Serger worth the $$?

[Clarinet]

I'm making diapers and turning and topstitching is working just fine. I do make other items like pajamas, sundresses, summery outfits. Is a serger worth buying? I don't sell things, but I'd like them to last a while and look nice. Will someone take a picture of an item with serged inner seams to show me how it looks and share whether or not you like it better than regular sewing of seams?

[fw221]

Look at the seam of any RTW garment and you will inevitably find a serged seam.

I couldn't believe the difference in how quickly I could sew once I started on my serger. I honestly don't know now how I could live without it.

(I think this is my first post ever at MDC!!)

[shalena]

I love my serger to death. I am pretty sure I use it more then my regular sewing machine - for all sorts of things, clothing, diapers, bags etc.

Probably all the clothing you have has serged seams like fw221 said, just turn it inside out and you'll see.

[Clarinet]

Thanks! I knew I could find a serged seam in my store-bought clothes. So it really looks the same? And it's faster? Looks like I found my birthday present.

[mandib50]

my dh got me a basic serger for christmas. can i say how much i LOVE it. it is soooo much faster and the seams look awesome. you still need your sewing maching but i love mine.

[boscopup]

Oh, it's SO much faster to serge than to finish the edges with a sewing machine!!!! I actually decided to ask for a serger for Christmas when I was sewing a Mei Tai for someone and I found that I was doing a straight stitch, clipping the seam allowance to 1/4", then zig-zagging over the edge (I do have an overedge foot which makes it easy, but it still takes FOREVER). Those 60" long straps get tedious, and I had to refill my bobbin a million times. So I told my DH I was finally ready for a serger! I'm so glad I got one!!!! I can make a diaper in no time now - serged diapers are so much quicker to make than T&T style. I can also make a number of other fun things, and it's gotten me wanting to make more clothing too.

[SabDoulaMommy]

I LOVE my serger, or the fact that I own one. My dh bought me mine for a bday present & had to go buy the one w/ the most bells & whistles. Unfortunately, we've moved & NO ONE in this town fixes Berninas! The guy I took mine to to fix didn't even know how to thread it!!!! So my advise, get the cheapest national brand 4 thread machine you can find, & b4 you buy, make sure you know where to take it for repairs! But have fun - I do find I sew more now that I have it!

[Bekka]

I wouldn't necessarily get the "cheapest" serger. I would check around with reputable sewing machine dealers in the area and find out what's available locally and who can repair locally, and then buy what is in the price range. Brands that I've heard good things about:

Bernina (love mine, can get it repaired locally), Viking/Husquvarna (Joann is often a dealer of these), Elna, Pfaff, and a good rep. but slightly lower price, is Janome. I also have heard INCREDIBLE things about Babylock for a serger, but I don't know who sells those or even makes them. Apparently Babylock has a self-threading serger. Whoa! I have learned to thread my Bernina in a short time. Don't get a Bernette, which is Bernina, Jr. Not a great machine. Been there, done that.

[JLav]

I love my serger! I got it for Christmas last year and I've used it so much more than I thought I would. I use it for diapers, slings, clothes...all kinds of things! I only wish I would have got a serger with a free arm and a coverstitch. That would make things easier...but I still love mine!
I've heard pretty good things about the Kenmore serger from Sears.