Sew What’s Up Presents
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: June Harlow
Date: 06-12-2005, 07:42 AM (1 of 3)
|
Hi: I'm in a real "puzzlement" here. I own two Babylock BL5180's and one Babylock BL4-605. I never use the BL4-605 and I'm leaning towards getting rid of it. All the clothing construction I do is basic sewing of garments, both to wear to work and for casual use. Dresses, skirts, pants, wrap tops, blouses, and the like. Usually I sew the fabric together on my Pfaff, then I use a 3 thread overlock on the BL5180 serger, leaving the original sewing line intact about 1/8" away, this way it ends up looking somewhat like a 4 thread overlock edge. The 5180 serves me well, threads easily, and has an easy change to rolled hem without changing the needle plate. Let me list the features and perhaps you can tell me if I'll ever want to use the stitches the BL4-605 does: BL5180: - 4 thread mock safety - 3 thread overlock - 2 thread overedge - 2.5mm to 7.5mm width - built-in rolled hem (2 or 3 thread) - built in 2 thread conversion BL4-605 - 4 thread safety ( a bit different, I understand, from a 4 thread mock safety) - 2 thread overedge - 2 thread double chain - 4mm to 7mm stitch width (no adjustment) - no rolled hem - no built-in light It seems to me like the only thing I might use on the 605 is the chainstitch, perhaps for decorative top-stitching, other than that I can't imagine the need for the BL4-605. Any suggestions would be welcome ! June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100 
|
From: Kylnne2
Date: 06-12-2005, 04:25 PM (2 of 3)
| You may consider selling both of your sergers and getting a serger that has both different stitch programs and coverhem and chain. Or possibly sell one of your sergers and maybe getting a coverhem/chain only machine since you already have a serger. Sergers on the market today do so much more than the basic sergers of years ago. If doing a lot of garment sewing I think a coverhem machine is needed not only for its hemming abilities but for other projects like making belt loops and also using the chain stitch for deco work. I myself think a light is needed for a machine and I would probably sell the serger that had no light. I do a lot of 2 thread serging on more delicate fabrics so I feel a 2 thread stitch is needed. As for the difference in the mock safety and safety stitches..I find a 4 thread stitch is secure in either. My older Babylock did have the extra stitched seam separate from the serged seam. At the time I thought this was a stronger seam and was the reason I purchased the serger..but now after owning other sergers I find this is not necessarily so. The 4 threads seams on my newer sergers are just as secure plus they have more stretch and give..adding to their strenth. I did love my older Babylock and missed it for a time after trading it in..but the newer sergers do so much more. My Elna 744 is only a 4 thread but does 16 stitch programs plus 3 different coverhems and chain. It is the easiest serger I have ever used having the tilt needles and automatic tensions where you never have to make different tensions adjustment. It is also one of the easiest machines to convert and use doing coverhem . It also has a needle tension release. The needle bar tilts for easy insertion and there are 5 needle positions. The back 2 positions are used for serged stitches and the front three are used for the different coverhem and chain stitch. I highly recommend this serger. There are many nice ones on the market today. If you do decide to buy a new one..do test drive it first to see if you are comfortable with it and that it is easy to use..some are not so easy and are more time consuming to thread and convert. I wish you luck on your decision. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: June Harlow
Date: 06-13-2005, 06:55 AM (3 of 3)
Thanks Kylnne ! I appreciate your suggestions. I may not be able to get a new serger right now because of finances, but I'll try and "test drive" some new ones to see what I'm missing. Maybe I'll win the lottery soon  Thanks again for your help !
June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-16207.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft