new to sewing- need advice please

Hi,
I'm new to sewing and need to know what machine is best to buy for sewing
*stretchy* fabrics for dance-type wear such as lycra and stretch velvet.
Is a serger better than a regular machine? If yes, then why? What price range
am I looking at for a new machine?

Any advice or additional info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dee

DKiely33 wrote:

Hi,
I'm new to sewing and need to know what machine is best to buy for sewing
*stretchy* fabrics for dance-type wear such as lycra and stretch velvet.
Is a serger better than a regular machine? If yes, then why? What price range
am I looking at for a new machine?

Any advice or additional info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dee

Price depends very much on where you are in the world and what offers
are on the day you buy it. Best to set a budget and see what you can
afford within that.

You also need to try all the different makes within the budget to see
what suits you. There is no one best make - it's like fitting shoes and
bras! You have to find the one that suits YOU and what you want to
sew. This goes for both sergers and sewing machines. If your budget is
very limited, look at used machines - you will get a better machine used
than you might be able to afford new.

I'd say you need both a serger and a sewing machine - you can't do
everything you want to do with just the one. While you CAN so some
stretch fabrics with an ordinary machine, to have the strength needed
for dance wear you really need serged seams.
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

DKiely33 wrote:
Hi,
I'm new to sewing and need to know what machine is best to buy for sewing
*stretchy* fabrics for dance-type wear such as lycra and stretch velvet.
Is a serger better than a regular machine? If yes, then why? What price range
am I looking at for a new machine?

Any advice or additional info is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dee

We are a dealer so this may sound biased, but:

We had a customer in who sews a lot of Lycra swim suits. We tested a range of
White and Husqvarna sewing machines and sergers on her fabrics. The Husqvarna
did a much better job than the Whites.

Moral - you get what you pay for.

Also, when you go to look at machines take along your fabric to test drive the
machines, and if the dealer wont let you test drive them on your fabric, walk out.

Roger.

--
Yarn Forward
Your On Line Yarn Store
http://www.yarnforward.com