I need advice on a serger

[Betty J.]

A big thanks to all of you who gave me such good advice. I checked out both the Bernina and the Babylock machines. Both seemed to be well-made and the two places I went to both offer training for life - anytime I need help, just come on in. I decided to get the Babylock Imagine largely because of the self-threading system and the self-adjusting tension. I was able to buy an almost brand new floor sample at a good discount. Just bought it and I have yet to try it out at home but I'm excited.
By the way, for those of you who are in the south/central Wisconsin area, I was treated like a queen at both Pamella's Place in Genessee Depot (Bernina dealer) and Frank's Sewing Center in Waukesha (Babylock). What we would ever do without kind, helpful and knowledgeable local quilt shops.
P.S. It's a good thing I just won that Quilt Museum contest because the winnings enabled to me to buy a machine I really couldn't have afforded otherwise.

Robin,
Congrats on your new toy and your great win. I have decided myself to add a serger to my list of items I plan to buy for my upcoming retirement and have narrowed it down to between the Bernina and the Babylock. I'll be interested to hear how it goes with your new serger.

[Betty J.]

I have a babylock Imagine, was blown away by the automatic tension and easy threading, but what do I do with it now I have one, quilting wise I mean, not dressmaking!!!!!!
Lynn in frosty UK

[Margo C.]

If you prewash your fabrics you can serge the edges to reduce raveling! David Taylor does this for all his fabrics.

I use mine for rolled hem edges on napkins and for making pillowcases with no raw seams, but I don't think I've ever used the serger for quilted things.
I hope someone will give us some good ideas!

[Betty J.]

Martha Pullen on Martha's Sewing Room has been really showing what sergers can do lately, and many of the things they do are incorporated in some of hers or her guests' quilt tops. I've been amazed at how much they get out of a serger now. As you may know, she's all into heirloom sewing, but that's not all she does. Although some of her quilts use heirloom sewing techniques. Nancy on Sewing with Nancy also has been showing what sergers can do beyond clothing. Hope you can catch some of those shows on CREATE TV.

[Terry K.]

I have a friend who serges quilt tops like the rail fence pattern and the tops look great.

[Norma H.]

Have a look at the Bernina video One Step Quilting

[Margo C.]

Have a look at the Bernina video One Step Quilting

Thanks Norma! Here's the link: learn/bernina/

[Margo C.]

Thanks, lmcfood, for asking that question. I had been thinking about a serger for some time, simply because I hate putting binding on a quilt and am looking for an 'instant' technique. I still don't know if the serger is capable of doing a neat or 'authentic' job for that purpose, but I will check out Google for more input.

Thanks too, Margo, for the One Step Quilting video.

[Lesley K.]

Liz Porter used it to construct a t-shirt quilt a couple of seasons ago on Qnntv (Love of Quilting). Check it out! :wink:

[Lesley K.]

I a very impressed with the Baby-lock Ovation serger. I sewed with it an a seminar and it is sweet! I love the way it self threads with air and I also love the larger throat space!

[Lesley K.]

Hi, I bought a Babcock Imagine last year and it is fab, feel bad about that as am really a Bernina fan and have 2 bernina sewing machines. But the baby lock self threads and that makes it so easy! Enjoy.

[Judith A.]

I bought a Babylock serger about 15 years ago and have been very pleased with it. Only needed to take it in for repair once in 15 years. It's a reliable workhorse and still makes perfectly balanced stitches. I bought it because it was so easy to thread and because I wanted one that would do both overlock serging and coverstitch sewing.
I use the coverstitch feature all the time to shorten pants, etc. for my family. It is perfect for when you want a stretchy nice-looking hem on stretchy fabrics. Takes about 15 minutes, from pinning the hem in place to trimming it after the coverstitch.
I use the overlock stitching a lot when I pre-wash fabrics for quilting so they don't fray. I serge several pieces one after the other and wash them with similar colors. Serging is so fast. Goes like lightening.
I also use the overlock feature to serge around the outside of my quilts before I put on the binding. First I make sure the quilt is square, and then mark the edges, and then serge the three layers together with the differential feed set one or two notches above neutral.
I usually go around it twice. It makes sewing on an even binding easier. I have a nice straight serged stitching line to go by. The extra serging thread helps make an even full binding. I have never seen anyone else do this, and it took some nerve on my part the first time I did this, but I do it all the time now.

[Judith A.]

I bought a Babylock serger about 15 years ago and have been very pleased with it. Only needed to take it in for repair once in 15 years. It's a reliable workhorse and still makes perfectly balanced stitches. I bought it because it was so easy to thread and because I wanted one that would do both overlock serging and coverstitch sewing.
I use the coverstitch feature all the time to shorten pants, etc. for my family. It is perfect for when you want a stretchy nice-looking hem on stretchy fabrics. Takes about 15 minutes, from pinning the hem in place to trimming it after the coverstitch.
I use the overlock stitching a lot when I pre-wash fabrics for quilting so they don't fray. I serge several pieces one after the other and wash them with similar colors. Serging is so fast. Goes like lightening.
I also use the overlock feature to serge around the outside of my quilts before I put on the binding. First I make sure the quilt is square, and then mark the edges, and then serge the three layers together with the differential feed set one or two notches above neutral.
I usually go around it twice. It makes sewing on an even binding easier. I have a nice straight serged stitching line to go by. The extra serging thread helps make an even full binding. I have never seen anyone else do this, and it took some nerve on my part the first time I did this, but I do it all the time now.

You can also guarantee a 1/4" seam allowance with a serger :P :whistle:

[Judith A.]

I bought a Babylock serger about 15 years ago and have been very pleased with it. Only needed to take it in for repair once in 15 years. It's a reliable workhorse and still makes perfectly balanced stitches. I bought it because it was so easy to thread and because I wanted one that would do both overlock serging and coverstitch sewing.
I use the coverstitch feature all the time to shorten pants, etc. for my family. It is perfect for when you want a stretchy nice-looking hem on stretchy fabrics. Takes about 15 minutes, from pinning the hem in place to trimming it after the coverstitch.
I use the overlock stitching a lot when I pre-wash fabrics for quilting so they don't fray. I serge several pieces one after the other and wash them with similar colors. Serging is so fast. Goes like lightening.
I also use the overlock feature to serge around the outside of my quilts before I put on the binding. First I make sure the quilt is square, and then mark the edges, and then serge the three layers together with the differential feed set one or two notches above neutral.
I usually go around it twice. It makes sewing on an even binding easier. I have a nice straight serged stitching line to go by. The extra serging thread helps make an even full binding. I have never seen anyone else do this, and it took some nerve on my part the first time I did this, but I do it all the time now.

Hi, Jidith! Just passing by, but I wanted to say thanks for sharing your experience on using serger for quilting. I have a serger and my regular machine. And I do use my serger all the time (I do slipcovers, drapes and clothing alterations and repairs for friends and family), but I've never tried to use it for quilting before, since it uses a lot more thread than a sewing machine. So I've experimented with it recently, and - well - I was impressed. Now I know that doing so makes a stronger seam, even though it's not a Babylock (worked with it in the past, that's a workhorse really!).
Though, I have a question for you. Will it work for quilts with straight seams only or have you tried it with more complicated ones as well?
Thanks in advance!