Guest Linda S Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Does anyone use a serger? I'm getting into wearables and am looking at a slightly used Riccar 564DE serger. Does anyone know anything about this brand? Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Linda, I have a Bernina, and yes I use it often. Mostly when attaching binding on placemats or around vests that need sergered so the binding lays flatter, when I make Doctor and Nurse surgery caps. Sorry can't help you with this brand...I do know that they are Canadian made, and they were sold in a very tiny Vaccum cleaner store in Sparks NV, but I have never sat down to sew on one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlene Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi Linda, I just a bought a new serger last month, a Viking Huskylock 936. I'm not familiar with that brand that you mentioned, but I use the serger for garment work, making pillowcases, etc. If you get a serger that has the chain stitch, you can attach your quilts to the leaders from what I understand and it is supposed to be quite easy to remove them. Char Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanette Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I use an inexpensive brand three/four thread serger (Simplicity) which I purchased new several years ago. The video and the instructions are excellent. It works just fine and I use the heck out of it. It will not do a chain stitch, you need a Five thread serger to do that. However, you can also pick up the old Touch & Sew Singer machines any model number in the 600 series and they do chainstitching when you put the bobbin cover in, you might need to purchase that separately but whole boxes of attachments are sold for three dollars. You can spend from $300 up to the thousands for sergers so it depends on your needs. My cheapie is great for me. I wouldn't purchase a Gemsy, the ones on Ebay, tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Linda, I have a Viking, can't remember the number off the top of my head. I have had it for over 10 years. I love it. The thing to be careful of is tension. It seems that some machines do not maintain their tension well and that is when you get problems. Mine works wonderfully. Heidi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingupastorm Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I was making clothes way before I became a quilter and a serger is wonderful to have for garmet making. My favorite t-shirt pattern can be whipped up in under two hours from the time I cut the fabric to putting it on. I serge all the seams and do a tiny bit on my domestic machine................finish with a double needle hemming on the waist and sleeves. If you sew with knits a serger is wonderful. I also finish off all my seams for garmets with a serger finish..............keeps it looking really nice. I had a cheap serger which broke and cost more to repair thatn what I paid so I replaced it with a Bernina middle of the line model and just love it. You do not need an expenisve serger as long as it makes a nice sitich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi Linda, I love my serger, but then I do a lot of garment sewing as well. I often use it for seaming quilt backs too. Mine is a 4 thread, but I usually only use 3. Great for finishing seams of garments, hems, etc. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I think I probably won't buy this serger. I do need one, but I'll keep looking. I already have a chain stitch machine, so I'm not worried about that. I need overlock, rolled hems, etc. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaB Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi LInda S. I bought a BabyLock 8 thread from "Rich's Sew & Vac" in Salem earlier this year. They are really good to deal with, they also have a shop in Albany as well. They might have trade-ins to help your budget....just a thought. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Linda I have a Janome serger and like it a lot. I also do a lot of garment sewing. I have heard wonderful things about the babylock serger. good luck. If you are ever in Portland you might check with Montavilla, they usually have good refurbished machines and they are very good to work with, even have payment plans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Just my 2 cents. I wouldn't go to Montavilla. They have my regular sewing machine for the FIFTH time for a "tune up" They charged me more than another non-Janome rep did to tune up 2 machines. If they don't get it right this time, I'm getting my money back, and going to schlep over to Beaverton. I'm more than a little angry right now. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FowlManorQuilting Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I use a Janome 134 D. Bought it 12 years ago and have really put it to hard use. I've never been able to get it to do a rolled hem that was right and really haven't had the need for that so it's doing what I need it to with cutting and overcasting the edges. It's has 4 threads. It does not do a chain stitch which I wish it would have but when I purchased it I didn't know I would want it to! It works well, is dependable, the cutter has never been replaced and still cuts clean (even after hitting a few pins!) Back then it cost me around $300 because the new models were coming out and they were getting rid of the old ones. Keep looking and test run a few, you'll find one that will follow you home and you'll love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi Linda, Here's my 2 cents...I have a Babylock Imagine and love it. It has the the ports to insert the 2 looper threads, push the lever and swoosh...the thread is carried though. Is is so easy to thread. It has the 4 thread capability, doesn't do the cover stitch, but does a nice rolled hem and lettuce hem that I use for some of my baby granddaughter's knitted dresses for hemming the sleeves and bottom of the dress. There is also a Babylock Imagine WAVE that is a bit more than the plain-Jane model I bought. It does a really terrific wave edge and add some varigated thread and wow! It produces a really nice finish. You might want to check it out at www.babylock.com Sandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolyn Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Originally posted by Linda S I think I probably won't buy this serger. I do need one, but I'll keep looking. I already have a chain stitch machine, so I'm not worried about that. I need overlock, rolled hems, etc. Linda Hi, Linda. I think you're wise to keep looking. Most people are brand-loyal, but you can go and 'test-drive' some of the better ones and then see if you can find one at a good price. Personally, I love Bernina products, in terms of their capabilities and where they're manufactured (Switzerland). I used to sew higher-end custom figure-skating wear and used my serger almost exclusively for construction. Now, to ask you a few questions regarding your chain-stitch machine: what model, where did you buy it (store or e-bay, etc.) and do you feel it's worth investing in one? TIA Carolyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appr216 Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 I have a Babylock and love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnmach Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Linda -- Do not be afraid of buying the Riccar. The brand has always had quality products - sold through independent sewing machine dealers. Keep in mind that Viking, Pfaff, Simplicity, White, etc do NOT manufacture their own sergers. They have machines "customized" by other, mostly "no-name" producers. Riccar was one of the first domestic sewing machine company to enter the U. S. serger market - in the mid 80's. As a side note: Riccar are owned by the same company that markets Babylock and Simplicity brand sewing machines and sergers. Johnmach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hi Linda-- You do beautiful jackets so I want to ask what the plan may be for wearables? How great if you could do patterns for longarm-generated jackets, etc. I have seen patterns locally from Dian Keepers and Laura Lee Fritz and then the recent tutorial from JoAnn H. with that pretty sweatshirt. I purchased an easy pattern and am awaiting a nice on-line ordered sweatshirt from Nancy's Notions. You have a whole army of fans here if you want to start a pattern line!!! Sorry to go off-subject here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thanks all for the info. I'm not really thinking of starting a pattern line. I just want to do more wearables. I want to enter some in competition too. Last year at MQX, I helped out in the judging room for wearables. I got to hear a lot of the comments. Most were about poorly finished seams, bulk in the underarms, etc. If I'm going to enter my stuff in competition, I want to make sure I do well! As far as machines, I have a Bernina for most of my sewing (a 153QE), a Singer Featherweight, and a Willcox and Gibbs Chainstitch machine. I do have a taste for high-end items, so I was thinking that if I go to the local dealerships, I'm likely to be followed home by something fancy and very expensive. Since I just plopped down almost $10,000 to put up a fence around my house, I'd like to keep the spending down a bit for a while! Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingsue Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 LInda: I have a bernina 1300mdc which is able to both coverstitch and overlock stitching. It also has the micro thread control to tweak the tension. I am mostly a quilter, but really like the versatility of the coverstitch for seaming hems neatly too. the berninausa.com site will give the details of the machines. sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltnutt Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 I have the 8 thread Babylock Serger and love it. I had an Elna however it was a pain to thread. My Babylock is the jetair self threader,what a blessing. I use in eall the time for garm:)ents and finishing a rolled hem on tableclothes and baby blankets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyJo Posted September 1, 2007 Report Share Posted September 1, 2007 Hi Linda - I didn't have a serger but I do have a Riccar DM. I love it. Very heavy duty for back in the days when I had a business making drapes. I could go through 16 thicknesses of fabric with it and I had to go slow, but with a #18 needle (aka nail) I could bar tack those pleats in place like nobody's business. I still use it as it has a size L bobbin like our APQS and I use it as my bobbin winder. If they make as good of a serger as they did a DM, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housewifeyy Posted January 9, 2021 Report Share Posted January 9, 2021 On 8/29/2007 at 10:38 PM, Bekah said: Linda I have a Janome serger and like it a lot. I also do a lot of garment sewing. I have heard wonderful things about the babylock serger. good luck. If you are ever in Portland you might check with Montavilla, they usually have good refurbished machines and they are very good to work with, even have payment plans Montavilla sewing machines center is also very user friendly, which makes them a great choice for just about any beginner sewer. In addition, you can count on their years of knowledge and craftsmanship to ensure you get a quality product that will work long into your sewing career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still_C Posted January 17, 2021 Report Share Posted January 17, 2021 Hi there I found this thread alive after several years, while being in search of advice for a good serger. I think situation might have changed since 2007, I found Janome MOD8933 is pretty good, but if you have any recommendations, so you are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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