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From: muddyclothes
Date: 01-11-2005, 05:37 PM (1 of 10)
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Hello, ok so I think the Evolvé is a little beyond my budget. Here are my top needs in a serger: 1. easy to thread! 2. saftey stitch (so I can sew the seam and overlock in one pass) 3. differential feed 4. autotension would be nice. I don't find coverstitch to be crucial for me because I sew mostly woven fabrics and I have a Bernina Virtuosa 155 which can approximate that on the rare occasion. I am very much a novice about sergers and have spent 3 days reading about them.. still unsure so any ideas would be so welcome! help  
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User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: LaurieZ33
Date: 01-12-2005, 12:37 AM (2 of 10)
| I'm not experienced, either, but have also done alot of research like you. Seems like the more you research, the more confusing it gets! Check into the Babylock Eclipse. I know it has the air threading, but is their bottom of the line with this easy threading feature. I saw a barely used one on ebay go for about $550. Not sure what other stitches it has - it is a 4 thread. It should be on the Babylock website. |
User: LaurieZ33
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: LaurieZ33
Date: 01-12-2005, 12:39 AM (3 of 10)
Oops! Just read your post, again. The Janome dealer told me that pretty much everything (in the nicer machines) has differential feed, anymore. Also pretty sure the eclipse has auto-tension, but check to be sure! 
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User: LaurieZ33
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-12-2005, 09:33 AM (4 of 10)
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I'm no expert either, but I did recently purchase a serger for myself. I got the Huskylock (Husqvarna/Viking) 905, which is a great machine in my opinion! It is not computerized, but is easy to thread and easy to use. I like it because it is is larger and heavier than most sergers and for me, that was/is a plus. It doesn't "dance" all over the table when in use, has a larger sewing field (where the fabric sits) and mine has a free arm, which was important to me. It doesn't have auto tension, but I haven't found that to be a problem. I do think that most sergers these days have differential feed (mine does) so that shouldn't be a problem to find. There are quite a few good brands out there--the Viking, Janome, Elna, Babylock. I do think that the upper end Babylocks do have the auto tension feature, but I"m not sure which models. One thing that I did learn about the top of the line Babylock (the one with the jet air threading) is that it tends to get clogged with thread (fuzzies) and needs to be taken to the dealer to have that blown out periodically. That, the price, and the unprofessional dealer turned me off of that one, although I do think it is an amazing and good machine. Once again, I think you know what your particular serging needs are and can find the machine that is the best fit for you. I would encourage you to buy from a reputable dealer in your area because, in my opinion, dealer support is very important. Good luck on your serger search! Let us know what you decide. 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: muddyclothes
Date: 01-15-2005, 09:26 AM (5 of 10)
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thank you to everyone who replied.. I posted this in another thread, but again: I have bought an Evolvé. I found an 2 week old demo (really, it looks brand new.. not even under a magnifier do I see scratches) for $1589 + trade-in (of a serger so old and cantankerous I was ready to throw it out the window.) I thought that was a pretty good deal. I went to New Hampshire to get it so no tax! I had to go there anyway to pick up to 2 collector dolls I had ordered. I'm very pleased and just got home last night.. now I have to learn to use it!!! The dealer was very professional and they gave me a quickie lesson in threading. Because of distance I wont be availing myself of the free lessons but was promised I could call any time for help. I'm usually pretty good at self-teaching. I did take it right out or the box as I got home last night, threaded it for the first time in a few mintues and have it running already. I'm impressed with this machine! Haven't even watched the video yet. I need a good book on serging now. |
User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-15-2005, 01:17 PM (6 of 10)
| Muddy, I hope you enjoy your new seger. It makes sewing so much more enjoyable when we have good machines. Please keep us informed on how it goes. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: muddyclothes
Date: 01-16-2005, 08:28 PM (7 of 10)
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Thanks Kylnne. Well I have fired up my new Evolvé and tried threading it every which way with the variations of the 8 different threads. There is much MUCH more for me to learn that's for sure. I have been sewing all day. What a pleasure it is to just whip fabric through and the threads NEVER break, perfect tension every time... no snarls and snags and hissy fits like my ancient serger did. I used to totally dread and avoid serging before. This machine is AMAZING! I don't even know half of what it can do yet. Now I need to learn everything... like I saw her demonstrate the gathering, but it is not tight enough gathering for me.. how do you make it tighter? It doesn't seem to be in my books. |
User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: fronno
Date: 01-18-2005, 06:35 AM (8 of 10)
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hello Muddycloth, just put your stitchlength shorter, than it will be tighter. With kind regards,
François |
User: fronno
Member since: 04-26-2004 Total posts: 79 
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From: MaryW
Date: 01-18-2005, 08:05 AM (9 of 10)
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Hi fronno and welcome to Sew Whats New. Muddyclothes, sounds like you got an awesome serger to play with. I am green  with jealousy. LOL.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-20-2005, 04:11 PM (10 of 10)
| Muddy, I hope you love your new serger. You asked about gathering..it is always good to use a gathering foot but you can gather without one. You can also gather with elastic. But the easiest way to gather is with your differential feed and also set the stitch length to a long setting and your needle tension to a tighter setting. Your differential feed can adjust to the amount of gathers you need. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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