Overlock

Hi :-)
I'm still sewing :-))). What should I look for when buying a serger? Should I go for a more expensive one with lots of little extras, or a cheaper one with just the basic functions?

Best regards, thanks!

Hi Strickliesel,
sewing isn’t really my thing, but I think it also depends on how much you sew and what your budget allows. If you just want to sew something every now and then, then the expensive machine with all the bells and whistles might not be worth it. So, if you estimate roughly how often you’d use the sewing machine per month or per year, then look up the average lifespan of a sewing machine, and then divide the purchase price by the number of uses—that is, the number of sewing evenings or afternoons—you’ll know how it works out. But anyway, sewing isn’t really about economic considerations—these days, no one is forced to actually sew their own clothes anymore, since you can probably buy ready-made items in stores. In that sense, it might not be all that important, but let’s get back to the topic.

If you really want to get into sewing and stick with it, you won’t be very happy with a cheap machine that only has the basic functions. It might be cheap to buy, but if you’re constantly frustrated while sewing—because it lacks this or that useful feature, or because it doesn’t sew neatly—then you won’t enjoy it for long, if at all.
You’ll just have to think about what would be the best fit for you, but for something like this, I’d almost recommend heading to a specialty store. You want to enjoy it for a long time, and without expert advice, that might not work out quite as well—but then again, that’s just my opinion, and you can also find bargains online or even at discount stores and might not need any advice at all. That could very well be the case—I rarely, if ever, buy sewing machines, so I’m not as knowledgeable about them as the pros here on the forum. But this might not necessarily be the kind of bargain you’d look for on popular price comparison sites. Unless, of course, you’ve already set your sights on a specific model. If you get advice at a specialty store and then buy online, that’s good for your wallet—but not so much for the store. But it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend, or whether the in-store advice is worth a little extra money to you. People are supposed to shop locally, and you also have to consider whether, in the event of a repair, you’ll have to hand over the machine—if you bought it online or from a discount retailer—and send it to them via mail. At a local specialty store, you can usually just bring the machine in and they’ll fix it on the spot, or customer service will come by and repair it at your home—and if you’re lucky, it might even be covered under warranty.

I actually thought an overlock machine was a type of sewing machine; I just had to Google it because I wasn’t sure anymore.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overlock-N%C3%A4hmaschine
—that’s more of a professional machine. Wow. I wouldn’t have thought there was something like that for home use, not just for industrial production.
You’re a beginner at sewing, right? And you want to start out with a machine like that? Apparently, you have big plans for your sewing.
What do you want to sew?
There are tons of videos on YouTube about overlockers:
What can an overlocker do, and how does it work? Easy Sewing with the PFAFF® hobbylock™ 2.5
https://youtu.be/XZ0QqO5Ltv0
I mean, the woman in the video says she’s not a beginner and uses the machine regularly because she works in that field professionally. Of course, that’s not really comparable to a sewing beginner or someone who maybe only sews every now and then. But still, I don’t know much about sewing, so I’m hoping the pros will chime in with some advice.

Hi Stri kliesel!
I’d recommend one that’s easy to thread. When I was a beginner, I had one from a
discount store. Please don’t make the same mistake. Those sergers are the hardest to thread.
I now have a Babylock Enspire with the Air Jet System. It cost about 900 euros,
but it’s very easy to use.
Best regards, G.W.

Hi Strickliesl, I bought an overlock machine at Lidl about 2 years ago. I’m really happy with this machine. It works perfectly. I use it to neaten up all my seams. For sewing, I also have a good Brother combo sewing and embroidery machine. That’s why I really only use the overlocker for neatening. So it’s enough if it “just” performs the basic functions well. It cuts beautifully and does exactly what I need it to. Best regards, Renate

Which sewing machine would be suitable for beginners, and how much should I expect to spend on one?

Hi sundown,
I’m also still a beginner, and one tip would be to go to specialty stores, because there you can test out sewing machines and find the model that suits you best! To start with, you can also buy a used one—generally, you should make sure the sewing machine feels sturdy and doesn’t seem flimsy or cheap. A straight stitch and a zigzag stitch are usually more than enough. A buttonhole program is also an advantage, but you probably don’t need an overlock machine when you’re just starting out.

Best regards
Thekla