Elna 654

My children bought me an elna eXtend 864air Overlocker from Cavendish store, Cape Town. It is truly wonderful to have a self-threading overlocker, but what has made it an even more wonderful is having Wardia as a teacher. Thank you Wardia for your patience, kindness, suggestions and obvious love for your job! You have made what I thought would have been a daunting experience into something exciting and simple. Show details ·  2

Didn't work out of the box – I purchased this a few years ago and thought I was too stupid to set it up and get it working despite poring over every detail in the manual. I was planning on going back to Spotlight to ask for help threading it, but when I enquired about it they said they didn't really do that. I was told it would be pot luck that someone may have the time and… Read more

skill if I took it to the store, but no, I couldn't pre-arrange it. I booked in and took it to a 2 day community college course on learning to use an overlocker, super excited about all the fun I was going to have, and the teacher soon realised it didn't work and said it would need servicing. She was pretty appalled to find it was faulty out of the box. By this time the warranty had expired, and I realise I am responsible for not seeking help with it earlier, but a $599.00 product should work when purchased!! I'm clearly not the only one to have had problems with this model. I most certainly wouldn't recommend it and it's a shame because my vintage Elna sewing machines are still amazing. I know that's comparing apples and oranges, but it's sad to see the good Elna name go down the drain. I ended up recently buying a Brother overlocker and was competent in threading and using it less than 20 minutes after unboxing it. I'm left deciding whether to have the Elna serviced, or just cut my losses and sell 'as is' on eBay.

I love this machine so much easier than old serger – I have had no problems with threading my machine. If I did have any problems it was easy to remedy. All the tools store in the little drawer on the side. The cue cards are very helpful to change stitches quickly. It has made my sewing so much more enjoyable and professional looking.

Elna 654 - nightmare to thread – This seems to be an ok machine but its a nightmare to thread. The manual is absolutely no help at all with tiny diagrams and useless text - what the hell is a V cutout?? I sent a message to Elna today only to be told to take it to a retailer and for a cost they will thread it for me. Why can't they just put out a video on how its done or at least some sort of clear instructions. Nup! Unless you have the patience of a saint forget it.

Wish I had never bought it – I bought this machine on the recommendation of the store rep when I was shopping around to replace my other serger when it bit the dust. Many people who worked in the store had one and they all loved theirs. So I bought it. I don't know where to begin to tell you how much grief it has given me. Threading it is a nightmare compared to my other… Read more

sergers. The color coding dots don't even jive with the illustration on the inside of the front panel. The manual is useless as far as helping you to thread it. And there are no online videos to help. I don't need anything fancy most of the time, just a standard 4-thread serging stitch. Since day 1, I have not been able to get a consistent stitch, have spent HOURS and HOURS rethreading, changing needles, trying everything I can think of to get a nice stitch, and am sending it back to the store. I wanted to love it, and would be happy to share a positive experience, but I am a full-time seamstress who cannot be without a functioning serger. I cannot honestly recommend this machine in good conscience. There are better machines out there that are easier to thread and that actually work. This one - on my first project - literally jammed when it came up to a pleat in the fabric - 4 layers consisting of two layers of taffeta and two layers of organza - so hardly a "thick" combination of fabrics. I switch to my old serger EVERY single time I don't have time to waste trying to get the Elna to work. I am truly disappointed. If you are going to consider this machine, don't buy it online. Make sure you buy it from a store where you can return it if you need to.

Very difficult to thread – I bought the machine on sale at Spootlight in Auckland back in 2010 still today having issues treading it, it is an absolute nightmare.. Took to a friend expert on overloocker she could not make it work. Wondering whether it is me or the machine,I would not recommend this machine the pain is more than the gain... Other machines does not seem to have this issue The add showed lots of possibilities Threading

I love this machine! – My husband bought this overlocker for me as a christmas gift in 2008. It revolutionised my sewing overnight and I totally love it. I was a complete sewing novice and had never even used an overlocker before. I had some trouble threading it for the first time but eventually nutted it out with the instructions (which could be a little clearer for… Read more

the first time user). Overall it's a lovely machine and I highly recommend it if you can afford it. Easy to use and very very tough! It can overlock layers of really thick denim fabrics or rolled edges on delicate silk chiffon. Once I learned how to thread it the first time, the instructions on how to do all the different threading styles became easier. I like the tools it comes with too and it comes with 5 needles (2 already in position and 3 in the little box) which is handy. I've had it for 2 years now and use it at least once every week, and there hasn't been any trouble yet and I haven't got around to having it serviced yet. This is the only overlocker I've ever owned or used so I can't gauge against anything else but I know I can't live (or at least sew) without this machine. I know this machine was really expensive from spotlight - around the $700 -$800 mark, and I think that kind of expense is prohibitive for the average home sewer. Also for that sort of money I think it should come with a hard cover

OK – Overall it does as advertised. Our review has been colored by the initial two faulty machines. Would have given it a higher rating without the problems. I bought an Elna 654 because it had the features I wanted. It has a well formed stitch and is quite to use. Initially it was out of my price range $899. I considered Brother 3034D $699 and a… Read more

similar Janome. The Elna came on special and the price came within my price range.

It appears to be a solid machine. Well packaged. Dealer support was good as we had initial problems. The first two machines supplied had to be sent back, one with an electrical fault and the other badly damaged by a fork lift or something similar. After returning 2 faulty machines, this third machine performs as advertised. It took 3 machines to get the purchase right.

First machine - On first opening we set it up as per instructions. We consulted the manual to thread the machine and we found it difficult to follow. While setting up we became aware of an electrical fault - the light went off whenever the machine was sewing and on when it stopped and was not able to be turned on and off by the power switch on the machine. The tool kit supplied had a faulty screwdriver:- end was chipped off making it unusable. Interesting; it only comes with 3 spare needles in a package made for 5.

The second machine also arrived faulty - the side tool box had broken hinges obviously from mistreatment somewhere along the line before we took delivery. When returned to supplier - it was easy to confirm that this was indeed the case. They still had the original mangled box from the second machine with the serial number matching this second machine on the box and had swapped boxes so that we had an undamaged, stronger, better looking box.

The third machine appears to be up to the specifications I would have expected initially. It took quite a while to adjust the tensions to achieve a good stitch. Expect to take at least an hour to set up. The settings being no where near what the manual states - again the manual could be much better.

Frustration Personified! – Bought my machine November 2010 on sale. Have used overlockers for many years so expected no issues. I have tried using it at home with little success. I have had a lesson on it (through the store I bought it at) and understood more about threading etc. Brought it back home expecting to sew. Have practised threading it countless time, both at the… Read more

store (under the guidance of the assistant) and then at home. I have threaded it with coloured thread to correspond with the diagrams so that I can see what is going wrong. Not having any luck. Here are my experiences:

1. Thread snaps shortly after pressing on foot pedal. Constantly.

2. Very difficult to thread the lower looper (green). Doesn't like staying threaded. This often happens to be the thread that snaps as well.

3. Makes a "clunky" noise to get going Built in sewing guide. Built in tools. Thread snaps. Difficult to thread. Not enough information in the manual.