How useful is a serger

I recently bought a Singer Quantum to replace the Singer I bought when I graduated from high school in 1968. While I was in the store learning to use the new stitches, another woman was getting a lesson on a serger. This is something I've always thought only professionals used. Now I want a serger. But do I need one? I sew a little, maybe once a month. I make non-tailored clothing, drapes, curtains, quilts, pillows, baby clothes. I use the overcast stitch to finish the fabric edges. Are there uses for a serger beyond finishing edges (assuming that's the primary purpose)? I woulda asked the sales person except I was afraid she'd sell me one before I had time to justify the extravagance. It just looked like fun. So I'm asking, is it a toy or more? Thanks...

Reply to
Moanna
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Well get one! :) I know LOTS of folk who have sergers (especially on this list) who are NOT professional stitchers. If you make baby stuff, they are almost essential! ;) Great for fast, secure, FINE comfortable seams! They do a LOT more than just neatening edges, though I use mine for that too. Do pop over to my web site and see what I get up to. I DO sew professionally, and find the serger *so* essential that I have two!

Definitely NOT a toy! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Kate is a professional. I, like you, sew only for myself and my family. When sergers first came on the home sewing market around twenty years ago (before that, they were strictly factory equipment) I looked at them and decided they were extremely expensive toys for grandmas. The prices have come down considerably, and I am myself a grandmother now, but I haven't changed my opinion. For me, they are not a cost-effective purchase.

Now, if you WANT one, and can afford it, go right ahead, enjoy. I have not yet found a reason to spend that much money on something I will very rarely use, not wanting my clothes to look "factory made", although if an orphan serger appeared on my doorstep begging for shelter I probably wouldn't turn it away.

If you think you want one, go take a few lessons. I know there is a "big box" fabric store near me which gives serger lessons BEFORE you buy one. Try it out, and make your decision then. There are so many different kinds, ranging from three-thread to eight-thread, that you need to educate yourself first and find out what you really want.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

Moanna,

I am far from a professional as you can get :). Yet, when my serger is down for the count, I find it almost impossible to sew. Since I really have issues with loose threads and unraveling fabrics, my serger works wonders for this. Plus the fact I can cut and overlock faster then plain sewing stitch with much nicer results. (plus the fact you dont have to press open your seams like you do when regular stitching on a sewing machine.

The down side to a serger?

  1. Learning the threading pattern of the machine. It is tricky and very unforgiving. Yet once you learn the threading pattern it is a breeze.
  2. When you screw up on a serger, you can make some very costly mistakes. On a regular sewing machine it is not too bad, you simply pulling the stitching out and re-sew, not a problem most of the time. On a serger you are both cutting the material and overlocking at the same time. If your seams are off you could really have a problem. Example: I was serging a full floor length velvet cape with satin lining, binding the outside ( velvet) to the inside (satin) unbeknownst to me, some satin from the middle of the garment had gotten caught up and pulled through with the intended seam. Result : a good
15 inch cut right down the center of the garment.

You could have heard me screaming from a mile away. I had to totaly take the entire cape apart, buy new satin, recut the pattern, now taking in an extra

5/8 allowence from the extra that had been serged off and reserge the entire cape. The worst part is this was not for myself yet a friend who had paid a massive amount of money for good velvet and and outstanding type of satin. I paid of course for the new satin as this was my mistake.

Moral of the story: Sergers are wonderful things to have, but when you screw up on one it can be worse than any sewing machine ever thought of doing. Yet I wouldnt be without one.

Cindy

Reply to
Cindy

I'm not a professional either but love my serger. It has made sewing knits a simple job, makes great napkins and I get a second life from old towels. That's just a few of things I use it for. I have made it a point to use it all the time. The big thing with a serger is to use it. The more you do, the more you love it. Juno

Reply to
Juno

I have been sewing knits very successfully for 30 years, using my simple mechanical sewing machine and a roller foot. To edge old towels, I simply use either a three-step zigzag or the overlock stitch.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

The primary purpose of a serger is to sew seams, although finishing edgesis a fine use. They are also great for doing seams in kids' clothes, and they make sewing stretchy knits a lot easier.

I got a serger just before I got married, and it certainly made sewing my wedding dress a lot easier. I made pull on pants and shorts for my kids when they were little, gymskins for my gymnast, quick fleece pullovers for the entire family. I use it a lot on blouses and skirts and pants that I sew for me.

If I lost both machines, I'd replace the sewing machine first (sergers don't do buttonholes or lapped zippers); but I'd certainly replace the serger fairly quickly. It's not a toy, but it's not absolutely critical.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Reply to
Jenn Ridley

Reply to
cea

Would you make more things if your sewing went faster? That's one of the beauties of a serger for me... I can knock out a t-shirt or a pair of pants in an hour on a serger -- it'd take me longer to do on the sewing machine. I use it for gathering, preparing sleevecaps, for edging, for pintucking, for construction seaming, at times for hemming. I serge the double bias binding on quilts on the first pass. It keeps knits and bias from growing or contracting while seaming. And lots of other stuff.

Stop over at your public library and pick up a couple of good beginners books like Ultimate Serger Answer Guide, Complete Book of Serging, Sewing with an Overlock, ABCs of Serging... read up on what you can do. Then take some problem fabrics to the dealers and ask for some demos. Have them show you applying knitted elastic, and hemming jersey and making a serger french seam. Play. Play with lots of models and lots of fabrics. See if you like it. One may follow you home. Or not.

Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

Olwyn Mary, I know I can do those things on a conventional machine but it's just fun on the serger. I would never have gone out and bought one but, my DH wanted me to have one and had me pick out what I wanted for a Christmas gift. He does things like that. I got my first computer because he wanted me to have one. He knows I love machines, Not toys but machines. My gathering attachment for the serger came today and I'm anxious to start using it. I have never been good at gathering. I could have bought one for my conventional machine but because it's a Viking it would cost a fortune. Juno

Reply to
Juno

How useful? Don't know where to start. Got my Bernina 335D in 1990. Made all kinds of baby clothes for new grandbaby then. Use it for casual clothes, pillows, and every Cea wrote. Mine doesn't have the newest stitches but it's more than functional for my needs. Grandkids are near grown so it's just for my needs now.

Get one - you're worth it!'

Alice in Arizona

Reply to
Alice

Thank you, Kate. Your site is awesome. I'll remember where to find the instructions for cleaning a serger!

Reply to
Moanna

Reply to
Moanna

Reply to
Moanna

It's not a toy, but it's not an absolute necessity. It's terribly convenient, but if you can't afford one (like I can't), then don't be overcome with guilt that you can't get one.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

Which means that it's not a necessity, right?

We don't know the OP's financial status or anything, but considering that she called it an extravagance, I think it's important that she know that you can still sew happily without one.

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS

You've given me a lot of ideas. And it's like Juno was saying above, the more I use it the more I'll like it and the cost will be spread out. Haven't seen slightly used ones advertised, but then I haven't actually looked for that yet. And you're right about tools. If my DH has a riding lawnmower for 3' of grass..... :)

Reply to
Moanna

Reply to
Moanna

Reply to
Moanna

I'm with you. A serger definitely extends one's sewing panorama and, for someone with less time to sew, it can really enable you to get more done taking advantage of the limited time available. Is it a necessity? No, but neither is an electric sewing machine or indoor plumbing--- though it's darn convenient. :)

Reply to
Phaedrine

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