Bought a Serger!!!

jaunvie · October 11, 2008, 07:34:41 PM

I just bought a Pfaff Hobbylock 797 for $300!!! It's a nice machine (5 thread) but a pain in the butt to thread

I think a got a pretty good deal though. Even has all of the feet and accessories for it. I'm just so excited

lady serena · October 11, 2008, 07:39:28 PM

Congrats on getting the serger, you are braver than me.

Pascal · October 11, 2008, 07:56:50 PM

I've got a Pfaff Hobbylock too -- I really enjoy mine. Haven't used all the fancy feet yet. I rarely unthread mine -- most of the time, the serged seam isn't visible, so I just keep a neutral color thread loaded and don't worry about it. The few times I've rethreaded, I tie off the new thread to the tails going through the looper arms and just serge a few inches to pull the new thread through.

Lady Kathleen of Olmsted · October 12, 2008, 02:08:20 AM

Huzzah on the new purchase!!!

After sewing with a Serger, one discovers what took them so long in getting one. That was my first reaction was after I bought my first one 20 years ago .

I own 2 now and use them both.

Kate XXXXXX · October 12, 2008, 09:23:00 AM

You got a good deal. Threading won't seen difficult once you have done it a few dozen times!

Lady K, I'm also a 2-serger household! I have a Bernina 1150MDA as the main one and a Brother 1034D as a back-up and for the free arm. Neither do coverstitch, but as I rarely need that and get as good a result with the twin needle on the Lily or Bernina 1005, wasn't about to pay the extra £100 it would have cost me.

Adriana Rose · October 12, 2008, 05:16:47 PM

I have one.. but I lost the book and cant figure out how to thread the damn thing.. Its taunting me I know it

Kate XXXXXX · October 13, 2008, 02:19:53 AM

Get a new book! There are places on line to order them from for older machines, but if it's a currant model, get one from your local dealer. They'll have to order it and it'll cost, but it's worth it. Then SCAN it, and save to a CDR! Safe from being lost and from pooter crashes...

nliedel · October 13, 2008, 08:59:19 AM

Congratulations. Most manufacturers have their manuals on line now.

jaunvie · October 17, 2008, 08:55:48 AM

Accually, I have 2 sergers now too. I'm excited about geting a five thread serger. My other one (huskylock 340D) is a great machine. I bought it over 10 years ago, used, for $200. It's a four thread machine. I've only needed to have it serviced once to get retimed, but now I need to find a new cutting knife for it. It's not cutting anything and messing up the stitch because of it. I got feed-up a couple weekends ago while trying to hem my daughter's homecomming dress, it ate up the bottom of the dress. I had to make it an inch shorter than I wanted. That's when I started to really look for a new one.
I've been wanting to get a five thread for a long time. I wanted to have the chain stitch. I have noticed, now that I have it, the chain stitch isn't what I thought it would be. I think I still need to play with the tension a little, but every once in a while the needle thread on the chain stitch will break and then it's a real pain to "repair". I either need to take it over to the lockstitch (regular) machine, or go back over it with the serger (a problem in itself).
But, I'm having fun with it. I think I will probably set it up for a four strand and get a knife for the other one. Then, I can just have one in black, and one in white.

LadyElizabeth · October 17, 2008, 10:34:49 AM

So as a 0 Serger household, I'm wondering what is so great about these machines. It's on my "wanted" list out to my family, but who knows when I'll actually get one. Please, could everyone just tell me what they use this machine for? I know that sounds naive, but I really just don't know...

TiaLD77 · October 17, 2008, 12:57:43 PM

what do you use a serger for?....hmmmm
I like it for working with fabrics that tend to fray or pull through regular machine stitches.
It is fantastic for doing really long seams.
the cutting bar works well if you are going around the bottom of a skirt made of fray happy fabric & you hava a panel that is to long, you can just trim it off as you continue to sew.

Those are the basic things I do with my serger....there are folks here more adept at manipulating fabric with them than me

so I am sure you will get lots more info.

Miranda · October 17, 2008, 01:10:25 PM

I use mine primarily for over casting. It keeps fabric from fraying due to handing, washing, what have you.
It makes for a more durable garment if you aren't going to finish the seams with binding, flat felling, etc. Its also great for garments that you don't intend to line.

Also, if you unthread it, you can use the knife to cut your own bias tape.