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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: AnnAnn
Date: 04-28-2005, 11:45 AM (1 of 5)
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Hi - I'm new to this. I'm shopping for my first serger. I'm never used a serger before; I've been sewing for 20 years, mostly quilting, home crafts and home dec. I've never enjoyed clothes sewing, although I could see myself using it for some kids clothes, pj's, etc. The 2 dealerships in town are Viking and Pfaff - both have good reputations for service and classes. I want to buy a machine that will last me a lifetime, but I don't want to spend extra money on options I'll never use. The 2 machines I'm comparing are a Pfaff 4852 and Huskylock 905. Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences with these machines? Is the Pfaff 4852 a 5 thread? it is about $250 more than the 905 and doesn't include extra feet, but it does have the coverhem stitch. how are they for learning to thread and ease of use and learning to use? Has anyone used a serger for piecing quilts? Any and all comments are appreciated! |
User: AnnAnn
Member since: 04-28-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 04-28-2005, 12:59 PM (2 of 5)
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Talk to your Pfaff dealer about the possibility of a "re-pack" -- one that was used to teach dealers about the new machine. I got a 4862 for $1,099 and its a $1,669 list price. It comes with the same warranty as new. The 52 has five threads and 18 stitch programs. I have a Pfaff sewing machine and love it. That's what convinced me I wanted a Pfaff serger. That's after I bought a White and got terrible service from the local Viking dealer. But, of course, they may be better where you are. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: toadusew
Date: 04-28-2005, 01:30 PM (3 of 5)
I have the Viking 905 serger and love it! It is a 4 thread and does not have the coverhem, but since I don't usually work with lots of knits, that didn't matter to me too much (I recently had to sew some lycra and was wishing I had spent the extra money on that stitch! :  ) When I purchased my machine, it came with about $200 worth of extra feet and I have used 2 of those regularly and would like to try the others as well--which may happen when I have time to sew for myself again. Dorothy has a good idea about the "re-pack". Dealer support is important as well and in my case, the Viking dealer is very good. Test driving the sergers may help you decide which serger fits your sewing/serging needs best. 
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 04-29-2005, 06:38 PM (4 of 5)
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I have an old (think ancient) serger.. Its name is Companion 2040 and it is only a 3/4 thread serger and has capability of rolled hem.. I found out today that it was made by Babylock.. (no wonder it takes such a beating).. It is just as good as the day I bought it home 15 years ago.. Today I bought the new Janome machine that only does the coverhem, because I wanted one in the worst way.. So, I bought myself a Mother's Day Present..I make so many knit shirts and shorts for my grands. (3 of them, 2 sons, myself, great nephew and 2 great nieces.) It came in yesterday pm, so I went down there today and we played with it.. IT IS WONDERFUL ! ! I just could not do consistently good hems on my Janome sewing machine.. I can't use a twin needle worth a toot, and no matter which specialty needle I used , I could not get a good hem every time.. So , I took scraps of fabric that it took me over 2 hours to hem a child's size 8 t-shirt and we each did it slowly and took about 2 or 3 minutes to get a perfect hem..(going slowly)... It will really fly..I paid for it and left it there, because now that GS is out of the Hosp. from his asthma (sp) attack, I am going on our annual beach trip for our "after tax season fling". I knew if I brought that machine home, I would not get my packing done.. I will pick it up when I get back.. Anyway, for me , the coverstitch is a must now.. And since my old serger is still in topnotch shape, I just bought the specialty machine.. (its on sale this month)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 04-30-2005, 05:43 AM (5 of 5)
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Libby, I think you are really going to enjoy your new coverlock. I got mine for the same reason..to sew for the grandkids. I was blessed with another last week and another coming in June. I had a Pfaff 4842 that I gave to my DDIL when I got my Elna 744 with coverhem. The Elna is very much like my Pfaff was in design with the stitch lenghth and diff. feed levers on the front head of the machine. The inside is also designed the same. Some sergers are harder than others to convert over to coverhem stitches. The 744 is very easy. You just add a little table and thread the chain looper and whichever needle or needles you need. The Elna 744 has only 4 threads but it does 3 different coverhems and chain plus 16 serged stitch programs. The 3 coverhems are narrow and wide double seam and also the triple seam coverhem. There are 5 needles on a needle bar that tilts back for easy changing and insertion. The back 2 needle positions are used for regular serged stitches and the front 3 positions are used for coverhem and chain stitch. The front needle positions for the coverhem stitches gives a better stitch. The automatic tensions on this machine is another reason it is so easy to use. You just dial the number of the stitch that you want on the panel and the tensions are automatically set. There is also a needle tension release button that makes the coverlocked stitch easy to remove from the machine. This serger is not a computerized model like the model above it. I do highly recommend checking this serger out before making a purchase.
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User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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