Seeking Serger Advice

Fiber & Textile Discussion and Questions
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I haven’t bought anything yet, but I’m looking for advice!

I finally want to buy my own serger. I’ll get a small bonus with my next salary. I use my mum’s or friends’ sergers now but none of them live close. It’s a hassle to bring my projects there. I was nominated by my peers for this bonus so I want to spend it on something special. It isn’t enough for a new machine, so I’d still have to add some of my own savings, it’s just a good kick in the backside to finally go shopping.

I went to a local sewing machine shop to get more info. They’re the biggest shop in the area and their maintenance department is very good, but I felt like they were pushing me towards more expensive machines. ÌThe shop is heavily pushing Babylock. And I get why they want to sell them, the Babylock Gloria is €4000 :joy: But I’d rather spend quite a bit less.

I would like one that has automatic threading, I always struggle to thread the machines I get to borrow (Bernette and Bernina brand, older models). I would prefer a coverlock as I would sometimes use coverstitch, if I had it, but it’s not a hard requirement. I have been looking at the Bernette B68 coverlock, which is priced at €1600 (including 3 years of maintenance worth €75/year and a 3 hour class to learn to use it). That’s about the maximum I’d be willing to spend, and I’d want to spend less on a serger. I still feel like that’s a lot of money to spend, but I also want it to be a once and done purchase. I don’t want to buy a fancier one in 5 years.

I will be visiting other stores, but if anyone has a serger or coverlock I’d love to hear your experiences. This shop advises against Bernette because they’re too loud, against Janome because they don’t have a good light and against Brother because they’re too basic. They let me test the Babylock but not the Bernette so I don’t know how loud it is, but my mum’s 20th century Bernette isn’t particularly loud (just normal sewing machine buzz). I hope to be able to test it in the next shop.

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I have a very simple Singer 3/4 threads but it is not a self-threader. Once I thread the machine, I rethread it by cutting the thread and tying the new color. I loosen the tension and pull the threads through. I have never had problems threading.

I mostly use it to finish off inside seams. I don’t make a lot of knit type clothing so I have not used some of the decorative stitches for hems. I have used the rolled hem and wavy hem stitches.

I don’t think it is loud, just as you said, regular machine whirl sounds. Mine has four cones but I mostly use just three. I got a very inexpensive one, less than $400 back in 2000. I have had it for over 25 years with no issues. I haven’t even had to replace the cutting blade!

If you plan on using it a lot, I definitely would get one that is self-threading. But, I am not sure I would get the top of the line one.

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I’m left handed, which makes threading a bit more difficult (at least for the ones I’ve worked with) but I’m not sure if that’s the case for all machines. I’m just a bit afraid that if threading is a hassle, I’m not going to use it after all. I do think I’d use it quite a lot if it’s easy to thread. On average I think I sew 5 to 10 items of clothing for myself a year, plus mending, and I foresee a lot of tiny clothes in my future. I would also use it to finish off evenweave and linen embroidery fabric. The shop I went to today doesn’t stock Singer but the next one does. I don’t think I’ve ever used a Singer before. Good to know yours works fine.

I do occasionally work with knit fabrics and I use a twin needle to hem, but a coverstitch would look better. It’s not a need, but it would be nice to have. I wouldn’t need any fancy stitches either - just a few basic stitches for hemming and finishing, a rolled hem. I’m certainly not going to buy the top of the line Babylock, but I would be willing to spend a bit more on a self-threading and dual use machine.

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If I had to do it all over, I definitely would have purchased a self-threader. As I have gotten older, it is even difficult to thread my regular machine! I sew a lot more with linen and natural cottons as well so a nice finish is needed that doesn’t even laborious binding the seams or French seams.

When I made those seven linen coats for the actors in Ragtime, the serger got quite the workout. I was happy to have it for sure!

Singer and Kenmore are basically the same machines. My regular machine is all metal and quite heavy. The overlock/serger is also metal but not as heavy. I use a rubber/foam pad underneath both machines to keep them quieter and from slipping. I got them from Madam Sew. I only have basic cone thread colors: black, cream, white, grey, red and blue. Those colors work well for most of what I make.

Should we ask a moderator to move this to the Sewing discussion thread instead of here? You might get more traction there! @MistressJennie

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Hey friends, I went ahead and moved this to the correct board. (I had no idea how to do that, so thanks for the nudge that made me look it up!)

I hope you get lots of good advice here.

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I have a Simplicity brand serger (as in the sewing pattern company), that I bought when I was in college back around 2001. I was working at Joann’s at the time, and got the employee discount, plus it went on sale for some event like Black Friday. I think it was originally $300+, but I paid around $100-150? Not exactly sure. I remember it feeling like a huge cost at the time, but such a steal, that I couldn’t pass it up.

I was worried because it wasn’t a name-brand serger, but I was sewing costumes as commissions often enough that I needed one. I had access to sergers in the costume shops I worked at, if I needed to do a small repair or project, but it wasn’t fair to ask them to let me abuse their machines, for paid projects that had nothing to do with their theatres.

So I took the chance on the Simplicity, and honestly, it’s been great. I don’t use it all the time. I get it out about once a year. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, and no automatic threading, but I find threading a serger kinda Zen. I unthread everything, take a moment to brush the machine out, blow some compressed air, and recheck the manual, etc. Then I block out the world, and go start to finish. I find I get the best results that way. When I try tying knots, and gently pulling through, I generally end up with something going wrong, and I think it takes me longer to do that way. (If it works for other folk, great! You do you!)

I will say, that since Joann’s had a floor model, I was able to check it out, and see that all the internal parts were metal and not plastic, so that gave some peace of mind.

If you go over to the store that’s trying to push you to buy an expensive machine, can you ask if you can take a shot at threading a few of the options? Maybe thread 1 or 2 of the expensive ones, to let them think you’re on the hook, but give a few less expensive options a go as well?

I’d also make a note of the less expensive models you’re interested in, and look for YouTube videos of regular people demonstrating them too. (Not the slick videos made by the manufacturers.)

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We don’t really have big box stores that sell sewing machines, they’re all small independent retailers. Typically all machines are on the shop floor and you’re usually allowed to sew and thread them. Normally you would ask but they would always allow you to try. The person that helped me wasn’t the owner. I think I’ll go back next week on a weekday when there’s less staff around and start off by asking to try the Bernette.

I think from the type of questions I asked, and the questions I answered (brand of my sewing machine - Bernina - didn’t mention it’s from 1980) she quickly figured out I’m an experienced sewer who might be willing to part with more money for a good machine. And she’s not wrong, just not that much money!

The machines I saw today were all metal. The next shop I’m going to has more affordable options on their website, but they also list the weight. There’s a Brother coverlock on their website that seems like a good deal ( CV3550) but the weight is so low I’m afraid it’s mostly plastic.

I almost forgot to show the kids corner in this store:

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How smart to let the kids play with affordable machines while mom waits for her repair! I bet this leads to many first machine-purchases and hopefully a lifetime of sewing.

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I’ll put in a good word for Janome… Have had mine for 15+ years. It’s just an overlock (with a roll hem feature as well), but has saved me so much time with finishing seams, and obviously ease with stretch fabrics. And I’ve put a lot of hours on it (I costumed an entire Steampunk Halloween venue one year as well as regularly making clothes and costumes; 20 to 50 a year for many years); and have only had to clean it myself… Has never needed servicing… Blade still sharp… parts all in excellent working order. I’ve never noticed that the “light isn’t good”.

But I’ve had luck with Janome in general… My early 2000s Kenmore standard home sewing machine is my workhorse (they were made by Janome for Sears). Again, have never had to have it professionally serviced. I’ve replaced the needle plate twice (they tend to get chewed up because I sew through lots of thick/tough materials that cause the needles to bend and hit the plate). The little Janome I used at the uniform shop where I worked for 6 years was also a solid machine.

I have no idea if the quality standards are still the same for the brand, but my machines have been tough and reliable for decade(s) of pretty high usage.

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Thanks! Good to hear something about Janome. I don’t think I know anyone irl who owns a Janome. I can’t really imagine a brand new 2025 machine has bad light either. New machines in all price categories seem to have very bright LED lights.

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I spent most of last Friday playing around with different machines, and I’ve ordered one! After trying several, I ended up ordering the Bernette B68 that I mentioned previously.

A few machines (different brands) that were significantly cheaper felt like they were mostly plastic. Several others were a bit more difficult to thread (this one has automatic threading). Several people irl advised me against getting a coverlock machine because it’s such a hassle to change them over from one setting to another. I tried that a few times in the shop and it wasn’t that fiddly at all, and it will get easier once I get used to it. I know myself well enough ( I think) to know that I would actually spend the 5 minutes re-threading the machine for a different setting.

The thing that really sold me on getting a coverlock is the combo stitch - a chain stitch with an overlock finish. About half of my sewing is “easy stuff” like simple tops, PJ pants, camis, pillowcases. A combo stitch would allow you to stitch up something simple in almost no time. Plus I simply lack space for two machines (cover and serger) and I really don’t know which one of the two I’d use more often, coverstitch or serger.

I haven’t heard yet when I can pick it up, but I hope it will be soon, so I can spend the festive period sewing. Mr. Imma has already suggested that as soon as my leave starts, I should move my sewing things from my small sewing desk upstairs to the dining table :heart_eyes:

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That is wonderful crafting/holiday news!

I have actually used my serger as a regular sewing machine. Knowing which of the threads do what makes it easy to adjust. You will love the sew/finish seam at the same time feature. It truly is a time saver!

I can see many more projects in your future…I just used my serger to do the edges of some old sweaters I am thrifting…and, you can also use a wide stitch to thread elastic for cuffs.

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“Mr. Imma has already suggested that as soon as my leave starts, I should move my sewing things from my small sewing desk upstairs to the dining table :heart_eyes:”

That’s a good Mr you have. :clap:

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Yes indeed! He has been pushing me for a while to get a serger. I kind of felt like we needed to finish up the house first, because a serger is not exactly a need, but now I received this bonus I ran out of excuses. We are both quite invested in our hobbies (his is music) so we both understand how fun it is to spend a whole week doing your thing in the main space of the house and not somewhere tucked away.

I just came up with another potential use for a serger. When I’m binding a quilt, I often struggle to keep all the layers exactly in the same place while also sewing on the binding. Wouldn’t it be much easier if you serged around the quilt first?

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I don’t serge around my quilts when I bind, but I do sew all the layers together. I never thought about using my serger. I wonder if there is a reason not to do this?

I just did a quick search and found that for personal quilts that aren’t going into competition, serging is touted as being a good way to hold all the layers neatly together. The only reason I could find not to do it is that it flattens the batting so that your binding will not be as puffy. Apparently, this is something that is looked at in quilt shows and competition. That definitely is not my quilts! ha ha

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Lol I had not realized binding was supposed to be puffy!

I’ve sewed the layers together in the past but the super flat finish of a serger seems perfect for binding.

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