Hi. I’m a new member, and am hoping to glean lots of helpful information from this group. At the moment, I’m planning on buying a new serger and have narrowed my choice down to Pfaff. I’m wanting any input from those of you who have the 4852, or 4862. I’d really like the 4874, but doubt I’d use all the lovely features of that model. I sew most fabrics, from knits to denim – clothing, quilts and home dec. Thanks for any feedback.
Sue
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You Will Hear one thing a lot during your search..."Looking for a serger is such a personal..."
Anyway, enjoy your search.....I Looked at Pfaff recently, I ended up with a Babylock. I did months of research. First, I was interested in all of the bells and whistles of the 4874. I looked on http://www.patternreview.com Have you tried there yet? It was hard to find anyone with the 4874, I figured it was a price thing...The only complaint (other than price) that I found was one lady said it was a little loud. I don't think it's bad at all.
As for the 4862, I got awful feedback, everyone I spoke to said not to buy it, I don't remember all of the reasons, but a few of the people said they traded it in for either the 4852 or 4874, but I have never used any of them, so I can't say either way.
NOT TRYING TO INFLUENCE YOU.....
But what I liked about Babylock: I don't have to mess with tensions when switching fabrics. I don't have to worry about circuit boards going bad. It is soooooo easy to thread with the jet air thing and it is pretty quiet....The accesories aren't too expensive...from what I know, Pfaff has plates and feet you have to change, not sure I remember that correctly, though. For most things............Wow, I sound like a saleswoman......sorry.....best I can say is look around, ask everyone, and check out you area's resources....If I had bought Pfaff I would've only had a 20 min. drive to get help with it, and now I have to drive almost an hour, but they have a great video you can get free with it if you ask for it.....
But good luck with everything, Please don't think I am trying to sway you in any way...
Hi, and thanks for your reply to my message. There is a Babylock dealer 20 minutes from where I live, but he just sells the machines and services them. He doesn't seem to know much about the Evolve, which is the one I'd want to buy. So, my question is this: how user friendly are they, as I'd have to teach myself. I've taught myself the three sergers I've owned over the years, but the Evolve seems so much different. The Pfaff dealer is 200 miles away, but I'm positive that I'd be able to figure out how to use that machine. I want this to be my last serger purchase, so need all the information I can glean. Thanks for your help.
Hi there.............I have 4 sergers presently.........an Elna 704DEX which is my oldest and my workhorse, I have a Janome Compulock which is also a great machine. Then I have a Janome 234 (?? or something).....just a basic 4 thread machine for backup and I keep it threaded with black so I don't have to switch so often. My last purchase was a Babylock Evolve. I absolutely love the Babylock Evolve for the threading. The quick-guide reference for threading and changing for the different stitches is awesome........it makes it so easy and the machine does many, many different stitches for all sorts of applications! I love the coverhem because it's so easy to switch.......no plate changes and all that other stuff. If you've had sergers before, you will LOVE the Evolve and you will learn to use it very easily. It probably has the best instructions of all the machines I have.......... Sorry if I, too, sound like a salesperson.......didn't mean to. I have no experience with the Pfaff although I did have a Pfaff sewing machine many years ago. It was mom's purchased in 1958 and only had straight and z-z plus cams that I never did figure out!! It was great but that was lightyears ago and a sewing machine, not a serger.
Well.......there you have my thoughts on the subject.
There is a trick to threading the coverstitch looper that's not that difficult once somebody shows you but the Evolve is a lot simpler to learn than other sergers - the jet air thing makes me pull it out more often than my other machines (don't ask). Also, it comes with a really nicely laid out card that clearly illustrates the different settings for the different stitches. My only complaint with it is that the bed is really narrow so you really can't use the chain or coverstitch decoratively in the middle of a piece of fabric. For that, the huskylock 936 is fantastic and probably the most versatile of all the sergers I've seen. It's not too hard to thread but the threading card is harder to read. imho
It's easy!!!!!! It's my 1st serger and I am teaching myself! They gave me an hour-long DVD (wasn't in the box with the machine, but was free) and it was great. It doesn't require adjustment for most fabrics and sews every stitch like a dream....it might be worth your time to look at Babylock, too and good luck again, keep us posted!
Edited 5/19/2007 8:39 pm ET by ineedaserger329
I don't know if you have decided on a serger yet, so I thought I would put in my nickel's worth. I have a Babylock Evolve and absolutely LOVE it. They give you a "quick reference chart" (cheat sheet) as well as a regular instruction manual (and it seems to me I got a video tape or dvd with it, or they sent one , or something, I can't remember); the cheat sheet is very explicit and I have only needed to refer to the actual manual a couple of times, for something not covered (I needed to made a thread cradle for heavy thread). I don't live in the sticks but am in an area where there aren't many fabric or sewing machine shops. The Evolve is actually my second Babylock serger; the other one still hums along but doesn't have as many options as the Evolve. I can make a tee shirt in about 30 minutes, including cut-out time and time to convert the serger form regular to cover stitch, back to regular and then finally back once again to cover stitch to finish (it has a jewel neckline and I like to do as much flat construction as I can). Good luck, Cherie
The Pfaff 4862 is much like my Elna 744 and I think both are made in the same factory in Japan. These are heavy duty models and quieter than many other brand models. Both sergers are only 4 threads and they both have automatic tensions and all you need to do is dial the stitch on the numbered dial that you want and the tensions are automatically set. I am unsure of how many Coverhem stitches the Pfaff 4862 has but my Elna though only a 4 thread has 3 coverhems, narrow and wide 2 seam and triple seam and 17 stitches on the stitch program that you dial. With my serger I do not have to change the plate or the foot to use coverhem and you can stitch off the fabric with coverhem. I am unsure about the Pfaff because I think needle placement is different. I have 5 needles on my serger. The 3 in front are for coverhem and chain stitch and the back two are for overlock stitches. My needle bar also tilts for easy needle change where it does not on the Pfaff. I had a Pfaff 4842 and that is a little workhorse of a serger.
The Pfaff 4852 is a 5 thread and I am uncertain about the amount stitches but the settings are on the front of the serger. I did not need a 5 thread for the 5 thread safety stitch being my serger has a 4 thread safety but you might be able to do more deco stitches with a 5 thread. If deco stitches are in order I would go for the Pfaff 4874. I think Pfaff gives some of the most beautiful deco stitches and I think it is easier to thread some of the deco thread on Pfaff sergers than with the air threading Babylock models. Babylock owners do love their air threaders though, there is no doubt about that.
It is a common theme...Personal Choice...
I have a bernina 800dl, few years old, top of line at the time, used by college students in Australia, great machine.
I ordered the book 'Serger Secrets' yesterday. maryincolorado can't rave enough about it. I have the palmer/pletch little books+dvds, and Nancy Ziemans Serge with Confidence. I like variety!
Each individual has different needs with all machines.
Learn and test and have fun with your final purchase.
Hi,
I have a Pfaff 4852 and have been very happy with it. The stitch quality is very good and have had no problems at all. I use the cover stitch occasionally which requires me to pull out the manual to make the required plate/needle changes. My only complaint would be the pictures and threading diagrams in the manual could be a bit more clear. I took the classes offered by my Pfaff dealer and they were certainly helpful - no problems with threading but have to admit, threading was never a big deal for me.
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