To buy an overlocker or not?

[2rebecca]

Contemplating buying an overlocker as excellent sewing/ craft shop in town is closing down and has some reduced. I've always just zig zagged seams in the past but have been doing more sewing recently with beautiful Liberty silk and think professional looking seams would be better.
The threads on them here make them sound a terrible fangle though. I tend to do my sewing in bursts which doesn't sound good from the remembering to thread them point of view. Plus do they need their tension rejigged every 2-3 years like my 25 old sewing machine?

[CatherineDeB]

They are easy to thread once you have done it a few times. I have got one but prefer French seams generally on anything fine so I wouldn't buy one for silk.

I am pleased I have got mine but I wouldn't really miss it tbh and I see most of the things I wear.

[elephantoverthehill]

I have used one a few times and they are a bit of a luxury IMO. However if you sew a lot of lycra and jersey then yes. The other thing is the cost of the thread as you get through loads of it.

[themindchangingowl]

Do it!! I love mine, I did push the boat out and get a good one that is easier to thread though. There are also loads of really good (often brand specific) tutorials on you-tube.

I don't sew that often at them moment but things that I have sewn have come together neater and quicker, I love it, but then I have wanted one for a couple of decades!

[Katymac]

I got given a second hand one (third?) & once I have learnt to use it, it's great

I mainly use it for a nice finish - bit today I have done a leotard & it sewed it up in seconds rather than the whole stretching/zigzag thing

Mind you my new Janome is so much better than my 20 yo machine for zigzag etc (alhough today I had a lightening stitch disaster!)

[elephantoverthehill]

Despite what I posted earlier, I have been doing a dress alteration for a friend today and an overlocker would have been just the machine for the job .

[FelixFelix]

Yes definitely get one! I got one last year and it transformed my sewing. I was also worried about the threading up, thinking it would be a horrendous hassle but it really is easy once you've done it a couple of times. It looks far more complicated than it actually is. It's made my garments look so much more professional!

[ginghamstarfish]

I love mine, saves lots of time. Would love a new one though! They have become much cheaper in recent years; remember saving up for mine which was about £300 many many years ago.

[iminshock]

How do you sew seams on a stretchy garment like jersey with an ordinary machine ? Can you just zig zag ?

[Katymac]

Zigzag works, & apparently stretch thread exists

But my leotards look much more professional with the overlocker

[iminshock]

Thank you !

[Helenluvsrob]

My machine has specific stretch stitch - not tried it yet though !

[MagentaRose72]

Its definitely worth it for sewing stretch fabrics, but its not strictly necessary.

[incywincybitofa]

Just make sure you research the one you do go for..
Lots of models and brands out there and some are better than others.

[moggle]

My janome sewing machine has a overlock stitch and I bought an overlock foot for it for a few pounds- if I stitch at the edge the seams look just like overlocker seams. Have made lots of jersey things in the past few months that look very neat on the inside. Only problem is you have to adjust the seam allowance because it doesn't cut like an overlocker... You can buy cutting feet for sewing machine too though but I haven't tried one yet.

[RaisingSteam]

I bought an overlocker last autumn in Lidl and went on a short course at my local sewing shop to learn to use it. I would say, good investment if you do a lot of sewing particularly jersey. I have no idea about tension but TBH my ordinary machine doesn't need adjusting that frequently.

The shop recommended Moon thread which is only £1 for a 1000m spool.

[flightywoman]

Oh I LOVE my overlocker! I waited ages to get one and it's just so great and FAST! A dress in 2 or 3 hours, a t-shirt in an hour or two, it's brilliant.

DO IT! You'll love it...

[2rebecca]

Thought I'd update my zombie thread now I've actually used my overlocker and thank everyone for their contributions. I bought a Janome 8002DX in the sale but then it sat in its box with me terrified to touch it until a month ago.
Th excellent craft shop was sold to folk keen to keep it as a craft shop and they bought up a near by shop as well and now stock more wool and material and importantly started running workshops including introductory and intermediate overlocker ones.
The introductory one was great and in 1 evening I learned how to use and re thread my machine and made a jersey sweatshirt from scratch. Last night at the intermediate one we learned how to combine using an overlocker with using a regular sewing machine and I made a kimono style jersey cardigan.
Really pleased I bought it, although disappointed to learn that it doesn't do the invisible hemming and that's a different machine.