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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: grandma C
Date: 04-24-2007, 08:46 AM (1 of 19)
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Gang, I love serging but I struggle with my Speedylock 1500. I'd like to be able to sit down to serg something and not struggle for an unreasonable amount of time to be able to put something together. Can anyone recomend what I should look for in a used serger. Any brand name? I cant spend more than $200-$300 on it. I would sacrifice fancy features for dependability and durability. Belinda |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 04-25-2007, 06:06 PM (2 of 19)
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If you prefer to purchase new in box rather than used I would suggest a Janome (also called New Home) serger for your price range. There are several Janome models from on line dealers and also Hancocks has the new Janome Juno and Sears Kenmore sergers are also Janome made. There is a New Home model 504 D (D stands for differential feed) and this serger has lay in tensions rather than the dials that need threading. This serger might need more oiling than some models but it is a work horse and usually priced on line for only $199 with free shipping. The Hancocks Janome Juno is a newer model and I think is at a special sale price or introductory price right now. This model has the dial tensions. You might wish to Google on line for more info on the Janome line of sergers. Sorry, but that is about the only brand I can think of that are in the price range you posted. I do think that the lower priced Brother sergers are liked by their owners. I have owned several brands of sergers but I have never used a Brother so I cannot comment on them. Best of luck in your choice. I hope you find a serger you love. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: grandma C
Date: 04-27-2007, 01:27 AM (3 of 19)
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Kylnnne2, Thankyou. what is a realistic price for a nice serger that can do rolled hems, narrow hems, coverstitches, and would be good for making lengerie. I'd love to do some decorative serging. I saw a singer 5 thread serger online between 400 and 500 dollars. I dont know if singer makes a great serger. I saw a nice 5 thread going for over 600 dollars. I'd like to get into sewing in a bigger way when I retire from my present career. I dremt of designing clothes and doing home furnishings also when I was younger. Where can I research the types of sergers and what would be good for what type of sewing ? I am clueless! 
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User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 04-27-2007, 04:41 AM (4 of 19)
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If you want a serger that does coverhem then you will be spending more than the $200 -$300 that you mentioned was your budget in your first post. I cannot comment on the Singer because I haven't used it but it seems a fair price for it's features if it also does coverhem and I believe one of the Singer models also has auto tensions. There are also some machines that only do coverhem and chain stitch and do not do overlock stitches. Many people do prefer having this separate coverhem only machine but I prefer the combo of both overlock and coverhem in one machine rather than to have to thread a separate coverhem machine and my serger converts easily and quickly to coverhem without having to change the needle plate or the foot. One of my sergers is an Elna 744 and is very easy and has about 17 stitch programs including 3 coverhems and chain stitch and it is only a 4 thread. I just dial the number of the stitch I want and the tensions are automatic and I don't need to touch them. Auto tensions are really time saving. To find out which sergers are preferred by owners you may wish to check reviews by owners of the different brands at PatternReview.com. You might find reviews on the Singer there also. You will find sergers vary widely in price because some are basic 4 thread models and some are 8 and 10 thread models. Babylock air thread models are some of the most highly praised by owners and are also some of the most expensive sergers. You might also want to test drive several brands and models and read up on sergers as much as possible before making a purchase. Besides varying in price sergers also vary in sound and vibration, how much oiling they need etc. Good luck, I hope you find a serger you love. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: grandma C
Date: 04-27-2007, 10:41 AM (5 of 19)
| I will go to pattern review now. Thanks so much for your time!! |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 04-27-2007, 11:19 PM (6 of 19)
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I have the 5 thread singer serger and it's a good machine I love mine. I've had it for a little over a year I got it at Christmas 2005. Very easy to use. At least it is for me.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: grandma C
Date: 05-13-2007, 02:09 PM (7 of 19)
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As I posted elsewhere I bought a White Superlock 2000 ATS. It is now out of production but I bought it from my Jannome dealer and am sattisfied that he will help with it whenever needed. It is very stable and runs smoother than my 1500. I wont miss what I have never had. Bleinda Thanks for the advice everyone. I weighed the cost and read reviews. It is the best I could get for the price. |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-14-2007, 09:59 PM (8 of 19)
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Good luck with your new serger. I just bought a used Baby Lock and am afraid to try it out without the lesson. I tried threading it and didn't have much success even though it's supposed to be one of the easiest out there. Hope you love yours. Hope I love mine. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 05-14-2007, 11:13 PM (9 of 19)
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Congrats to both of you. Glad you got a nice machine Belinda. Lennie, did you get one of those air threaded machines? If you did you are so lucky. Those machines take all the hard work out of the sergers. Threading the darn thing is the worst part of it all. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: plrlegal
Date: 05-15-2007, 12:11 AM (10 of 19)
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Ah come on ladies. There's really nothing to threading a serger. I can thread my juki in about 2 minutes or less. Take your manual and sit down in front of that sucker and thread and rethread until you've got it mastered. After that, you don't think anymoe about changing the thread in your serger than you do in your sewing machine(s). Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: temom
Date: 05-15-2007, 07:18 AM (11 of 19)
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When I bought my serger, I watched the little CD video on my computer, and I watched the threading part over and over... I memorized upper, lower, right, left, and then I went and put a lable on top of the machine 1 for upper, 2 for lower, 3 for right needle, 4 for left needle. I can thread it very quickly, and the hardest part is the lower looper, which takes me about 10 seconds longer than anything else.
Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410 
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From: grandma C
Date: 05-15-2007, 11:47 AM (12 of 19)
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for me threading a serger is easier with long curved nose tweezers. My 1500 was a trial till I figured out the place where I was crossing the lower looper thread over the upper looper thread instead of the opposite way around. I still miss the thread holes on the first set of thread guides but I have gotten better at looking for that problem, with practice. I havn't had to rethread the Superlock yet. The manuel is a bit sketchey and I would sure love some sort of machine specific video for it but used, you get what you get. thanks for the encouragment. I already made a pair of boys boxers and put together a sundress I have had half made fo a few weeks. It sews much nicer than the 1500. Belinda Lennie, Keep me posted on your progress. If you bought from a dealer maybe he would give you a lesson or two. I need to ask mine fo a few tips on flatlocking and 2 thread serging among other things. |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-15-2007, 12:03 PM (13 of 19)
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Yep, Susie, it's one of those air threaders. I got the lower one to shoot through no problem but the upper one just won't shoot through. I'm calling today for the lesson. I'll just wait. I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the machine since it just had a major overhaul. I'll just be patient. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 05-16-2007, 10:26 AM (14 of 19)
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Yep, Susie, it's one of those air threaders. I got the lower one to shoot through no problem but the upper one just won't shoot through. I'm calling today for the lesson. I'll just wait. I'm assuming there's nothing wrong with the machine since it just had a major overhaul. I'll just be patient. Lennie Lately I have had several Imagines with this problem. It seems the air port selector mechanism gets worn or warped with time. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-16-2007, 01:37 PM (15 of 19)
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Mine's an "Eclipse" (trade-in) and luckily it came with a great warranty. I've got 1 yr labor, 10 years parts and 2 years electrical. I've got a lesson on the 23rd with one of the owners so it'll be remedied one way or the other. My guess it's just user error. I'll hook up that old VCR and give the tape a look. Thanks for the input. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: grandma C
Date: 05-26-2007, 02:51 AM (16 of 19)
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Lennie, Did you get your serger threading problem fixed??? I havea lesson on Monday if the store opens on Memorial day. I want to know more about what mine will do. I hope I can get them to find me a video specific to my machine. Belinda |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-26-2007, 12:58 PM (17 of 19)
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Thanks for asking, Belinda. I did get it figured out and before I went to the lesson or saw the tape. I was so ignorant about sergers that I didn't even know where to look for the upper looper thread. Only a small amount of thread was sticking out and I just didn't see it till I tried threading the thing over again. I have now watched the tape and had the lesson. The lesson followed the tape almost exactly and was wonderful reinforcement. There was one other lady there with me and the owner so a semi-private lesson. I'm feeling like I understand my serger now. I'll be taking a "decorative serging" class on the 1st and then I should be full of confidence!!! Hope you're doing well with yours. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: grandma C
Date: 05-29-2007, 02:01 AM (18 of 19)
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I aam glad you are having a good time with your serger. I talked to my service man last week and he said to bring in my serger and he would help me with some of my questions. the store owner is better with that sort of thing but he is at the other store all the time now and that is in Huntsville, q 35 mi. drive. I am having problems with the loops extending past the edge of the fabric. I wont be able to sew any this week. I will be babysitting the 3 grand children from 6, 10, 12 yrs old. I'll get back to it next week. Enjoy your lesson. How 'bout posting a sampler of your stitches. I'd love to see what you learned at class. Grandma C/Belinda |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: lendube
Date: 05-29-2007, 12:31 PM (19 of 19)
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I might just do that. Thanks for the encouragement and have fun with your grandchildren till you can get back to sewing. We're remodeling the house so my sewing time's been nil lately. There will be time, there will be time........And the house will look terrific too. Lennie 
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User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
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