A serger is not a basic sewing machine. It is something you use in tandom with a sewing machine. It will do more than 75% of your sewing. It bacically sews your seam, sews a safety seam, trims your seam allowance to about 3/8", & overcasts your seam allowance in one pass through. They have improved & added features to the 5 & 6 spoolers that allow them to do things the 3 & 4 spoolers can't. You can't do button holes. Depending upon what you get, you can't top stitch or insert zippers. They are great for knits because their sewing method is really a knitted process & it will stretch some. Unless you have a machine with stretch stitches, your seams will break if stretched very much. Sergers are fast. There are 4 steps in a seam that it does plus they just operate faster. I don't use mine for sewing on neckline facings. Some people do but I don't like the look of the results. Some things I make I want the seams pressed open. On these, I just use the serger to finish the edges of the seam allowance.

Find a seamstress close & see if she will allow you to observe her switching back & forth. I have a childhood friend who worked as a fireman. He had a co-worker mumbling about his wife wanting one. I showed my friend & he went back to the firehouse with samples sewn from both machines to show his co-worker who wanted to surprise his wife at Christmas. I also referred them to a dealer. He was impressed with what they both already knew when they went shopping even though the one not buying was more knowledgeble. The buyer had no idea what one looked like even though he had his samples so he still wanted to take my friend shopping with him. Wish I'd been a fly on the wall that day.

Roberta, I feel that you would be better off with a sewing machine rather than a serger to start with. After you have been sewing a few years, then a serger would be a nice addition. Basically, sergers sew more like you see on manufactured clothing. They do sew fast - but there are a lot of things you can't do with them. A good regular sewing machine can do all sorts of stitches, including button holes. You need to start learning somewhere, and a sewing machine would let you do that. Do not buy one of these "really great deals" you can get from a sale of "high school classes'" machines. Talk to a friend who has a good machine, and watch her operate it. Then look around until you find the best deal. The cheap Japanese machines are not worth their price. They work laboriously. A good machine will work smoothly and easily. It will take a little education, but you don't want to spend your money on a bad deal.

Sorry, I think I misled with this post. I am not new at sewing but have been using the same Kenmore I made my wedding dress on 40 years ago! I simply want one that is a little more portable and lightweight but want it to be at least as dependable as my Kenmore. I have heard the word "serger" for years but just didn't really know what that meant. Thanks for the help!