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From: muddyclothes
Date: 01-08-2005, 12:51 PM (1 of 10)
| Hi again. I am really looking into a 5 (or more) thread serger. I saw one demonstrated, a pfaff 4870 and was blown away by the feature that you can sew the seam and do the overlock in one go. This would be ideal for me as I sew doll and children's clothes and this would save me SO much time. Are there other machines that have this feature and do I really need a 5 thread to do this? I have also looked at the Baby Lock Evolvé but not sure I need to go that high end. Any advice or help would be so appreciated as I am not very savvy about sergers yet. thanks! |
User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-08-2005, 07:28 PM (2 of 10)
|
The most important 2 features to me when it comes to buying a serger are differential feed AND ease of threading!. Some of these machines are so hard to thread that you almost have to stand on your head with a flashlight to thread them. There are sooo many features incl. coverstitch, overlock, and chainstitch avail, if I were shopping for one right now I think I'd investigate everything and decide which features were best for me because it is not an investment most of us make very often.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-09-2005, 05:19 AM (3 of 10)
| Yes, the 5 threads can sew the straight seam and also the overlock seam in one go but so could my old Babylock 4 thread sew a straight seam and an overlock. It limited me to not having use of the left needle for other stitch programs like other sergers in the Babylock line that didn't have that feature because of it's design and functions. I understand with a certain special threading to my Elna 744 I can also get that safety type stitch but I don't find a need for it. I bought my Elna for the coverhem ability. Even though it is a 4 thread it has 3 coverhems and the 3 seamed one that I wanted. Some 5 threads only do 1 cover hem and it is the 2 seam. I think with the mock safety or safety seam either is good. Usually the 4 thread serged seam also has the straight seam..but it is intertwined with the serged stitches..it still holds and it gives more. I also never saw a reason for the 5 thread..I know some sergers have 8 or 10 or 12 threads if one is into deco work but my 4 thread Elna and it's coverhems/chain and many serge stitch programs can do the deco work I need. I also love the automatic tensions that never need adjusting and tilt needle bar for changing needles. I also have a Pfaff 4842. I can say that Pfaff makes a very fine serger. Both the Elna and Pfaff that I have look much alike in their design and both were made in a factory in Japan. If you are looking for a serger that converts easily to coverlock the Elna is one of the easiest..there is no changing of needle plate nor foot. I can't say enough about this serger..and I have yet to try the feature ..with the straight stitch. I believe in some 5 threads you can aquire this safety stitch with either just a straight stitch running beside the serged stitch or a chain stitch beside the serged stitch. I make doll clothes too. I have to say that the serger that I use for doll clothes is my Janome New Home. I have 3 sergers and the reason I use the Janome for the doll clothes..it makes a beautiful rolled hem..and this serger is smaller and I seem to have more control for smaller items with it. I also use my Janome Jem Silver when making the doll clothes because of it's smallness. I hope you find a serger you enjoy. I do recommend you test drive it and go through all the motions before purchasing. Have fun in your search. Ky |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: LaurieZ33
Date: 01-09-2005, 10:49 AM (4 of 10)
|
Hello! I'm thinking about an Elna - do you know anything about the 704 line. I'm guessing they're older than yours, as I can't find out much about them. I do know they do at least 1 coverstich. Thanks, -Laurie |
User: LaurieZ33
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: muddyclothes
Date: 01-09-2005, 12:32 PM (5 of 10)
|
Thank you Kylnne. You certainly seem to have a lot of machines. I sort of inherited an old Bernette 234 which for me is a nightmare. I have been figthing with it for years and I just gave up and decided it's time to turf it. I just bought a Bernina Virtuosa 155 recently to repace my 25 yr old B. Nova and now its time for the serger. I find the straight seam with the overlock is a wonderful feature but I also insist on a machine which is easy to thread. Auto tension is also high priority. I really know almost nothing about them and admit some of the features I hear people mentioning here I don't even have a clue.. like, what is differential feed? Unfortunately where I live there are no machines to test, so I want to at least narrow it down online before I take the 1 hr drive to try some brands. I did see a new Pfaff 4870 demonstrated and it was impressed so I came home and started shopping online and that's how I heard so many praises for the Evolvé. The price is a little overwhelming though and I wondered if another machine would do as well. |
User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: sable
Date: 01-11-2005, 04:03 AM (6 of 10)
|
My mother bought the top of the line Elna overlocker, but found it a pain to thread. Every time you change stitch type you have to rethread the whole thing. She ended up giving it to me and buying a Baby Lock (2nd from the top). Both machines have differential feed (you can adjust this to eliminate waving or puckering), but the Baby Lock has Jet of Air threading which means you poke the threads into a guide hole, press a lever and whoopee all the hard work is done. You only have to thread the needles. The one she got doesn't have coverstitch, but the top of the line one does. I like the Elna myself, but I am into tech more than she is, and still enjoy a challenge (which I have to say it was!). Differential feed: this is the ability to adjust the bottom feed dogs and the feed in the foot itself to change how fast each one is feeding the fabric through. It's usually done by means of a dial or lever and the instruction book usually has good instructions as to which way to go to get the perfect seam. You can also use it to gather. Hope all this helps |
User: sable
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 76 
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-11-2005, 05:04 AM (7 of 10)
| There is a difference among models in the same company when it comes to sergers. I tried an Elna that seemed to be rather shabby that shimmied and shook and wiggled the table and was noisy. This serger seemed to be more difficult to thread also. I brag about my Elna 744. It is rather heavy and quiet and easy to thread and one of the easiest to convert to coverlock. The auto tensions and tilt needles make it worth every penny. I have also seen posts were owners were not satisfied with the model above this one. It is like with my Pfaff serger. I think and it is MHO it is superior to the models above it and the one model I saw below it. I think one can tell when they sit and sew and test drive a serger what the quality is and determine the ease of use. A serger can be solid and big and beautiful but if it is a bear to thread or convert to coverlock or different stitch programs..I would never use it. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Toner
Date: 02-11-2005, 10:25 PM (8 of 10)
| Hi. I'm new to the forum and do not yet own a serger, although I'm researching them now. I'm just returning to sewing after 20 years or more and am amazed at all the new equipment available. From reading this forum and other sewing site forums I've noticed several people that have more than one serger - sometimes three or four. Is there a practical reason for this or have you just upgraded to new ones and not had the heart to discard the old one, have you been given them as gifts, or are you just collectors of these machines. I guess what I need to know is why anyone would ever need more than one serger at a time? |
User: Toner
Member since: 02-04-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-12-2005, 12:52 AM (9 of 10)
|
When I was sewing professionally I often used two sergers. I prefer to use matching threads in my serger. When I had to do (for instance) cheerleading outfits of royal blue with white inset box pleats (I'd do as many as 35 skirts at a time), I'd set one serger in white and one in royal blue. My second serger was a 5 thread chainstitch. I often would set it up and leave it fully set up. Then I would do seam finishing (only) and 2 thread rolled hems with the other. My old 5 thread wouldn't do a 2 thread rolled hem. It also saved a lot of time. I recently purchased a 5 thread that does all the stitches of my other two sergers and also does a up to a three topstitch coverstitch. I've very excited. I got a very good deal on the serger. I'm planning to sell my old 5 thread to help recoup a portion of the cost and I'll still have my other serger to back up. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 02-12-2005, 02:32 AM (10 of 10)
| Toner, it is quite accidently that I ended up with 3 sergers..however I sold one to my oldest girls friend and told my DIL who is expecting that she may have my Pfaff and I am just keeping my Elna 744. I had a Babylock for many years.( over 10 ) It broke a tension knob and after the dealer still had not looked at after he had it for 3 weeks to repair I traded it in for a Pfaff serger then I found I wanted the Coverhem stitches. My dealer did not honor the trade up offer the way I liked so I went elsewhere to buy my Elna. I like having only one serger and that is what I will end up with. However today, many people like to keep their serger set up for serging and rolled hems and have a separate coverlock only machine set up for coverhem and chainstitch. I just prefer one serger that does it all, does it well and easily. The same goes for sewing machines. I have a stand alone embroidery machine and a Pfaff mechanical and also Janome Kenmore computerized..I gave my Janome Jem Silver to my DD who also is expecting. I usually give my machines to my kids and their spouses..they need to sew for the grandkids. I live in an apartment and do not have room for machines and certainly never planned on having as many as I do. I wanted an embroider machine for years so when I retired last year I bought my embroidery machine only $349.. the dealer threw in a name brand computerized machine at a good price..I gave my old good machine to my daughter and the new computerized machine was a lemon.. This dealer refused to refund it so I traded it in for my mechanical Pfaff which I love..missed the many stitches of the computerized machine then bought the Kenmore which I also love. I bought the Janome Jem Silver because it is a great machine for travel, class and for doll clothes. I just figured my daughter would love it for baby clothes since I do not need more than 2 sewing machines. I prefer having a mechanical as a backup for the computerized since I have heard horror stories of loosing mother boards on the computerized machines. I love the IDT of the Pfaff and also the smooth beautiful sitches of the computerized Kenmore. It is strange having more than one machine..I always just had one good machine and one good serger through the years raising my 6 kids. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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