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What's the difference between a sewing machine and an overlocker?

Sewing machines and overlockers may be used on the aforementioned design and craft projects, but they serve different purposes.

A sewing car is used to sew fabric and material together with thread. It usually besides has a broad variety of other functions, such as the power to sew buttonholes, attach zippers, and quilt.

An overlocker, or serging car, joins the edges of 1 or two pieces of textile with an overlock stitch while cut off the seam allowance. This overlock run up locks around the edges of the fabric to ensure that the edges don't unravel.

What are overlockers used for?

Overlocks are generally used to give seams a professional finish.

Not everyone who uses a sewing machine volition too use an overlocker. Many hobby crafters will employ a zig zag sew - or an overlock sew together if their auto has information technology - on their sewing machine to try to replicate the terminate that a serger can create. Nevertheless, the sew won't exist as strong or stretchy as that of an overlocker.

At the end of the day, sewing machines and overlockers complement each other, although overlockers are generally used by more experienced sewists.

On the left: the Heavy Duty Singer Sewing Machine. On the right: the Janome Overlocker (MyLock 644D).

How practise I choose a sewing machine?

Stitch types

Most sewing machines will come with at least a straight stitch and a zig zag sew, and for most hobby crafters and designers, these will suffice. Machines will ordinarily come with at to the lowest degree a few more sew together types, such as a stretch sew, a triple directly sew together, and a bullheaded hem stitch.

The more stitches yous desire, the pricier the machine will likely be, and then there'due south footling need to look for a model with the highest number of stitches if you'll realistically merely be using a few.

If you're making clothes, quilt covers, or anything that requires buttons, look for a motorcar that can run up button holes. You should also expect for a machine that allows you to do the stitch lengths that yous demand.

Tension

Machines by and large have a tension dial numbered i through to ix. The tension of your auto should be adaptable, to let you work with different fabrics and thread types - stitches that are too tight, too loose, or uneven are often a issue of wrong tension.

As a full general rule, thicker fabrics similar fleece do better with lower tension, while tighter tension suits fabrics that are lighter in weight, such equally a silky lining. If you're sewing with a variety of fabris, and so the ability to alter the tension is a must.

Features

• Light: About decent sewing machines volition come with an inbuilt calorie-free and then that you have an illuminated work area, just not all of these bulbs will exist easy to switch out. Cheque whether it can be a DIY chore or whether information technology's recommended to take it for servicing.
• Embroidery: Some machines let yous embroider preset patterns, practise freehand embroidery, or both. An embroidery sewing auto, however, is unremarkably quite expensive.
• Detachable accessory box: This slides on and off the free arm, letting you lot stitch with both a flatbed (if yous want your textile laid out on a larger surface) as well equally with a free arm.

Ease of use

If you're ownership in store, then see if y'all can sit at a table and try out a few features of a sewing machine yourself. Look for a foot pedal with an anti-slip base and surface so there's less take chances of y'all making the incorrect stitch, keeping in mind the ergonomics of the machine's design.

Also bank check that the flywheel (which manually lets you lower and heighten the sewing auto needle) is easy to grip.

Price

A sewing car tin can set you back anywhere from $100 to upwardly of $10,000, only what you spend will largely depend on your sewing ability, what you lot're planning to sew, and whether yous're a hobbyist or in search of a commercial or industrial sewing machine.

Those new to sewing tin can hands make practise with an entry-level sewing auto for beginners that tin do the nuts and a flake more. These will oftentimes be somewhere between $100 and $800. You can even find mini sewing machines that have basic functions and tin be taken on the go.

If you're an intermediate sewist, look for a mid-range sewing auto with more than stitch selections as well as different presser feet attachments and embroidery patterns. These machines usually toll somewhere betwixt $800 and $300.

Those with advanced sewing skills may need a car that caters to their specific purposes. For example, if y'all plan to craft embroidered quilts, look for a machine with many embroidery patterns, and attachments such as a walking foot, quarter-inch foot, and freehand embroidery pes.

Heavy duty sewing machines are also bachelor for experienced sewists - these can sew whatever type of fabric, including denim and leather. College-finish sewing machines can cost anywhere from $5000 to $12000.

How do I choose an overlocker?

Should I get a 3 or four spool overlocker?

Overlock machines with 3 spools have a single needle that can finish raw edges, but don't make a secure seam.

On the other mitt, iv spool overlock sewing machines have 2 needles; one produces a secure seam while the other finishes an edge using iii threads.

Tension

Adaptable tension is essential to creating bully and fifty-fifty finishes. Some machines fifty-fifty accept automatic tension which is designed to make overlocking easier, merely these models commonly come up with a heftier price tag.

Threading

Overlockers are circuitous machines, and threading an overlocker may have a flake of getting used to. Try out different machines and go for one that you call up you lot'd be able to hands thread.

Some models also accept an automatic needle threader for those of us who aren't blessed with twenty/xx vision. Nevertheless, these aren't technically 'automatic' and all the same require a fleck of endeavor to use, meaning they might non necessarily be the easiest overlockers to thread.

Differential feed

This refers to how the machine's feed dogs work. If an overlocker has adjustable differential feed, then the feed dogs can be manipulated to operate independently of each other to attain a diversity of different finishes. For example, you could create wavy or bunched edges - and more.

Is it worth getting an overlocker?

If you recollect you lot'll go regular use out of information technology and are looking to take your sewing projects to the next level, then investing in an overlocker is definitely worthwhile. A reliable overlocker that volition agree upward over years with constant use will usually cost you somewhere between $600 and $thou.

Afterward sales service and maintenance

For both sewing machines and overlockers, y'all should have into account how often servicing is recommended for your machine. This will give you a better thought of how piece of cake your car is to maintain, and will assist you meet whether ongoing costs are within your budget.

Some machines will even come with lessons, which tin come in handy for those looking to ameliorate their crafting capabilities.

Keep in mind though, that the more than fancy features your machie has, the college the cost of servicing and repairs will likely be.

The lesser line

Have a good recollect near what type of sewer you are, and detect a machine that suits your needs. It's a adept thought to become the pinnacle machine you can within your budget, but that doesn't necessarily mean that y'all should fork out on features that you know you won't employ.

Keeping in mind your uses for a sewing motorcar or overlocker (or both!) tin can assist you go home with one that lets you do your sewing, crafting, and design projects in a style that suits you.

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Source: https://www.productreview.com.au/c/sewing-machine-overlockers

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