Your Most Asked Baby Lock Serger Questions
Our History
In 1964, Koichi Sakuma decided to develop a smaller, more convenient overlock serger. He eventually formed a new company to design and build these little overlockers- called “Baby Locks.”
Fast forward to the 1970’s- A family-owned company called Tacony Corporation brought this new machine to the United States. Over the next fifty years, Baby Lock developed many patents and continued to grow. We’ve become famous for our machine innovation, particularly our sergers. Read the following blog to get answers to some of the most searched questions about Baby Lock sergers.
Types of Baby Lock Sergers
4-Thread Overlock: Vibrant, Celebrate, Victory, Acclaim
Used for: those looking for a strong finishing stitch, a variety of fabric types, garment making, DIY projects, finishing seams
Cover and Chain: Applaud and Euphoria
Used for: hemming knits and woven fabrics, constructing activewear, and adding stability and stretch to swimwear seams with the chain stitch
8-thread Overlock and Coverstitch: Splendor and Triumph
Used for: Someone who wants the benefits of an overlock and coverstitch machine all in one machine, an intermediate to advanced maker ready to invest in a quality serger
Compare all models at a glance with our serger comparison chart.
Why Group Cover and Chain Stitches with Overlock Stitches?
This type of machine is sometimes known as a finishing machine. While the exact stitches available will vary depending on the model, these machines share traits such as employing multiple threads and multiple machine loopers to create stitches. They look similar and have similar creative goals. However, these machines can do much more than finish seams and fabric edges!
Baby Lock Threading Technology
Baby Lock has a variety of easy-threading features on our sergers, with slightly different names. Here are the differences between them.
Jet Air Threading™
With just the touch of a lever, thread is sent through the tubular loopers. There are no looper thread guides to struggle with! This is featured on the Celebrate and Victory sergers, in addition to a convenient built-in needle threader.
ExtraordinAir® Threading
With just a burst of air, the looper threads are instantly passed through both loopers. Threading has never been this fast, easy, or extraordinary! This is featured on the Splendor, Euphoria, Triumph, Acclaim, and Applaud sergers.
RevolutionAir™ Threading
This is featured on the Acclaim and Triumph sergers. Engage the RevolutionAir™ threader, and with the push of a button, the sergers needles are threaded! Baby Lock’s RevolutionAir Threading makes setting up your machine faster and easier than ever, every single time.
What is Automatic Thread Delivery?
Baby Lock pioneered the Automatic Thread Delivery System over 30 years ago. This system allows you to serge through a variety of fabrics and threads without making tension adjustments! Whether it is the thickest denim or slippery-soft minky fabric, your serger will create perfect stitches every time. If it seems too good to be true, watch Linda demo ATD technology in this video.
Chris Tryon’s Machine Recommendations
Our serger expert Chris suggests a few models based on the following customers. Remember, you can always visit your local retailer and demo a few to decide or consult our serger comparison chart. If you want to read Chris’ Serger 101 post, click here.
Best Sergers For Beginners
A beginner who wants a straightforward machine to help with hemming and piecing might consider the Baby Lock Vibrant or Celebrate. The Vibrant can’t be beat for the price point, and offers 2, 3, and 4 thread serging, and a trim bin. The Celebrate also offers 2, 3, and 4 thread serging, but includes additional features such as Jet-Air Threading, a telescoping thread stand, extra high lift cutting blade for lofty and thick fabrics, and a selection of must-have feet for your serging needs. It doesn’t offer ATD like some of the higher end options, so compare it to the Victory serger if that’s a must-have.
Best Sergers For Advanced Quilters and Sewers
An experienced sewist, garment maker and quilter might consider the Triumph. This 8-thread overlock and coverstitch is the best of both worlds, offering 87 Stitch Combinations including triple, wide and narrow cover stitch, 4 and 5-thread safety stitches, and more. This machine will support you as you learn almost every serger technique that exists.
Sergers for Intermediate Garment Makers
An intermediate to advanced garment maker looking to step up their creative game should compare the Applaud and Euphoria sergers. The Applaud Creative Top Cover Stitch is in a category of its own, offering never-before-seen stitches, while the Euphoria is better for those who use a cover and chainstitch frequently in their garments.
Replacing Your Vintage Serger
Someone who needs to replace their much-loved vintage serger and wants something easy and reliable should check out the Splendor. Really, this model is great for everyone, as it was designed to be more user-friendly, and to offer more space. It has ATD for overlocking, and manual tension for cover/chain.
Baby Lock’s Serger Innovations
You may have heard of some recent industry-changing machines and accessories developed by Baby Lock’s pros. Our experts are always looking for ways to expand your creative possibilities and save you time.
Overlock Table for Triumph or Ovation Sergers
This one-of-a-kind product will transform what you can do on your Triumph or Ovation serger. Now, you can use attachments like the knit-woven binder attachment that once were only for the chain and coverstitch but now can be used with an overlock stitch!
Compact Overlock Table for the Splendor Serger
The unique design of this Compact Overlock Table allows the sewist to use overlock stitches with Baby Lock serger attachments for a one-of-a-kind creative edge finish to any project, or those perfect seams every sewist desires.
Applaud Creative Top Cover Stitch
Featuring a dual wiper system, this serger creates unique, one-of-a-kind stitches that elevate any project. From embellishing to hemming garments to exquisite details for home décor, this serger takes your creativity to the next level. Don’t miss the specialty micro insert feet and optional accessories listed at the bottom of the page.
Applaud Specialized Accessories
Consider the following specialized accessories for the Applaud. The Cord Guide Plate helps you to embellish and create texture when using cording with the Cording/Taping Micro Insert Foot Kit and either one or both wipers. The Taping & Cording Micro Insert Feet kit offers four sizes of cording feet that can be used with a range of decorative cording, yarn and hand embroidery thread. The taping feet are perfect for showcasing a variety of ribbon and tape types. The Stitch in the Ditch Micro Insert Feet help you to achieve perfect alignment while stitching in a seam, along a seam, or along a fabric edge.
Try 130+ Serger Projects and Tutorials
After investing in a new machine, many creatives are looking for free and affordable educational resources. Our website hosts tons of free tutorials and projects for sewing, serger, quilting, embroidery, and beyond. The previous link is pulling just serger projects. You can also browse the full project blog library, which includes projects that use sergers as well as other machines. Interested in more tutorials and inspiration? Our Learn and Create section includes tons of additional tutorials and more from Baby Lock staff and Ambassadors.
Free Serger Videos on YouTube
The Baby Lock YouTube channel is your resource for any of our current machines, as well as many of our previous models. Here are some of the videos you might consult if you have serger questions. We also have playlists for our machines and machine segments, available here. These videos range from information about each model, to at-home maintenance tips, to specific project or technique tutorials.
SEWED Video Classes, Free with Love of Sewing Membership
You get 60-day trial of our SEWED video classes with the purchase of a new Baby Lock machine, which is a great way to see if you’d like to add on a 2-4 year Love of Sewing Membership. The Love of Sewing also includes service, support and annual maintenance from a local Baby Lock certified technician, as well as repairs, parts and labor charges (with some exclusions). We have 111 dedicated serger videos as a part of our Sewed Video Classes, in addition to hundreds of other relevant tutorials.
SEWED Serger Getaways
In addition to these recorded video tutorials, you can attend classes at Baby Lock Headquarters, virtually, or watch the playback of previous sessions. Check out our current SEWED Getaways and stay tuned for the next round of classes to be announced.
Join Our Serger Facebook Group!
The Baby Lock Serger Facebook Community is a meeting spot for those that have a serger and may need a little advice on a project or technique. You can share what you're creating, learn more about sergers accessories and attachments, explore new creative possibilities, and sew much more. While some of our groups require you already have a Baby Lock machine, this one is open to all serger owners!
Don’t Skip These Accessory Basics
If you’re happy with your current serger, or recently upgraded, there are still ways to simplify your process, increase your serger accuracy, and flex your creativity.
Make sure you have a serger dust cover, tool kit, and trolley. While these aren’t required to begin serging, they help you protect and extend the life of your machine. Adding an extension table allows you to expand your workspace and better see how your serger stitches are turning out in real time.
Game-changing Serger Accessories
These feet and attachments will have you wishing you knew about them sooner. Get a perfect hem with no pre-stitch pressing by using a plain hemmer foot. Struggling to create perfect binding? Explore our single fold bias binders, which turn the top edge of unfolded bias binding under while allowing the lower edge to remain straight, enclosing the edge of the fabric. The double fold bias binders turn fabric strips into binding and attach it to project edges all in one step- which is ideal for curved edges, collars, and necklines on knit or woven fabrics. Easily create straps, drawstrings, decorative trim, purse handles and of course, belt loops, with our belt loop binder. If accuracy is the name of your game, get there faster with a fabric guide.
Baby Lock offers foot kits that go beyond what’s included with your machine. Browse foot kits and individual accessories here.
