Overlocker

[Somerandompersons]

Hi

Hoping to get some help from any sewing gurus about.

Looking at overlockers as gift for my mum. I have no idea where to start!

It will probably me more for soft toys than clothes if that makes a difference.

Budget probably in the region of £250.

Any idea what a good one is

I'd go to a sewing machine shop and get specialist advice tbh. I'd stick to the big brands like Janome, Brother as a starting point.

If she's mostly making soft toys then an overlocker will probably be a bit redundant. Overlockers are designed to finish off a seam by wrapping the stitching around a raw edge and making it look neat. All the seams are inside when making soft toys. You also can't pink a seam if you're overlooking it, which is important to do on curved edges, which you tend to have a lot of in soft toy making. Has she requested an overlocker?

I teach with the Janome 9300dx - excellent machines - and also use them for my own sewing - price point is about £260 - but always ask for a discount - so call don't click - call - and you will usually get about 10% off - then push for free P&P if you can - if you don't ask you don't get.

With regard to soft toys - YES an overlocker is fine - and if you are overlocking on fur you wouldn't pink the edges first - just cut the fabric and overlock together - and with the greatest of respect to the previous poster overlockers aren't just for finishing edges - you can do inside curves, outside curves, inside corners and outside corners.

With the right settings - such as dropping down from 4 threads (2 needles) to 3 threads (1 needle) you can create a much smaller seam if it is a smaller toy - and if it is a fine fabric then just pop it into a rolled hem mode with 3 threads - you will barely know the seam is there.

Truly, seriously, overlockers are far more versatile than many people think - and they most certainly can do very fine curves - I can show you some examples of my work with teddy bears and a company that I worked as a consultant for to design and make their prototype animal heads for as comforter blankets (Little Earth Baby).

Overlockers can also do beading, piping, gathering, elastic attachment - they are so versatile - promise - I have been teaching them for years.

I don't think it will be all that useful for soft toys. I make all my own clothes and it gives a professional finish to the seams. It does loads of other things as well but I haven't got to grips with them.

I can show you examples @captainmycaptain - I have used overlockers for 20 years - and taught them extensively for 6 years - I don't want to say that you are wrong but split a bear or toy open and tell me what seam you see - it's either going to be overlocked or coverstitched.

For those without an overlocker it will be triple stretch stitch or twin needled - for it to be even close to regulations for children it has to be overlocked - I know my regulations.

What I would say is get to grips with your overlocker - I have books from sewers that I can recommend to help you - and my own written guides that I give to students - but seriously my heritage mohair and Paddington bears are all 3 thread overlocked - with the caveat that if I am using some of the Shultz £50 per m mohair and it is not for children I hand stitch.

Sorry but you are wrong - you may be using your machine correctly for dressmaking - So 1. Go open bear that you have 2. Go buy some fur and then play.

But don't put people off from using a very versatile tool for something other than plain seams - indeed I used one of my overlockers today to teach something very similar - it was a dress for a teddy bear that had a fur collar.

Don't stick to the mantra that overlockers are just for dressmaking - there is so much more - I promise !!

You obviously know a lot more about it than I do. I've just got no interest in making bears or whatever, I'll stick to dressmaking.

Brother and Janome make decent machines at this price point. Agree with poster upthread about visiting a specialist sewing shop and haggling a bit.

Also, if your mum isn’t an experienced user, she might like a copy of the
Overlocker Manual

It’s a good inexpensive book that teaches you some simple tips and useful techniques. I found it helpful when I bought my current overlocker, even though I’d used an overlocker before.

I have experience with most manufacturers - Janome is - at the moment - is my favourite - Brother are good - Singer can be problematic - over the past few years Singer do a special deal with either Aldi or Lidl and I get a lot of them about February - they work but I'm not a fan - but I get them to work.

The Julia Hincks book that the previous poster @sconeofdestiny gave a link for is pretty much the bible for overlocking - and where it works for me is that most of the book is written using the Janome 9300dx - which is the machines I teach with - so all of the pictures match up with the machine in the book - most of my clients go home and buy that machine and book - seriously you can't go wrong with that combo.

And please @captainmycaptain - I didn't mean to denigrate your contribution in any way - and if you want my teaching notes to expand what you can do I am happy to help you (it's about a 40 page manual now) - please don't just think that an overlocker is just for dressmaking - I wasn't putting your contribution down at all - every point of view is valid - and that is what makes an interesting thread for us all - love your moniker by the way !!