First, another interesting and informative petticoat comment to add to our other ones! She posted this as "anonymous", so I don't have a name to attribute this to. Thank you for sharing!
"Its funny to see these petticoats still liked today. I was in grade school in the 50s and remember them well. There was a high school girl we would walk behind to school and when she would crest the hill, we saw a rainbow of color under her skirt! Very pretty and my sister and I were envious cause we could only have one. How my Mom took care of them was to wash in cold water, put in a bucket with full strength starch, and then dry outdoors on top of the clothes lines splayed out to get the fullest flare we could. In those days our clothes line was between 2 Ts. "
I've decided to upgrade my studio with another sewing machine. Understand that I only have one machine, a Janome 4800QC. I don't own a serger. Obviously, I've done ok without one, but I can't help but think that a serger would be a good addition to the studio.
I know what you're thinking, "Girl, get out of the sewing dark ages and just get one!". Right. The question now becomes, "Which one?".
I've done a bit of research and checked out Janome's 1110DX at the sewing machine shop today. It can do 2, 3, or 4 thread serging, plus rolled hems and includes a differential feed. My dealer did both stitching and rolled hems on wovens and knits. This machine is comparable to Bernina's 800DL (which was highly recommended to me by a very skilled individual). I can get a very good price on the Janome, less than half of MSRP. I'm sort of leaning toward the Janome, partly because I really like my dealer - they are really, really, good to me. They know the type of sewing that I do and will even loan me a machine if I have a deadline and mine is in the shop. I've also never had any major problems with my current Janome. One time it lost upper tension, but my dealer found the problem in less than a minute and fixed it overnight. Two different people at the shop also verified that they've never had any trouble with the 1110's that they've sold.
I'm thinking I'd really like a coverstitch feature, as I do a lot of alterations where this would come in handy. On the machine, off the machine, done. From what I understand, a separate coverstitch machine is the way to go, so I may have to wait and buy that one at another time.
What do you think? Those of you who own sergers, what do you have and is there anything I should specifically look for?
I've been working on the wedding dress off and on today. Tomorrow I'll show you a picture of it mostly completed - this will be easier to do once I get the zipper in!
Parting Shot: New bicycles! My son was very excited to get a new bicycle this year. He won't be too excited when he finds out there's no training wheels! (Ouch, that picture's a bit overexposed!)
8 comments:
Summerset - I have a serger, low bottom feeder kind, why because I use it to finish seams only. Now I know there are people who create art with their sergers but a serger is like a microwave to me to aid and assist the oven in making the food. However, someday I do want to upgrade to one of those whisper touch sergers where you touch a button and whoosh its threaded...changing thread the bane of my existence. Okay this was far more than you wanted to know when all I was trying to say was that I had no words of advice to offer!
No serger?! How are you *breathing*???
Just kidding. But I am willing to bet that a week after you have it you will wonder how you did live without it. Problem is...it's going to be very, very tempting to give up those neatly bound seam allowances!
I have a Kenmore now. I had a Huskylock and sold it. I miss it sometimes...my new machine doesn't have a 2 thread rolled hem, the presser foot lever is in an inconvenient place,and sometimes the tension on the lower looper just jumps out. But it's smaller than the Husky and so it's easier to serge curves. It's also sturdier (less noise and motion and seems to work better on heavy fabrics.) Any machine will probably have its picky little things. And I think you'll be happy with any mid-priced machine.
That said, I'd definitely make sure the conversion to rolled hemming is easy (i.e. you don't have to replace the needle plate or presser foot.) I think all sergers have differential feed now. And some kind of mechanism that makes threading the lower looper easier. It shouldn't be difficult to change the cutting width either, b/c you'll do that often.
The best serging book, I think, is by Kitty Benton, "Serging Fine Fabrics."
You are going to have soooo much fun...
I have a Bernina 1300DC with 5 cones, cover stitch, and chain stitch. Does everything. I'm terrified of it. But I checked them all out, and it does it all. And does it quietly and quickly. Look at it before you decide.
I would definitely recommend the coverstitch feature. I really miss it on mine. I've had a Brother 1034D since Christmas 2005 and have never had a problem with it; it has differential feed, and can do up to 4-thread serging. However, I really wish it had the coverstitch feature. Like you, though, my choice was influenced by my dealer. I have a serious Brother dealer 15 minutes (walking) from my place, which is a big stroke of luck - there are very few sewing machine dealers within Paris itself, and as I don't have a car I need to carry my machines to the shop if they need repair. More important than that, she's a very reliable dealer, and knows her customers, which like you I believe is crucial.
However, I would probably have bought a Janome if there had been a dealer for them here.
Wow, you're going to be making an even better job, and I can already picture you using your serger to accent your clothes as well. The Janome website offers plenty of inspiring project ideas.
Oops, silly me - just realized the coverstitch would be a separate machine. In that case, I guess you'll probably want to invest in one some day. I probably shall, within a few years (not right now, we just don't have any more room in our small flat and Sébastien is already very understanding as it is)
I have a Janome 434D - probably an older model. I have never had any trouble with it, but I don't use it much. But I would be happy to buy a Janome again....actually all my machines are Janome.
I think buying a serger is one of the most difficult purchases and the only way to do it is to test drive every one that you can get your hands on and test them with YOUR fabrics. When I bought my current serger I was certain that I would buy an Elna or a Pfaff. Neither of those particular models (at that time) would sew well all of the fabrics that I thought I would be using. Finally someone in my guild badgered me to try the BabyLock and that's what I wound up with. I've had it at least 5 years and it's never been in for service. It's super simple to set up, has tons of stitches and I LOVE the air self-threading feature. It really does work. I recommend that you put together a kit of sample fabrics and go to the stores. Have them show you ONCE how to thread, set stitches and set then you do it and see if it's intuitive and sews your fabrics well. What fun!
You are not the only without a serger.I don't have one either.When I go look at them I don't know what is the right one to get.
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