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From: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-21-2005, 01:31 PM (1 of 12)
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Hello everyone. I'm new to sewing and found out I can sew pretty well. I'm the market for a serger and read abit on this forum and found that some 3/4 sergers actually have a coverstitch? Do they serge and coverstitch at the same time? I see the Consew 14TU5432 on Allbrands and the QuantumLock 14T957DC by Singer. They both have 5 thread coverstitch. Can I ask which one the majority here thinks is best to go with? Consew seems to be an industrial maker so I was impressed, but if it's not easy, I may go with the Singer. However, if there are 3/4 machines out there that also do a coverstitch, please let me know. I like the professional coverstitch and that is what I am going for so I don't grow out of a serger too fast. I currently use a Pfaff 1525 and am upgrading to the new Pfaff Quilters sewing machine. My local dealer wants me to by a Pfaff serger too, but it's 1500 and I can pay that much. I want to sew any type of fabric and I will be sewing about 2 dresses/suits per month. Any recommendations? Thanks! Kelly |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-21-2005, 08:24 PM (2 of 12)
| Hi Kelly, I have an Elna 744. It is only a 4 thread serger but it has 16 stitch programs plus 3 coverhems and chain stitch. The tensions are automatic and this serger is so easy to use..you just dial the numbered stitch you prefer on the stitch dial and the tensions are set and the dial tells you if to drop the knife or adjust the stich finger. It also has 5 needle positions on a needle bar that tilts upwards so you can change the needles easily. The back 2 needle positions are used for regular serged stitches and the front 3 needle positons are used if doing a narrow or wide double seam coverhem, a triple seam coverhem or a chain stitch. This serger is very easy to convert to cover hem. You don't have to change the plate or the foot. You lucky girl..if you you are getting the new Pfaff Grand Quilter. I did free motion on that machine and loved it. As for your your dealer wanting you to purchase a Pfaff serger..they are good sergers but I don't think that even some of their 5 threads will do all 3 coverhems like the Elna 744 does. Some of their 5 threads only do one coverhem. It is my understanding that the Pfaff 4862 is much like the Elna with the auto tensions etc..but not sure about the other features. Pfaffs are very good sergers. I had the Pfaff 4842 but with each stitch change I also had to do a tension change. I wish you luck in a finding a serger you love. If you get the Pfaff Hobby Grand Quilter I would also love to hear how you like it. There has been a site on Yahoo started for this machine. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-21-2005, 08:41 PM (3 of 12)
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[QUOTE=Kylnne2] Thanks for all this info. I was trying to find the Elna 744 and one site showed it for 1399. Is that how much it is? Maybe I can see if my local dealer has it. They are very Pfaff driven there. The machine I am upgrading to is not the Grand, I don't think. It's a 2027. Its a brand new model and it says 'quilt' on it. It's computerized and has about 14 quilting stitches on top of your a zz and ss. It's not anywhere close to the embroidary machines, but it ties knots for me which I love, and has button holes that are uniform plus some nice stitches. So, another question I have about sergers in general.... can I do an overlock stitch, fold it over, iron the seam and then plug in a double needle to create a cover hem look? Would this be the same thing? I'm wondering if I just need a 4/3 serger that just serges. The Consew machine for $450 at Allbrands seems quite nice. It discusses the tungsten metal for the blade (is this different than other brands?) and all the different cloth it can sew on. It also states its good for tailors and drapery shops.... this is what caught my eye because the warranty for most machines are void if they are overused in a business setting - from what I've been told. If this model is advertised as good for businesses that sew, this should be a good machine. Consew 14TU5432 Portable "Coverlock" (same as Singer 14U557) $449.99. www.allbrands.com Would you think this is a good one? Are Singer sewing machines more generic or are they good? It was either the Consew or Quantumlock. Thanks! Kelly |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-22-2005, 03:39 AM (4 of 12)
| Kelly, I paid about half of that price that you said you saw for 744. I paid $799. My dealer told me it was a $1200 machine but recently on another site somebody said their local dealer was selling it for $2499. That might have been an error. As for the two sergers you are interested in I suggest you look at PatternReview on line for the reviews and ratings on them by owners. I have sewed on the Singer with coverhem at the dealers and found it to be a very sturdy machine. I didn't try various stitches, just the one that it was set up to sew. I have seen posts where some have said it was a difficult machine to thread etc. while several said they had no problems with it. I can truly say I have seen more say that it was difficult than more that were happy with it. I just know that it felt very sturdy and of good quality when I tried it but I was not shopping for a serger at the time. The prices that I have seen for the Singer with coverhem on line have also been good prices. If possible I suggest a test drive on a serger before you purchase it. I find it really makes a difference when buying to test it first. Sergers vary so much in features and quality even in the same brand. Good luck with your decision. I hope you find one you are happy with. I am interested to know which one you decide on and how you like it. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-22-2005, 05:51 AM (5 of 12)
 I came back to answer somethings that I forgot that you asked about. As for using a double needle in your sewing machine to create a coverhem look..yes it might look like a coverhem on the top of the garment but it is not at all the same. A coverhem is a stretchy stitch. The underside has woven threads that give to stretch like in Tee shirt knits. Using a double needle on a sewing machine won't give the way a coverhem stitch gives. I am not sure about the different blade materials in sergers. I do know blades are located in different areas..some are high next to the needle and some have a lower blade and the blades are shaped differently. Loopers can be made of different materials also. Some sergers have stronger loopers than others. Most sergers that do coverhems are 5 thread. I did mention that my 744 is a 4 thread with the 3 coverhems. Not many 4 thread sergers do coverhem or chain stitch. Not all 5 threads do coverhems and some 5 threads only do 1 coverhem. They do have the capability of the 5 thread safety stitch..a strong stitch that is serged with a straight chain stitch running along the side. You can do more with a 5 thread including deco work. Also if you have a 2/3/4 thread serger the serger has a converter that covers the upper looper so a 2 thread stitch can be done. You will enjoy learning about all the serger can do.
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User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-23-2005, 11:43 PM (6 of 12)
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I'm not sure that the question about whether you could serge and coverstitch at the same time was answered. The answer is "no". A coverstitch is folded and you sew within the garment (away from the edge). Most serging is done on the edge. The bottom of the coverstith (underneath) looks a lot like the bottom of a serged seam. The top looks much different. As far as I know all coverstitch machines use two or three different needles instead of a twin for the stitch. My machine prefers a special needle for this. The twin needles are expensive enough that I am glad we don't use twin needles. For years I have used a machine that did 2, 3 or 4 thread serging. I love that serger. It does not have a chainstitch and it does not do coverstitch. I had a backup machine that I sometimes used with my professional sewing that did 3, 4 or 5 thread sewing. It did not do a 2 thread rolled hem but it did do a chainstitch. I really liked that machine. Recently I had been wanting a coverstitch machine. I didn't want to give up the capacity to do the 2 thread rolled hem for wedding veils and chiffon, and I didn't want to give up the chainstitch but I really didn't want to purchase just a coverstitch machine. At the same time, my newest serger was 13 years old. I ended up buying a 5 thread serger that combined all the uses of my other two machines and gave me three different coverstitch options. I really like it!!! I do have to do a small conversion on my new serger for coverstitch though. I would tell you to make some decisions about what you want to sew. If you want to roll hems on chiffon or veils or maybe some home dec or ruffles, you will want to be able to do a 2 thread rolled hem. You may like the 5 thread chainstitch for some things (esp. pants and skirts). At the same time, if you are sewing a lot of knits and putting in a topstitched hem, the coverstitch is great! Then you have to decide on how much versitility you want from the coverstitch machine....if you want wide, narrow, 2 top threads, three, or if you even want to be able to adjust the width. 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: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-24-2005, 12:38 AM (7 of 12)
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I would tell you to make some decisions about what you want to sew. If you want to roll hems on chiffon or veils or maybe some home dec or ruffles, you will want to be able to do a 2 thread rolled hem. You may like the 5 thread chainstitch for some things (esp. pants and skirts). At the same time, if you are sewing a lot of knits and putting in a topstitched hem, the coverstitch is great! Then you have to decide on how much versitility you want from the coverstitch machine....if you want wide, narrow, 2 top threads, three, or if you even want to be able to adjust the width. Thank you! This is where some of my confusion lies. THe materials I like to work with are linen, rayons, denim and cotton. I do like to sew sari material (from india) so the rolled hem is also needed. When it comes to knits, what exactly is a knit? I think of St. John as a knit - at Nordstroms. Are sweatpants a knit? Are sweaters a knit? Chenile? When it comes to heming a knit I can't use a normal 3/4 overlock and then turn it and seam? I have chenile sweaters I want to shorten alittle. Do I absoluletly need a 5 thread for that? Thanks!!!!! |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-24-2005, 02:29 AM (8 of 12)
| Sweaters and sweatpants are usually knit, yes. A serger can stitch on all the materials you mentioned. I have done very fine fabric, doubled fleece knit plus plastic coated canvas. You can do a blind hem stitch and very quickly with almost any serger best done with a blind hem foot just as you would do it on a sewing machine. Usually it calls for a 2 thread flatlock or a 3 thread overedge stitch. You don't need a 5 thread to do a coverhem or chain stitch. My 744 serger is a 2/3/4 thread that has 16 serged stitch programs plus does 3 different coverhems and chain. I believe Pfaff also makes a 4 thread coverhem serger the 4862 but I am not sure that it does all 3 coverhems as my Elna 744 does. I am not sure that the Pfaff has 5 needles as the Elna does. I believe it only has 3. Pfaff's other coverhem machines have 5 threads. They also may only have 3 needles but not sure. The needle placement on the Elna 744 gives very good coverhem stitches IMHO. You have more options for decorative serging with a 5 thread serger however. If one already has a good serger having a coverhem only machine is nice because it is always set up to go. Janome has some new coverhem only machines and the Bernina 009 is a popular model with many sewers. My serger is very easy to convert over to coverhem but I saw a posting where one lady had a serger that took her 25 minutes to convert to coverhem. It is always good to test drive a serger before buying it to make sure it is easy to use and convert and that it is a good quality machine and suits the pocketbook too. PS...when you were referring to use a double needle to sitch over a hem I thought you were referring to using your sewing machine with a double needle. Other sewers have said..why do a coverhem when I can just use a double needle on my sewing machine..I was just trying to explain..there is a difference..the coverhem has stretch to it. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-24-2005, 10:51 AM (9 of 12)
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You absolutely do not have to have a coverstitch machine to do a hem on a knit! It is rather nice. You have a professional-looking hem like in sweatshirts but it is absolutely not necessary. A serged edge turned and then stitched down with single or twin needles works just fine. You can also get some stretch in your hem by either using a very slight zig zag or a stretch stitch on your machine. The coversititch makes a fast professional one step hem in knits that will stretch with the garment...that is all it does. I just got my new serger and have made one outfit with coverstitch hems. I have been sewing for almost 40 years and I've been sewing knits off and on since the double knit first became readily available on the sewing market but this is my first coverstitch machine. As for knits. If it stretches very much at all it is probably a knit. Knit refers to the way it was made. Where woven fabrics (like most cottons) are made one-dimensionally, by weaving the fibers in and out, knits are made more three dimensionally, like sweaters where the fibers are interlocked. Under the right circumstances, most knits would run. 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: 03-24-2005, 06:31 PM (10 of 12)
| What I like about the coverhems and the reason I purchased my serger is the underside look of the triple cover hem. With so many babies in the family and 2 more coming I like to make their little clothes with the triple cover hem reversed so the underside woven stitch is on top of the fabric. I do it in a different color than the garment for a decorative look. I usually embroider something in the same color thread as the coverhem someplace on the garment. If one does not have a coverhem you can actually do different colored flatlocks to get a deco look also. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Hippiegirl
Date: 03-25-2005, 09:43 AM (11 of 12)
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You absolutely do not have to have a coverstitch machine to do a hem on a knit! It is rather nice. You have a professional-looking hem like in sweatshirts but it is absolutely not necessary. A serged edge turned and then stitched down with single or twin needles works just fine. You can also get some stretch in your hem by either using a very slight zig zag or a stretch stitch on your machine. The coversititch makes a fast professional one step hem in knits that will stretch with the garment...that is all it does. I just got my new serger and have made one outfit with coverstitch hems. I have been sewing for almost 40 years and I've been sewing knits off and on since the double knit first became readily available on the sewing market but this is my first coverstitch machine. As for knits. If it stretches very much at all it is probably a knit. Knit refers to the way it was made. Where woven fabrics (like most cottons) are made one-dimensionally, by weaving the fibers in and out, knits are made more three dimensionally, like sweaters where the fibers are interlocked. Under the right circumstances, most knits would run. Ah, you've saved my day. Now I understand. I forgot about that zigzag stretch stich and I guess it wouldn't look bad if I absolutely needed it. I don't wear tshirts or stretchy fabric at all, I'm a size 14 so I always feel like too much of me exposed thru the stretch if you know what I mean... but if one day I wear knits alot, how were they hemed the old fashioned way? Always a zigzag? What was standard? Would people know I made something if it was not coverhemed? So far, I've made 1 blouse and 1 skirt from scratch - no pattern and it fits and everyone had no idea I made it so I like the fact that what I have made looks professional. I don't want people knowing I make my clothing - not yet.... Kelly |
User: Hippiegirl
Member since: 03-21-2005 Total posts: 77 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-25-2005, 02:52 PM (12 of 12)
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Kelly, I sewed for my 6 kids growing up and am now sewing for my 24th and 25th grandchild soon expected and I just purchased my first coverhem machine a few months ago. I don't think that anybody guessed that my kids clothes were home made. My middle girl even won best dressed in High School.. "I" was the one most flattered by that since I made her clothes at the time and I didn't own a serger either. I don't feel you need to have a coverhem machine to have your home made clothes look professionally done. I have found that the coverhem with the extra feet that I recently received as a gift do help in sewing tasks to get the job done clean and neat and much quicker. A basic serger and sewing machine is really all that is needed IMHO but a coverhem machine is always nice to have..but not a necessity. Like a top of the line sewing machine is nice to have ..but also not necessary.
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User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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