Anybody know anything about sergers

[seemunkee]

Want to get one for my daughter for her birthday but I don't know anything about them.
What are good brands? How much do I have to spend to not get junk? Features that I should look for?
Any suggestions are appreciated.

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Some history and an experience

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=390x2693

The lady who sold me my first serger said, "Sewing machines have personalities, sergers have attitudes"

You don't want to go cheap. 4-thread sergers will serve her well.

Good brands, Juki, Babylock, Janome. Cadillac$$$$: Husky, Bernina (and they are excellent machines)

I'll put it like this: you will get what you pay for. The higher end models offer training. I got training with my machine and it was the best thing.

Caution when buying a used one -- sergers that are damaged may also have timing damage - a big thing when it comes to making it work.

Also get her some extra needles made for her machine. Sergers have attitudes about bent or damaged needles. I am conservative, change them out after every project. (but then, my serger has lasted about 15 years, still works)

[laundry_queen]

2. How advanced is your daughter at sewing?

What kind of projects does she normally do? Things like that might be good to take into consideration too. I currently have a Babylock, but it's an 8 thread. It's lovely but pricey. It has a cover-stitch on it too, so that's another thing to think about if your daughter needs/wants a cover-stitch (generally adds quite a bit to the price). Oh, and if you can get a machine with automatic threading, that really cuts down on time and makes you want to match the thread all the time. :)
Good luck!

[seemunkee]

3. She's a second year fashion design major

They have nice industrial machines in the labs at school. Not a log of years behind her yet, but she works in jersey a lot.