Overlockers

I’m very interested in getting an overlocker and since we have a lot of talented seamstresses out there, I was hoping to get some advice. As I’m poor and chimera will soon be eating into budget I’m keen to go the second hand route but I really know nothing about them. What is a reasonable price range? What are the things to look out for? I wish there was a place to take a classes where you could try a few but all the ones I’ve found in Auckland you have to bring your own machine to.

Any advice/handy hints/horror stories appreciated!

Sewing Machine World
151 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga

They have the nicest staff you could imagine, they do classes and have overlockers at a reasonable price.
They service sewing machines too.

Couldn’t recommend them enough :slight_smile:

I second Liz’s rec for Sewing Machine World.

I bought my overlocker last December. I got advice from Chantelle, who is a professional seamstress, who warned me off second hand overlockers. I spent a couple of weeks trying to buy one from Spotlight who never had anything in stock. Then Liz told me about Sewing Machine World and they were really amazing. They taught me how to use my overlocker, how to thread it, what the functions were and insisted I try several and pick the one I like. I ended up spending $700 on an entry level Janome that I am absolutely thrilled with. The more expensive models typically are quieter and have pneumatic threaders (i.e. they thread themselves, instead of you playing that fun game) but my model does everything I need it to do and I love it.

tl;dr - Avoid Spotlight, don’t recommend secondhand, the $600-$700 for an entry level is well worth it. :slight_smile: