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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: galsntexas
Date: 09-16-2004, 11:18 AM (1 of 15)
hi from Texas...does anyone out there own this machine. if so, will you please give me the down and dirty about it. i know the evolve and imagine wave are elite, but can't swing the $$. i have 2 sergers that have finally died after about 15 yrs. of heavy usage. all i do is sew; i cannot be without a serger. please let me know what u think and any recommendations. thxs!! God's Blessings to you and yours. cyndi 
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User: galsntexas
Member since: 09-14-2004 Total posts: 1 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 09-16-2004, 06:58 PM (2 of 15)
| Hii, I cannot help you with info on the Singer but I can tell you about the Elna 744. You can check it out on line too. It has auto tensions, tip back needles for easy changing, back tack, tension release for easy removal of fabric and chain. It is a 4 thread serger but it does 3 coverlock stitches and a chain stitch. It does the triple cover which some 5 threads don't even do. I did the triple cover the first try when I brought it home. To do the coverlock all you do is change needles and add a little table and use the chain looper. It is very easy to thread also. The design of this Elna is like the Pfaff 4842 which is also another good serger. Janome sergers are praised by their owners also. I have a very basic one that is a work horse. Sears has a Kenmore made by Janome that was considered one of the best sergers in a recent pattern magazine and I believe it is on sale now for only $249. If money is limited and you cannot consider a new Babylock, perhaps a used one is an option. I had one that served me well for more than 10 yrs. I would check prices and features of new sergers at on line dealers and also local dealers where you can go in and give a test drive. I suggest checking user ratings also. Viking owners praise their sergers too. Viking does sell both higher and lower price models. I believe they start at $399. Have fun looking for your new serger. I hope you find one you like.There are some good ones out there. Test them if you can for price, quality and features. Their is a difference and the bottom line is what serger is most comfortable for you. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: iskrypn
Date: 11-04-2004, 07:29 PM (3 of 15)
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Hi Galsntexas, did you finally get that Singer Quantum? I am curious how do you like it. I am about to buy it or Juki MO-655DE (it doesn't make coverstitches, but it made in Japan)... Anybody can share your opinion about those sergers? |
User: iskrypn
Member since: 11-03-2004 Total posts: 1 |
From: dmoses
Date: 11-04-2004, 09:20 PM (4 of 15)
|
I have that serger, but haven't used it a lot since I haven't been sewing much lately. So far, it is working great. I will warn you, though, that this is the second one for me...The first one(which I returned for a new one)had a problem with the presser foot...it would drop and could not be raised. I am just relieved that my serger was bought from a dealer nearby, and not from an online business...that would have meant big problems for me. Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 11-05-2004, 03:29 AM (5 of 15)
| Donna, I'm glad you were able to reorder your serger. The same thing happened to me with a new sewing machine and I reorderded and glad I did. It seems often that I see on the sewing sites where new things are not perfect when first purchased no matter what the brand. As for this serger I saw on another sewing site where a new one was missing a small part inside the looper area that was critical to threading. This person did return her serger but did not get another one. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: dmoses
Date: 11-05-2004, 08:09 AM (6 of 15)
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I didn't get a new one right away...they attempted to fix it first. The truth is they didn't even try to figure out what caused the problem, or how to keep it from happening again. They managed to get the foot up and declared it fixed, but as soon as I got it home, the same thing happened again. My husband and I went back and insisted that they get the machine to work while we watched...they couldn't. Apparently there is a chain of command, so the dealer has to get the distributor to agree that a new machine is warranted, and then the distributor has to get the okay from 'higher ups'. It's a pain in the neck. Having said that, I read some good reviews about the machine...owners were very happy with their machine, and I didn't read anything negative about them before I got mine. And, my new serger has been working great...so far... Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 11-05-2004, 10:04 PM (7 of 15)
| I did see some unbelievably low prices for this serger on line compared to what my dealer was asking. The brochure on this serger shows all that this serger offers and it is quite fascinating. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: dmoses
Date: 11-06-2004, 09:54 AM (8 of 15)
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My husband bought mine last year, and managed to keep it a secret until Christmas morning. The dealer didn't meet the internet prices, but came close($50), so I think we got a good deal...I've seen them on the internet recently for a lot less.
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964
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From: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-21-2005, 08:57 PM (9 of 15)
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My husband bought mine last year, and managed to keep it a secret until Christmas morning. The dealer didn't meet the internet prices, but came close($50), so I think we got a good deal...I've seen them on the internet recently for a lot less. Hi there. I was in the process of deciding if I should get the Quantumlock or the Consew machine. How much did you pay for yours and do you feel it was worth it? Are you enthused or is your machine just OK? I'd appreciate your opinion in more detail. Kelly |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: dmoses
Date: 03-24-2005, 02:20 PM (10 of 15)
|
Hi Kelly, Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I somehow missed your post. I see them going for $499 now, about $200 less than I paid. Right now I'm feeling a little ticked off with my machine. When I use it for three or four thread overlocking, it works fine. However, I have been having problems with the chain looper when threading for chain stitch and cover stitches.  I've found several mistakes in the instruction book, but haven't gone through the whole thing yet(I've gone through it before, but this time it will be with the express intention of highlighting and correcting the mistakes). I think this will make it a much better reference book...don't you?  One other thing that I don't like about this serger is that there isn't much space between the foot and the flatbed, so thicker fabric is a pain to serge, and there isn't a lot of maneuvering room. Also, a couple of times, when I decided to speed up the process, the upper looper got caught on to the seam edge...although this may have been because I didn't have much space behind the serger and the fabric was piling up back there. I had a 3/4 thread Kenmore before this, and to be honest, some days I want it back! 
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964
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From: MaryW
Date: 03-24-2005, 02:46 PM (11 of 15)
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I think most sergers are the same. Not much room for moving around, especially with thick or bulky fabrics. I know mine is like that. I think it came over on the ark.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-24-2005, 06:41 PM (12 of 15)
| I think some sergers have more room than others. Especially the larger TOL Vikings. The Pfaff 4842 that I gave to my DIL, the Janome that I gave to my oldest girl and my Elna 744 have more room than some of the sergers that have the upper knife right next to the needles. My sergers have a lower upper knife. I do think that my older Babylock that was a wonderful serger had better control. It had the high upper knife..but it was a horrid to change needles on that serger. The extra room in some sergers does make it easier for needle changing. Maybe that is one of the reasons I use my Elna so much more is that the needle bar tilts. It makes it easier for these old eyes and hands to do the task. I have to say that the smaller Babylock with the high knife seemed to let me control the serging a bit better. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-25-2005, 09:29 AM (13 of 15)
|
Right now I'm feeling a little ticked off with my machine. When I use it for three or four thread overlocking, it works fine. However, I have been having problems with the chain looper when threading for chain stitch and cover stitches. I've found several mistakes in the instruction book, but haven't gone through the whole thing yet(I've gone through it before, but this time it will be with the express intention of highlighting and correcting the mistakes). I think this will make it a much better reference book...don't you? Thanks for the reply. Once you get the 5th thread threaded, does it sew ok? If I buy this machine can you let me know where the bloopers are? I'm thinking of just going with the Janome 634D because of all the good reviews from the forums I've read which is 350.00. But I think whats another 150.00 for the coverhem. If the 5th thread is really a pain in the bahooty on this machine let me know. Can you tell me what it is about threading it that ticks you off? How often do you sew? Do you get alot of use out of it? Thanks! Kelly |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: dmoses
Date: 03-25-2005, 10:22 AM (14 of 15)
|
Hi Kelly, Truthfully, I haven't used the chain or coverstitches that much...mostly due to my frustration. When I was able to get it going, it was okay. The problem is that the book doesn't really tell you what to do with the thread once you have threaded the chain looper...when I pulled it to the back as one would do with the other threads, the needle wouldn't pick it up. It has been so long that I really don't remember what I did to get it working. I wish I could give you more precise information, but as I said, I haven't used the chain looper in a while. I should really give it another try. They've sold lots of these machines, and I haven't heard or read any complaints, so I'm still hoping that the problem is me.  The errors I've found so far are not big ones, but can cause a lot of confusion, and a big headache. Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-25-2005, 03:06 PM (15 of 15)
| Kelly, The Sears Kenmore sergers are made by Janome and the one with lay in threads is much the same as the 634D. They have another model with tension knobs and not lay in threads also. If you have a Sears close by you could go give it a try and see how you like it. When Sears has a sale on this serger it is usually $100 off making the price $249 instead of $349 and you could ask when a sale is coming up. I just gave my Janome like this one to my daughter. These sergers are work horses but don't have all the bells and whistles of other more expensive models. They do have 4 threads and diff. feed and no need to change the plate to do a rolled hem. I see on line that Sears now is carrying a Simplicity serger also. My Sears does not have this one in the store. But the model I mentioned did get top reviews in a recent sewing magazine a few months ago as being a very dependable serger. Sears also has a Janome catalog free of all the different feet for the sewing machines and sergers. I don't think Sears has a coverhem machine yet but with Janome coming out now with their new coverhem only models maybe Sears will carry them soon. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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