Overlockers any tips or recommendations?

[alrightfella]

I really need to buy one but don't know where to start. I won't be doing anything too complicated literally just tidying up seams although I don't actually know what else they do.

Can anyone recommend something that won't break the bank or at least ones to avoid. I also need to buy it quite quickly for a project so can't wait for a bargain to appear.

I bought a Babylock Victory last year. Not cheap at all I know, but so worth it if you can afford one. I had my SIL’s old overlocker for a few months to try and couldn’t get it to do anything right. Mine has air threading and automatic tension control. I use it to mainly to neaten seams as I make most of my clothes now. I love it.

Another vote for the Babylock and its brilliant air threading.

Truly ganechanging.

I did an evening course on an overlooker without the air threading, 90% of the time was wasted with issues threading. Babylock does away with all that.

I would encourage you to get some training on how to use it. Simple when you know how. Good luck.

I have a babylock, it's my favourite thing ever and the only new machine I've ever bought. But Pfaff, Janome and husqvarna (at least) do air threading machines now.

Well that seems unanimous then! I'll take a look.

I don’t mind threading it actually, though would love to try air threading. I would agree with doing a class if you want to explore what else you can do with it - they often don’t actually tell you anything that you couldn’t get from the handbook (which you have to follow for your own machine anyway) but it helps having the space and time and someone who has experience of doing different things giving you tips.

I also don't mind threading mine. It's really not that hard (and you can easily switch threads by just tying the new one to the old one). I'd rather spend the additional money (diff between a normal one and an air threader) on something else.

I have the Lidl one, which is often slated, but it's done a brilliant job for me. I've made loads with it - some whole garments (I always sew stretch fabric just with the overlocker), and seam finishing on everything from a delicate lawn to jeans. It's been just fine. Having said that, I used a Janome one at a workshop recently and it was a bit quieter and 'smoother' which was nice. But the end result was exactly the same.

It was a total game changer for my sewing, I'll probably trade up at some point, but I've had more than my money's worth from mine.

At the other end of the scale I have the brother 2104D which is extremely easy to thread and I’m really pleased with it. My previous overlocker was from Aldi and was a rebadged singer. That wasn’t easy to thread at all and I was quite pleased to replace it. I paid £219 last year

I have a second hand Babylock and I love it. I just do seams and sew knits on it but the manual is quite comprehensive and I really should try doing other stuff with it.

Lucy at Sewessential has done a couple of YouTube videos on how to use them - worth a watch for ideas/techniques.