I think so Kelly! And I've bookmarked similar ones which have disappeared with purging (oops!). Of all the ones I've searched, this one has had the most responses ... so THANK YOU everyone!!!
I used to have an Elna (964 or something...? had coverstitch) that I liked, but I got it into my head that I needed a 5-thread serger. So I bought a Bernina 1300 (5-thread, coverstitch, LCD display) since I absolutely adore my Bernina sewing machine. I definitely made a mistake with this one. It's a royal pain to set it up for coverstitching. And the stitches skip a lot in coverstitch mode when going over seams. My Elna never did that. I actually dread coverstitching and don't do it much because of this. And I never use the 5-thread feature. The seam is larger than 1/4" when using 5-thread, and most of my patterns are Kwik Sew which call for 1/4" seams. It also needs a topstitch needle if you try to go over too thick fabric even in a regular overlock stitch. The tension I need to use never matches what they recommend. The manual sucks. I'm thinking of selling it and buying a simpler machine, but I have to look into whether I can cover the cost of a different machine as we're pretty broke right now. (I had to sell a lot of stuff to pay for this Bernina, which kind of gets to me...)
I kind of wish I had a coverhem (or is it coverstitch?) machine and a simple serger, but not sure if I'd go that route.
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Sharon
Mommy to Sarah (8/14/98), Michael (10/18/00), and John (9/30/03) and Peter 7/17/06
Wife to Byron since 1992!
Super Spy John, Michael, Sarah, and Super Peter with napkin cape
I have a Babylock Imagine and LOVE it. Truthfully, I bought it because I figured if Shecki can sew as much as she does on one and it doesn't give out, then it will be fine for me, LOL! I also wanted to spend NONE of my sewing time messing with tensions or threading loopers. I just love my machine! It was $$ but we were given a very nice moving allowance by dh's company when we moved here, and part of it went to my serger.
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Candace: Mama to Mollusc, Sluggie, Fishy, and the homebirthed Prawn!
P0F4X0
Originally posted by warneral Brother 929d - I think it works fine! Once I finally figured out how to use it, I've had no problems at all. Had it a year I think. Works well on thick fabrics although I think its time for new blades.
My first serger was a Brother 929D. I had no complaints with mine. In fact I still like it for the fact that it has a removable plate & you can do sleeves & pants legs easily on it. My Elna 683, while nice & free with the purchase of my Elna sewing machine, does not have that feature, unfortunately.
I've got to echo the sentiments from Alison and Barb on the 929G - I have one and I like it, though I, too, had a heck of a time learning how to use it! I got into the groove of it, though, and it hasn't given me any problems. But, like someone else said, I don't have any frame of reference because it's the only one I've ever used.
Oh, I got mine off eBay from allbrands.com - a refurbished Wal-Mart return - about a year ago. She's going in for her first spa treatment next week
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Ame, mom to R, A, G, and S; wife to P since 1998
Brother 929D (walmart online) Not bad liked the freearm but was serging along when it went pop and the upper looper arm broke! Sent it back.
White 200ats (sewnvac direct online) Good machine sold it with good concious to another aw mama. Wanted to upgrade
Pfaff 797 (local pfaff dealer) machine has never worker right from the start dealer has replaced with another faulty machine ugh!! thing is a beast it takes 6 layers of hemp fleece like butter but it gets all pissy with 1 layer of light woven. Can't get rid of the thing because I paid $1200 for it which was way to much
Juki 644d (online/ebay) nice little machine quiet, strong, happy. Juki makes most of the bernina sergers if you go on to allbrands they mention that the 644 is the same as the bernina 08 or something
Edited to add~~~
I just recently picked up a Juki 735 nice machine that does a cover hem. I am very happy with it so far, haven't gotten to use it much but it was esay to setup and thread. I still have the 644d and have it setup for a 4 thread and the 735 will be left setup for a cover stitch.
Location: Out along the Western Michigan Lakeshore, or buried under a mountain of fabric
Posts: 437
Had a kenmore serger - it was a bear to thread and rethread. Now have a babylock evolve and I wouldn't trade for all the riches in china.
I'd suggest looking at the sewing machine stores at the used models to see if anyone traded in a babylock, if that is what you have your heart set on - you might be able to get what you want for much less. Make sure that the dealer will give you some kind of service with it.
Definitely go in a try a few models before you get to that place where your definitely set on one model. I tried brothers before I looked at babylock and they were a close second for me, but after all the grief the kenmore gave me on threading, I chose the babylock for ease of threading.
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Jill
Crazy Baking Lady, Mommy to the glitter glue Princess, and married to a Mad Scientist.
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I'm leaning towards a "lower/mid-range" dependable model, not sure which just yet. As much as I'd like one like my MIL's, it's not realistic for me at this time. My only concern is that with the amount of sewing I do, a cheaper model might not hold up... but it sounds like more expensive models aren't necessarily more reliable. I think I'm more confused now than before! *sigh* Lots to think about!! Thanks again everyone. Gonna go look up all the models mentioned and overanalyze this to death
Originally posted by warneral Brother 929d - I think it works fine! Once I finally figured out how to use it, I've had no problems at all. Had it a year I think. Works well on thick fabrics although I think its time for new blades.
This is what I have, too, have used it from thick to thin for 3 years no problem
I bought it because Jennifer, the lady who had Poochies diapers, did all those years of those wonderful diapers on a Walmart 929. I figured if it could handle her biz (and I had some of her dipes; the serging was like art), it was sure the right price for me
Linear Mode
