A sewing machine for cosplay....

[akurah]

Okay, so my mother is the coolest seamstress on the planet, but I don't know how much help she will be in assisting me in choosing a sewing machine to do cosplay.

I'm assuming I'll need a serger as well as a basic sewing machine.

I'm willing to pay a lot for it, in part because my mother's mad connections will enable me to get almost anything for incredibly cheap, and in part because I want something that will last a long time.

Advice? I'll also be asking my mother, but she doesn't have experience with cosplay.

[Katie]

Go classic. Go Singer.

(I should be in advertising. :3)

[Danae]

My Elna's never givin me problems...

[Aimi]

i have a New Home (Janome) Decor Excel II, and i love it. Used to have an old Singer (passed down from Grandma) but it broke. ^^;;;

i never understood the significance of a serger... can't you just get away with Zig-Zag stitching the edges? At least, that's what i learned from Home-ec in middle school back in Japan... ^^;;;; Sorry if i sound stupid.

[Crimson]

I figure whatever advice your mother has for making real clothes will work with costuming. You probably won't need a ton of extra features, but if you can get a deal on it, why not?
My machine is a Brother, fairly basic, but it works great :).

[arick86]

zigzaggin will do in a pinch... but a serger is much better... especially if your fabric has a tendency to unravel or fray... i've seen costumes fall apart from wear and wash because the edges weren't sereged... it's a tragedy no person should ever endure... esp. after spending all the time to build it.

BTW. I work in a genuine costume shop and use an industrial mitsubuishi... the kind you find in sweat shops! it rocks! cept with delicate fabrics.. then any old home sewing machine will do.