Lynn, I don't know anything about that serger, but I had my MIL's old New Home serger for a while (probably about the same age). The dang thing was sooooo hugely frustrating to thread that one day my DH was listening to me complain and told me to just go buy a new one! I got a decent White serger at Hancock's for $200.

So...my recommendation would be to spend the extra $50 and get a new one...they are much easier to thread now, and the White has features the old New Home didn't.

Donna

I have a Bernette (Bernina) 334DS. I do enjoy this serger. I enjoy the smaller size of the presser foot (as compared to some), the way it handles and feeds the fabric, and the swing away presser foot.

A couple of years before I purchased the 334DS, I had rented a 334D. In my opinion the 334D did a more consistent stitch and would have been better for decorative stitching because of this. When I complained about this, a dealer mentioned that Bernina had changed the design of the tension disks when they brought out the 334DS; from flat to convex. I cannot verify if this is true. Does anyone here know?

The only obvious differences between the two models are the exterior color and the easier to thread lower looper on the 334DS.

Will your friend let you try threading and adjusting the tensions on her machine before you decide. There is a lot to learn about using a serger, so most likely it will be frustrating at first. If you are comfortable about learning to thread and adjust tensions, I would definitely advise you to purchase it at $150, especially if it is in good shape.

I would not consider it out of date. It does everything a standard serger does, as well as 2-thread stitching. There are larger sergers that have a third chain stitch looper which make it possible to offer a straight chain stitch, a 5-thread stitch, and on some machines a cover stitch.

What type of sewing do you plan to do? Clothing? Home dec? Decorative? I know it is hard when you haven't used one yet, but can you tell us more about what you are be looking for in a serger?

If the tension adjustments and threading are particularly troublesome for you, and you feel you could never get comfortable doing those things, I would recommend that you find a Babylock Imagine. It does not have tensions (it has a fantastic thread delivery system) and it has jet air threading. The Imagine is very easy to use, has a perfect stitch, and is also great for decorative stitching with decorative threads, but you will pay more.

The sergers I have are Bernette 334DS, Elna 925DCX and Babylock Evolve.

i was wondering if you still had the bernina 334ds? i just picked one up for 30 bucks and love it but, it didn't have a manual and i was wondering if i could ask you a couple of questions about it?