What is the difference between a Merrow Sewing Machine, and a Serger Sewing Machine?
What's the difference between the Sewing Machine needles on the Merrow, and Serger Sewing Machine. How many spools of thread does the Merrow, and the Serger Sewing Machine holds.
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4 Answers By Expert Tutors
Monica W. answered • 02/21/21
Tutor
5
(9)
Fun, Patient, AWESOME Sewing Teacher with 20+years experience
Based on the phrasing of your question, I believe this is the answer you are looking for. Both Merrow and Sergers are Sergers! Merrow is a Brand Name. HOWEVER Merrows' brand has been diluted like Reynolds has been diluted. When I say, "Buy a roll of Reynolds" - where does your mind take you? FOIL, right?! But Reynolds make so many more products than just foil. VOILA! As with Merrow.
Merrow is the very well known Brand of industrial, high speed machine that gives you an impeccably ROLLED HEM (like ruffles on a wedding dress) or ROLLED EDGE (like a dinner napkin, handkechief, a motocycle patch). Cute little tops are made in the stores with this type of edging on it. Ex. A pretty multi-colored jersey knit top and the bottom edge has a really skinny rolled band of thread sewn all the way around and it gives the top a decorative look. That is what the "Merrow" produces.
So if I were to walk in a commercial sewing machine store and ask for a Merrow machine, more than likely they will relate my request to the Merrow machine that produces that type of hem or edge. If I ask for a SERGER which is used more to finish the raw edge of seams INSIDE of a garment,etc. hands down i would BE shown a different brand such as Juki or Toshiba, Brother, Singer etc... not a Merrow. The Merrow would literally roll the raw edge of the fabric under and secure it by an extremely close stitch that gives a decorative/functional touch. In a dressmakers shop or small run manufacturing shop the Merrows' settings would not change very much. Its sole purpose would be to provide that function so a sewer can quickly and repitiously produce the garmentssss, or productsssss, or patchessss, etc.
But here is the thing.... Merrows are hard to come by. If you see it; it works and you WILL use it then buy it.
If you're not going to use it, leave it for the person who will. Heck...I'm looking for one...lol! No, really, I'm looking for one!
So my gosh! Looks like you have several answers! Which is right? ALL OF THEM in one form or another.
Soooo, where is the Merrow?? Hmmmm!
Chris D. answered • 11/06/20
Tutor
New to Wyzant
Sewing,Embroidery,Quilting Education Specialist for over 20 years
a Merrow machine is a commercial line. There is sewing and overlock, could be more. I haven't really seen how many threads this uses.
A regular serger is a domestic machine for home use. That can use 2,3,4 + threads depends on the brand and what you want it to do.
DEBORAH B. answered • 11/21/19
Tutor
New to Wyzant
Professional Seamstress/Upholsterer specializing in Fine Finishes
Merrow is a brand name. The Merrow Sewing Machine Company invented the overlock sewing machine. A serger sewing machine is an overlock sewing machine.
Anonymous A. answered • 10/04/19
Tutor
New to Wyzant
50 years experience with Sewing
The biggest difference for me is that the serger uses multiple threads.
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Lyanne O.
Merrow is a brand of Industrial sewing machine. They are very different animals in ways. They and their various industrial knock offs run at over 5000 spm while a house hold serger's at the top of the line and costing over $1800, have speeds of 1500 spm. Most industrials 'as with most Industrial sewing machine's in general are set up to do one operation very efficiently while a home machine would have multi use function's. To switch SPI on an industrial requires switching out cams. Usually the width of the stiches is determined by the model and not often changeable. They may be set up for a t-shirt style seam or another model may make blanket edging, shell edge stitching etc. or edging for patched etc. These would each be a different model. They shoot oil at high speeds through the drive chain on industrials to achieve these high speeds without overheating. A top of the line Bernina Domestic might be every bit as expensive as a excellent new Industrial overlock machine be it a Merrow or a Juki but there may not be a huge price difference. A $2500 top of the line Bernina would NOT hold up to real 16 hour a day industrial application. The look and function of the stitches may be similar or the same.12/24/21