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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: mommydionne
Date: 09-02-2004, 07:48 PM (1 of 15)
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OK the 14 year old singer serger is kaput, Rest in Peace. any thoughts on what I should look for in a new one. ie brand, features etc. I have a Bernina 160 sewing machine so I've got lots of bells and whistles there. I garment sew for myself and the three kids and have a sofa that seriously needs slipcovering so it needs to be able to handle just about anything. Thanks! 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: sewsweet
Date: 09-04-2004, 07:23 PM (2 of 15)
| Hi, I am a new sewer/serger and have a viking 905 model which I truly love. It does all the things the 910 model does but it is manula, not computerized. The 936 model is 'cream of the viking serger family' and has a cover stitch option amoung other things, but for a basic 2-3-4 thread serger, the 905 viking is wonderful- and the viking dealer gives free classes and has a serger club called s.w.a.t.- serge without any tears. Hope this helps. oh- The viking sergers are very very easy to thread!! and very heavy duty!!. |
User: sewsweet
Member since: 09-02-2004 Total posts: 6 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 09-07-2004, 03:08 AM (3 of 15)
| I have more than one serger and use them both regularly. One is a very basic Janome and the other is an Elna 744. The Elna is styled like my Pfaff serger which I now have on consignment at the dealers. The Elna has tilt needles auto tensions and also does 3 coverlocks and a chain stitch. It is a 4 thread not a 5 thread but it does the triple coverlock that some 5 threads do not do. It is very easy to convert to coverstitch. The Janome is a 4 thread with built in rolled hem feature and diffrential feed. I purchased this machine at an on line dealer for only $199 and free shipping. Sergers vary in price, quality and features. I should also mention they vary in size. The Vikings are very large machines, as big as some sewing machines. I researched on line for different sergers and their features. I test drove some. I checked ratings and owners comments. I owned a Babylock for years and that serger served me well. The owners of present Babylocks praise the jet air threading and love their machines. There are many good sergers from which to choose. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 09-07-2004, 06:18 PM (4 of 15)
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thanks, there is a dealer near me who sells both Janome and Viking and a bernina dealer too (in the back woods of Nova Scotia - imagine) so I may have to go test driving soon. If anyone else has an opinion I would like to hear it!
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: gramfel
Date: 09-18-2004, 10:37 PM (5 of 15)
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You may have already decided on a serger, but if not, before I would buy one, I would try the Babylock sergers with jet-air threading. My first one was a used Eclipse, and it was great! Then I bought the Evolve which I dearly love, and they also have the Imagine which is unbelievably easy to use. The Imagine and the Evolve have no tension settings; they automatically adjust to whatever fabric you feed them!! And they really work well. My first serger which I love, too, is a Bernette 334-D, and although I had to learn to thread it, it makes a beautiful rolled hem and a beautiful 4 or 3-thread serge stitch! Used,  they have gone down to several hundred dollars. Good Luck! Let us know which one you buy. There are really lots of good name brand sergers out there!
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User: gramfel
Member since: 09-12-2004 Total posts: 23 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 09-19-2004, 09:27 PM (6 of 15)
| When you go to the Janome dealer take a look at the Janome Compulock surger. It's to die for. I have a great Janome surger but " someday " I want the compulock. Theresa |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 09-20-2004, 07:12 PM (7 of 15)
Hello, thanks for all the advice, I test drove what was around and got a Viking 910, the 936 was verry nice! but I didn't really need the cover stitch function as I have a computerized Bernina 160 and could do the same effect with a twin needle. So I'm back at whipping up kiddie pjs with stuff from the remnant table  and learning how nice it is to have a rolled hem with just the flick of a switch (the old singer never did do it right even with the special plate)many thanks!! Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 09-22-2004, 05:45 AM (8 of 15)
| Jeanette, I hope you enjoy your new serger. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: jens_aggie_boys
Date: 10-08-2004, 04:56 PM (9 of 15)
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that's funny, jeannette, b/c the first thing i did when i opened my serger out of the box today was whip up 2 pairs of flannel pj bottoms for my 4 yr old ds!! boy was it fast! i should have taken it out of the box when i bought it last week! jen jen
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User: jens_aggie_boys
Member since: 03-22-2004 Total posts: 2 
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From: gramfel
Date: 10-11-2004, 05:57 PM (10 of 15)
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Aren't rolled hems fun!! Right after I bought my 334D Bernette, my daughter asked me to make 40 cocktail napkins for a party she was having, and she cut the squares for me. I felt like a child at a party, running each side through the serger for the rolled hems. It was sooooo easy! And they looked soooo goood!! Good luck!! I still have lots to learn about sergers, but now I wonder how I ever lived without one! Lulie |
User: gramfel
Member since: 09-12-2004 Total posts: 23 |
From: smith972
Date: 10-16-2004, 03:57 PM (11 of 15)
You ladies have me so excited now about getting a serger...i hope i win my ebay bid.... 
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User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-18-2004, 04:08 AM (12 of 15)
| Smith, good luck on your bid. If you win please let us know. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 10-19-2004, 06:46 PM (13 of 15)
I can't believe you made 40 cocktail napkins, I feel a little crosseyed envisioning that! but the rolled hemmer is way cool and I think handmade napkins etc may be in the inlaws stockings this year  It is so nice to serge with a machine that works perfectly and I don't have to fiddle with the knives every 12 inches or so!! serging happily in 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: TammyE.H.
Date: 01-01-2005, 12:01 PM (14 of 15)
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Hello. I'm considering the Singer 14J334. I can't seem to find any review online. Has anyone used one before? Thanks in advance! Tammy |
User: TammyE.H.
Member since: 08-28-2004 Total posts: 51 
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From: mamadus
Date: 01-01-2005, 09:12 PM (15 of 15)
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My dad got me the Viking 936 serger for christmas... I just took it back, It was a really hard decision, but I decided that since I'm not getting any younger, I'm probably best off with one of the Baby Lock jet air threading sergers... I'm looking at the Evolve, if I can get it at a price I'm willing to pay... Anybody got any opinions on these they're willing to share??? MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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