Sergers, benefits and drawbacks compared to a sewing machine.?

Answer 1

My wife has 9 sewing machines and 1 serger. Each one has it's own functions (although she *does* have too many sewing machines).

She has just come off a stint of sewing costumes for a stage production. The serger was the most useful machine in that case.

It's really like comparing apples and oranges -- what are the benefits and drawbacks of apples and oranges? Sergers can do seams and hems in an excellent professional looking manner, but they can't do straight stitches, zig-zag, button holes, or even embroidery (on one of my wife's machines) etc. A sewing maching is a bettter machine for general use, because it can do it all -- except for that nice factory edge on seams and hems.

Here's what you should do. Get a good sewing machine, now, and in a year or two get a serger.

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Answer 2

Each machine has it's pros and cons. However, if you have to pick one over the other, go with the sewing machine.
Depending on what you want to do, the type of sewing machine is important. I would suggest going with Viking Husqvarna, a very good Sweedish machine. Very good quality. If you want something good, but not too expensive, go with White - in particular - the Jeans Machine. Good sturdy machine, and it's a low end Viking.
I've used various machines through the years, including Singer, and I much prefer my Viking.

Sergers are finishers. They are great for finishing the seams or doing rolled hems. They don't do things like buttonholes or putting on buttons. They come in various types - such as 3/4 thread to 5 thread machines. If you purchase clothing and notice the side seams have a close zigzag type of stitching on the edge -that was done by a serger. It helps prevent your seams from raveling.

Once you get a serger though, you will not want to be with out it. I have 2 sewing machines (both Vikings) and 3 sergers. I have one serger set to do nothing but rolled hems and the others for various seam widths.

Answer 3

In answer to your question, the 2 machines compliment each other. I sew everything I can on my serger first, then use my sewing machine for the things my serger can't do like buttonholes, topstitching, and a few other things. The serger cuts away the seam allowance as it sews. The sewing machine doesn't. You may want to get a sewing machine first and learn the basics of sewing. Then add a serger to make the tasks faster and easier. I find that many new sewers learn the serger quite easily. They don't have to worry with ingrained sewing machine habits. I'm more of a sewing machine technician than a sewer but I hope this helps.
Good luck.

Answer 4

tlbs is right. I'm a professional sew-er and I don't own a serger because I'm not doing garments. You really only need it for edges that people would see when they're putting on their garment, or if you were doing piles of things like table runners.