Comments on: Ideas for Finding a Serger for Free/Cheap… http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:34:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Serger Roundup 07/13/08 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-20965 Serger Roundup 07/13/08 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:10:18 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-20965 [...] you a chance to put ideas out there and for other people to respond. A while back, I posted about wanting a serger but not being able to afford a new one…or even most used ones. It just so happened that my [...] [...] you a chance to put ideas out there and for other people to respond. A while back, I posted about wanting a serger but not being able to afford a new one…or even most used ones. It just so happened that my [...]

]]> By: mapgirl http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15913 mapgirl Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:12:11 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15913 Perhaps you should tell people that sergers are priced very differently from regular sewing machines. I don't think i've seen a decent model anywhere for less than $500-700. You almost have to find one used to get a good deal, whereas you can find regular machines now for like $150 brand new. Try a repair shop. They may have a lead on refurbs and people looking to sell their old one to buy a new one. I know a friend of mind did that in San Francisco and ended up with a nice industrial machine for his artwork. I have two regular machines waiting for a refurb. There's a shop on Connecticut in Woodley Park that takes machines. (Try a vacuum repair shop. Most of them take sewing machines for repair because they have similar motors.) Eh, good luck. If you get one, I might have to come over and borrow it. (Sewing party anyone?) Watch out though, you'll want to get a sewing table for it, etc. That kind of stuff adds up, especially since you will probably end up with large cones of thread vs small 500yd spools. Next thing you know, you'll end up with a specialty hemming machine that uses invisible thread! LOL Perhaps you should tell people that sergers are priced very differently from regular sewing machines. I don’t think i’ve seen a decent model anywhere for less than $500-700. You almost have to find one used to get a good deal, whereas you can find regular machines now for like $150 brand new.

Try a repair shop. They may have a lead on refurbs and people looking to sell their old one to buy a new one. I know a friend of mind did that in San Francisco and ended up with a nice industrial machine for his artwork.

I have two regular machines waiting for a refurb. There’s a shop on Connecticut in Woodley Park that takes machines. (Try a vacuum repair shop. Most of them take sewing machines for repair because they have similar motors.)

Eh, good luck. If you get one, I might have to come over and borrow it. (Sewing party anyone?)

Watch out though, you’ll want to get a sewing table for it, etc. That kind of stuff adds up, especially since you will probably end up with large cones of thread vs small 500yd spools. Next thing you know, you’ll end up with a specialty hemming machine that uses invisible thread! LOL

]]> By: Shanti @ Antishay http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15859 Shanti @ Antishay Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:37:04 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15859 Thank you! What a good idea ;) I hope you have luck with the li'l old ladies :D Thank you! What a good idea ;) I hope you have luck with the li’l old ladies :D

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15832 mrsmicah Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:29:10 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15832 Yep, Bellen, I tend to use a zig-zag and sometimes I have a special stitch wheel I use with it. Yep, Bellen, I tend to use a zig-zag and sometimes I have a special stitch wheel I use with it.

]]> By: Bellen http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15820 Bellen Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:21:47 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15820 While you're waiting to find a serger you can learn to finish seams other ways. There is, of course, zigzagging them, French seams and the seam finish like jeans have. Any basic sewing book should have instructions. Do local fabric stores take trade-ins? Maybe they have a good used one? Good luck in your quest. While you’re waiting to find a serger you can learn to finish seams other ways. There is, of course, zigzagging them, French seams and the seam finish like jeans have. Any basic sewing book should have instructions. Do local fabric stores take trade-ins? Maybe they have a good used one? Good luck in your quest.

]]> By: Vered http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15787 Vered Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:55:42 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15787 Somewhat off topic perhaps, but I must say it is AWESOME that you can sew! I wanted to sew my own clothes so badly, and even took a private sewing lesson (yes, really), but I seem to be sewing-challenged and just couldn't get it. :( Back to shopping at the store. Somewhat off topic perhaps, but I must say it is AWESOME that you can sew! I wanted to sew my own clothes so badly, and even took a private sewing lesson (yes, really), but I seem to be sewing-challenged and just couldn’t get it. :( Back to shopping at the store.

]]> By: Caro http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15778 Caro Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:34:00 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15778 I have discovered one of the most nifty things about Criagslist is the RSS link at the bottom of EVERY search page. So I refine my search--for me it involves choosing the neighborhood because my area, Seattle, has a number of distinct areas and depending on my search, I may or may not be willing to drive very far for my item. After I have refined my search, I click the RSS button and it adds it to my default RSS reader (for me it's Google, for you, it's probably Yahool?) Anyway, I have searches on there for TONS of stuff now. From Diapers to my china pattern to the specific shoes my daughter is crazy about. I don't actually buy much this way, but for things that I'm really coveting, this is a way to watch for them easily without remembering to search for a dozen different things each day. But I also think that getting involved with the older women at your church sounds rewarding in its own way. Maybe there is even a sewing club in the making there? I have discovered one of the most nifty things about Criagslist is the RSS link at the bottom of EVERY search page. So I refine my search–for me it involves choosing the neighborhood because my area, Seattle, has a number of distinct areas and depending on my search, I may or may not be willing to drive very far for my item. After I have refined my search, I click the RSS button and it adds it to my default RSS reader (for me it’s Google, for you, it’s probably Yahool?)

Anyway, I have searches on there for TONS of stuff now. From Diapers to my china pattern to the specific shoes my daughter is crazy about. I don’t actually buy much this way, but for things that I’m really coveting, this is a way to watch for them easily without remembering to search for a dozen different things each day.

But I also think that getting involved with the older women at your church sounds rewarding in its own way. Maybe there is even a sewing club in the making there?

]]> By: Aryn http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15770 Aryn Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:16:27 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15770 I hope you find a serger, too! I've gotten a bug into my head to make my own slipcovers. I can't stand the ones on my couch anymore, and I live near a 9 block fabric district where I can get cheap, high-quality fabric. The downside - I haven't sewed since I was 13 and I don't have a sewing machine. Fortunately a friend will let me borrow hers, which just leaves the not having sewed for 20 years problem. I hope you find a serger, too! I’ve gotten a bug into my head to make my own slipcovers. I can’t stand the ones on my couch anymore, and I live near a 9 block fabric district where I can get cheap, high-quality fabric. The downside – I haven’t sewed since I was 13 and I don’t have a sewing machine. Fortunately a friend will let me borrow hers, which just leaves the not having sewed for 20 years problem.

]]> By: LJ http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15766 LJ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:32:06 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/03/30/finding-a-serger-for-free-or-cheap/#comment-15766 Isn't it so hard to get outside that "I can't afford it" box? Frugality takes some creative thinking and I am glad that you found some inspiration to think outside that ugly old box! :) Take Care and I hope you find a serger! Isn’t it so hard to get outside that “I can’t afford it” box? Frugality takes some creative thinking and I am glad that you found some inspiration to think outside that ugly old box! :)

Take Care and I hope you find a serger!

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