Which brand is better in terms of quality and long lasting? Which one has the most pros? Which one works the best?
Which brand would be better for lockstitch and which brand would be better for serger/overlock?
Can anyone please tell me the difference between these three brands?
I wouldn’t have a modern Singer or a Brother home machine — they’re just not up to the quality of machine I like to work with, in my experience. Janome is getting close to that quality of stitching, but won’t take the hours I put on a machine year after year.
For sergers, I prefer Juki; for sewing machines I prefer Viking. YMMV.
See Kate Dicey’s essay on choosing sewing machines at http://www.katedicey.co.uk The FAQ she refers to is at: tinyurl.com/l5rzu6
Each brand has low end models and high end models and many in between.
It is always best to visit sewing machine dealers to see what will work best for you.
Sewing machines and sergers are two different products. A sewing machine can simulate what a basic serger can do, but a serger cannot be used exclusively for garment sewing.
Make a wish list of what you want to sew and take the list (include your budget) and start visiting the various dealers.
I prefer Babylock for user friendliness, performance and warranty.
Janome makes some very good, easy to use sewing machines and sergers. Right now they are producing some of the very best machine on the market for both beginner and experienced sewers. I give sewing lessons and people with Janomes, Sears Kenmore, Babylocks and Jukis all have fewer problems that people with brothers, newer singers and Euro-pros. The people with Euro pros have so many problems that I can say with no hesitation: Stay Away From Euro-Pro. You do get what you pay for when you buy a sewing machine.
There are also a few lesser known, harder to find, expensive premium brands worth seeking out: Bernina, Pfaff, and Husqvarna (yes, the same husqvarna that makes chain saws, snow blowers, lawn mowers and tractors) Berninas tend to be breathtakingly expensive and I’m really not sure you are getting value for the exorbitant price, not when another brand does so much the same for far less money. If you are looking for a top of the line machine, then Pfaff is worth the money, no question. Husqvarna makes some solid, hard working machines that many people love. Husqs are often used by pro tailors and dressmakers. Many with Husqvarnas wouldn’t trade them for anything. I -on the other hand -have never ever had any luck with a husqvarna and I have no idea why. It’s probably me. My mom loves her machine, she calls it “husky” These brands all have features that experienced sewers love and need. Some have extraordinary embroidery capabilities. Some allow you to design, combine and manipulate stitch patterns for expanded creativity. If you are an advanced beginner, intermediate or higher level skilled sewer then these brands are well worth checking out. They will expand your creative horizons in ways you never dreamed.
Try before you buy. You need to feel comfortable with any machine. Thread it a few times, test the machine on several scraps of fabric. Take what you sew the most, whether its denim, fleece, or quilting cotton. Don’t base a decision on the fabric samples shown on the sales floor. They use heavily starched cotton and felt, that makes every machine look good. Try to buy from a sewing machine dealer. Dealers will allow you to try before you buy, offer operation lessons, accessories for your machine and they will help if you have any problems. All dealers have a trained sewing machine technician on staff. A technician can repair your machine if you have problems and once a year give your machine a tune-up so it will stay in tip-top running order. I have a whole bunch of machines and I’m on a fist name basis with the local sewing machine technician. It may cost a few dollars more at a sewing machine shop than at walmart, but walmart doesn’t offer after sale support.
Also, if you buy both a serger and a lock stitcher, a dealer might give you a package deal, something walmart won’t do.