Replies

1. 
   Crazy K | Oct 31, 2007 05:00am | #1

   Look at a rtw t-shirt and if you see a double or triple row of straight stitches on the right side, turn it over and look at the underside.  The stitches are incredibly strong and stretchy.  I bought a Babylock Evolve for two reasons........the ease in threading and the easy conversion to the cover hem.  I love it.  I have used it a lot because I do much of my sewing for my grandkids and much of what I use is knits.  I am blessed to have more than one serger so I do my seams on one and leave the Evolve set for coverhem mostly.  As I'm hemming the sleeves and bottom of a t-shirt I often wonder how I managed without that dream machine!  I hope that helps you with your question!  I'm sure others will jump in with their ideas and opinions.  That's what is so great about this forum!!

   You can do the double needle thing with your machine but it has been my experience that kids tug and stretch their clothing beyond the limits and the double needle just isn't as durable.  If money isn't an object, go for a serger that does the coverhem.  You will find that only the high end machines have that feature but if you do lots of sewing on knits, you will love it.  I also use the coverhem on wovens for the kids play clothes as well.  Love it!!

   Happy Stitching!

   Kay

2. 
   Tatsy | Oct 31, 2007 06:37am | #2

   I also have the Babylock Evolve. It's pricy but wonderful. When I first got it, I did a prairie skirt to try out the differential feed gathering and the cover stitch for the hem. The only two seams I sewed on the sewing machine were the seam to close the elastic band and the one to enclose the elastic in the casing. I held off buying a serger for a long time, but once I had purchased a cheapie, it wasn't long before I gave it to my daughter-in-law and plunked down the cash for an Evolve. I don't have the room to keep two machines up all the time, but I can sure see the advantage to doing so.  Switching from one mode to another is neither hard nor time consuming, but when you're in that frenzied finish-the-garment mode, you don't want to give up even the few minutes necessary to make the change. I must say, I change from one color to the other without much thought, even in the middle of a garment. I love the serger.

    

1. 
   jatman | Oct 31, 2007 09:12am | #4

   Hi Tatsy!  Would you mind telling me what your cheaper machine was?  I've also been on the verge of buying a serger for a while and I really like the Bernina's but from everything that I've read the Babylock seems to be what everyone loves.

   JT

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Oct 31, 2007 05:18pm | #5

   A great sight for serger info is http://www.lindaleeoriginals.com She was one of the co writers of my favorite serger book, Serger Secrets.  Mary

1. 
   jatman | Oct 31, 2007 05:23pm | #6

   Thank you Mary!  I believe you suggested Serger Secrets for me a while back in another post where I was agonizing over whether or not to buy a serger and I did buy that book!  I will check out the website, too.  I'm still agonizing over the purchase!

   JT

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Oct 31, 2007 05:31pm | #7

   Hey, this is supposed to be fun, not painful!  I know what you mean though, I am still agonizing over digitizing software prices and if I really would get enough use out of it to bother.  I put it on the shelf till after the first of the year now.  Then I will think about where I would like to go from here.  Maybe a longarm quilter?  Maybe be satisfied with the wonderful machines I have.  Maybe upgrade my Designer 1?

   It's still all about the creativity.  The one machine I never looked back at the cost or quality is my serger though.  It does so much more than finish seams!  I want to make alot of lace scarves with it for Christmas presents if I am able.  Mary

2. 
   jatman | Oct 31, 2007 05:35pm | #8

   I know - I keep reminding myself - this should be fun!  I'm glad to know that your serger has been a great investment (and the person who started this thread will probably be glad to hear that, too!)

   When you get your scarves done will you post a picture?  It sounds interesting.

   JT

    

3. 
   MaryinColorado | Oct 31, 2007 06:14pm | #9

   If you want ideas of what can be done with a serger, check out:  http://www.bearspawfabrics.com/cgi-images/mycurrentsergers.pdf    or http://www.bernina.com and go to thier projects section, choose serger and there are several projects.  They show the stitches and such.  I have the Husq/Viking Huskylock 936, but there are many brands that do the same stitches. 

   Hope this helps!  Mary

4. 
   jatman | Oct 31, 2007 06:32pm | #10

   Thank you, Mary!

   JT

5. 
   MaryinColorado | Oct 31, 2007 06:40pm | #11

   You are so welcome!  I always get gift ideas by going to the websites of different machine companies.  Lots of great info on techniques too.  Happy sewing! Mary

2. 
   Tatsy | Nov 01, 2007 01:34am | #12

   My cheaper machine was a four-thread Brother. It was great: lightweight, easy to thread, durable. The only problems I had with Brother were dealing with the local repair guys. Useless! But one would think this might not be such a problem in Goteburg.

1. 
   jatman | Nov 01, 2007 03:05pm | #13

   Very true!  No place to buy or service Brother but I have a choice of places for Bernina and Husqvarna!

   JT

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Nov 02, 2007 07:20pm | #14

   I just signed up for November serger club.  We will be making serger crazy patch Christmas stockings.  (I just missed the one on making a gored skirt, darn!).   The "clubs" and classes are something worth checking out.  Mary

2. 
   jatman | Nov 02, 2007 07:28pm | #15

   Is the club on one of the websites?  And thank you for letting me know!

   JT

3. 
   MaryinColorado | Nov 02, 2007 07:48pm | #16

   No, it's at a Husq/Viking, Pfaff, Brother dealer/shop.  I am on the email list for a couple of the shops in town, they update me on what's happening.  It doesn't matter where I bought the machine to be able to go to the classes or clubs usually.  Some places will let you borrow a machine for classes if you ask in advance when you pay for the class.  (You need to know how to use the machine though, as the classtime is focused on the project only.) 

   I got a video and free "know your machine I &II classes" when I bought the serger.  I also bought the larger manual which has alot more information and pictures than the little booklets you get with the machine.  Mary

   http://www.sewingwithnancytv.com has free tutorial videos that you can watch.  Hope this is helpful.  Mary

    

4. 
   jatman | Nov 02, 2007 07:52pm | #17

   Very helpful!  Thank you, Mary!

   JT

3. 
   Cherrypops | Oct 31, 2007 06:57am | #3

   May I suggest you do a search on this forum by using the advanced search link.

   Type in Coverstitch and you will come up with lots of information regarding coverstitch, machine brands, threading, etc....all great stuff.

   Many members have already answered questions like yours and some do not re-write their previous posts. ( it is considered spamming).......unless of course they have bought a new machine.

   also visit pattern review website. there are many more reviews there, and on a grander scale than what is on offer here.

   Cp - sydney