Sewing machine or overlocker?

[KatamariDamacy]

Reposted from chat.

A couple of years ago I was given a basic sewing machine and began making my own clothes. I absolutely love it.

I have a significant birthday coming up, and a lovely person has offered to give me either a more fancy sewing machine, or an overlocker.

I’m not sure if there would be any advantage to having a more wazzy sewing machine over my basic model - I haven’t come across anything my machine can’t do, although to be fair I’m still a beginner and all I do is sew straight stitches and zigzag raw edges. On the other hand, I’d love to learn to sew stretch (all I’ve done so far is woven), and I understand overlockers are better for stretch but I don’t know the first thing about them and would have to learn.

Any advice would be most welcome:-)

If you’re making your own clothes the overlocker is wonderful. Gives a really nice finish to clothes and you don’t have to worry about seams coming apart.

I love my overlocker, it’s so neat for finishing. You can do stretch on a sewing machine too if you have a walking foot. I would say overlocker though!

Stretch is fine on a normal sewing machine with a walking foot. If just doing clothes, opt for the overlocker.

Iv got a basic machine and it does all I want for making clothes. If you needed a machine for embroidery etc it would be worth getting a posh one but if its just sewing not worth it.
Iv got an overlocked and wouldn't be without it now.

I agree with ppm. Ask for an overlocker. I sew with knits and wovens with a sewing machine. If that broke I would replace without question. Even if it meant living on beans and toast till I could afford it! I'm finding it hard to justify an overlocker though.
Either way, enjoy playing with your new toy

Thanks for the advice. Overlocker it is then.

Incidentally, what do posh sewing machines do differently?

I think you can get posh sewing machines that are computerised and can do embroidery etc.

Both!

Ooh, just reread the op and realise you have a basic sewing machine that you're happy with already. In that case I would definitely get the overlocker. A fancy sewing machne won't do anything much differently to a basic model except for a few fancy stitches you probably won't use much anyway.

I have a really basic sewing machine plus an overlocker and it's a good combo. I've made hundreds of costumes, kids clothes, etc over the past twenty years I've owned the basic sewing machine and it's never missed a beat. Having an overlocker as well is fanastic and a real time saver. Where it really comes into its own is sewing stretch fabrics.