]

There are plenty of decent sergers under $500. At that price you will have to tame the Threading Diagram Monster, but once you gert the hang of it it's not too terrible.
No matter which one you buy, read the threading instructions six times before you try threading it.

[Fraugee728]

So you think any ol' serger will work well?  What serger do you have, and what do you like/dislike about it?

[elijor]

It has been awhile since I shopped for a serger but at that time switching between regular serging and cover stitch was a big PITA so you might want to investigate that. I went with no cover stitch - I figured a twin needle on my sewing machine worked just as well as cover stitch. I did end up getting a cover stitch only machine later but only because it was practically free. To tell the truth I hardly use it though.

[SpottedFrog]

I find most sergers run comperable in quality & ease of use as their counterpart sewing machines, Singer cheapie sewing machine = Singer cheapier serger. Baby Lock being the exception because sergers are their primary product & sewing machines are far secondary. But their sergers are good.

[dropdeadred77]

I just bought the Huskylock 910 and so far it's great. Threading wasn't actually that big a deal, for a low-end manual type, not the nightmare I was expecting after first glance at the diagram! I felt comfortable with this brand because I've had the huskystar 207 basic of basics for a couple of years now and that thing is fantastic for being $200 new.

I did see a 5 thread Huskylock that threads itself, but those kind of machines are just out of my price range as a hobbyist.

[fionasmom]

I have the Babylock 097 http://www.babylock.ca/canadian-products/  for 3 days now.  It is my first serger.  I find it easy to thread, I can do it without looking at the manual.  It is still very new to me but I already made a few things with it.  It does not adjust the tension automatically like the 1000$ model but I found the tension settings suggested in the manual very accurate.  Today I work on trying to make a rolled hem that looks good!

I paid 449$ CAN for the machine.  With taxes and the stuff I bought, (9 cones of thread, a book, a vacuum cleaner adapter to clean my 4 machines)  it came up to 674$

[Fraugee728]

I've been thinking about just going for the Babylock Imagine. 

Definitely more than I wanted to spend, but after reading about how terribly frustrating and discouraging dealing with tension and threading is, it just seems so nice and convenient.

Plus, I'm actually going to go ahead and start designing and sewing things together hardcore to sell at craft fairs...notably the Holidy Craftacular in Madison, WI (am already selling on etsy...though, don't have much stock and haven't made many sales), so this serger is probably going to turn into a business expense for me.

Thanks for all of the recommendations!  If you know anyone who has and loves their Imagine, please let me know.  I tried IMing someone who posted about hers a while back, but never heard anything.

[shesxautomatic]

Thanks for all of the recommendations!  If you know anyone who has and loves their Imagine, please let me know.  I tried IMing someone who posted about hers a while back, but never heard anything.

i have a babylock imagine and i cannot BEGIN to sing it's praises. i bought it a little less than a year ago and use it almost daily. i'd been sewing on a cheapie singer serger for a couple of years, trying to figure out the entire threading/tension deal (which i never completely got the hang of), and it eventually got to the point where i never changed the thread and ended up sewing black on white and so forth.

the imagine is neat because of the self-threading, and the self-tension, and the stitches are just beautiful. it's really easy to change stitches, too, say from a 3 thread rolled hem to a 4 thread overlock. it's a really expensive machine, but definitely worth the money. just like a sewing machine - you get what you pay for. definitely get you one - you won't be disappointed!

[Fraugee728]

Thanks for all of the recommendations!  If you know anyone who has and loves their Imagine, please let me know.  I tried IMing someone who posted about hers a while back, but never heard anything.

i have a babylock imagine and i cannot BEGIN to sing it's praises. i bought it a little less than a year ago and use it almost daily. i'd been sewing on a cheapie singer serger for a couple of years, trying to figure out the entire threading/tension deal (which i never completely got the hang of), and it eventually got to the point where i never changed the thread and ended up sewing black on white and so forth.

the imagine is neat because of the self-threading, and the self-tension, and the stitches are just beautiful. it's really easy to change stitches, too, say from a 3 thread rolled hem to a 4 thread overlock. it's a really expensive machine, but definitely worth the money. just like a sewing machine - you get what you pay for. definitely get you one - you won't be disappointed!

Yes...I do believe I need to own this serger.

By the way, I love your stuff!  When I saw your post here I was like "that avatar looks familiar..." and I looked at your topics started and was like "Oh yeah!  She's great!"  Haha.