Overlocker sewing machine or other?

[Parachutes]

Hello, I'd like to buy my niece a sewing machine as she's working hard trying to start her own business. She has mentioned an Overlocker sewing machine a few times and I wondered whether anyone could give me some advice on whether these are a good make (any particular model?) or whether there is one considered to be better?

TIA

Depends on what and how she is going to use it.

I think she'd like to sew with it... :)

I'm not massively qualified to answer, OP, but I do have an overlocker which was a special buy from Lidl recently at £149. That's pretty cheap I think - they're generally fairly expensive as they're specialist things.

this is quite a helpful source of info. But I'd think you'd need to involve your niece rather than surprise her. A lovely gesture you're making btw!

Thanks Pilcrow. I know so little about it that - even as I typed out my question on here - I'm realising you're probably right. Thanks for the link also. Happy New Year.

Is it specifically an overlocker that she wants? Is she an experienced machinist? Overlockers are great for neat and sturdy hems but she might need a more general machine if she wants more general use.
They can be very expensive but my friend has a Lidl one that cost about £90 that she reckons is great.

Same to you, sorry not to have a cut & dried answer! Hope you find something she'd like.

I have previously worked in a factory as an overlock machinist and the machines were all state of the art industrial machines. I also have a Toyota domestic machine bought from Argos and it is ok for light sewing but nowhere near as good as the industrial machines ( but obviously nowhere near the price) I think it will probably depend on what sort of material she will be sewing and how often as to wether a cheap machine will meet her needs, and depending on usage it could be worth looking at a second hand industrial machine. They can sometimes be picked up cheaply on eBay.

An overlocker is used for finishing seams and/or sewing stretchy fabrics. Not sure if you knew that (the way you phrased your question made me wonder if you thought it was a brand of sewing machine?).

I had a Singer one that I didn't get on with and now have a Janome one that I get on slightly better with. They can be quite temperamental things . My Janome one prefers Dh to thread it . Both my machines have been at the lower end of the specs for an overlocker - you can get more advanced machines that do some of the threading but obviously you pay more for that sort of thing. You can also get a Coverlock machine for hemming stretchy fabrics (like the hem you see on a t-shirt with the double line of stitching).

I would check that she definitely wants an overlocker and not a normal sewing machine or a coverlock machine)

Sometimes good sewing machines can do a better job than a cheap overlocker.

In all honesty, I have a Bernina overlocker - it's supposed to be great, but I have never really taken the time or have the confidence to get to grips with all the features.

Perhaps the best thing is to give her the option to be able to choose what she wants.

That's a lovely gesture.

I've found sewing machines and overlockers to be quite different, and if buying a new one I would want to try it out myself. Plus I'd have a list of must-have features, and must-avoids, in order to find a machine that I would get one with.

What brand of sewing machine does your niece have? (An overlocker is not the same as a sewing machine). Does she enjoy it? Do you know what she finds frustrating about her machine that an overlocker should fix? I think that setting your budget and taking your niece to a machine shop (if you live near her) might be a productive afternoon out.

Some overlockers convert to cover-stitch machines, which may or may not be a plus, depending on sewing plans, budget, storage space and time available to convert between the two.

Can I ask the difference between a cover lock machine and an overlocker? Also, is a serger is similar/same?

Katharine, afaik a coverlocker does what an overlocker does, plus doing flat hemming. I found this definition online:

The overlocker is a sewing machine, the main purpose of which is trimming and edging the fabric when using fluid fabrics. Several threads tightly cover the cut material and forming overseams, prevent dissolution of the material.
In one motion, the overlocker cuts the excess fabric, seams the details, and whips the cut. Overlock seams can be two-, three-, and four-thread.
Furthermore, some overlockers produce flat seams and chain stitches; ornamental stitches are used to perform coverstitches, etc.
These machines are sometimes called 'coverlockers'.
The machines that perform flat seams only are called flat-seam.

Basically a serger is American for what we call an overlocker.

If you are after an over locker, i have a Janome 9200D and in my experience it is the easiest to thread and use. It is a domestic machine and not industrial, so useful in dressmaking and invaluable when sewing jersey.

I have a rebadged Frister Rossman overlocker, under the SMD own-brand from Sewing Machines Direct - although it looks like they've moved to Janome rebadged ones now: here. I use mine for business and personal use, and it's been great so far (couple of years in).