How To Use A Serger For Beginners

The serger (besides called an overlocker in some countries) is an amazing machine and well worth looking at purchasing. Information technology can stitch, neaten the raw edges and cut excess fabric all at the aforementioned time. Larn how to utilise a serger and you will have no more trimming seams and then zig-zagging! Your serger does it all for yous and the end event is a very professional person terminate.

How to Use a Serger

Any serger that y'all buy will take a sewing transmission included and many suppliers offer free lessons, but here are some simple tips on how to utilize a serger to get you started. Read my full article on what is serging.

SERGERS: Multi-tasker is its middle name and making sewing easier its mechanical game.

What tin you do with a serger?

The principal functions a serger can perform are:

Finish seams on woven fabrics
Run up seams on knit fabrics
Gather
Rolled hems and fancy edges

Does a serger supplant a regular sewing machine?

It does not supercede your regular sewing machine but rather compliments and enhances your sewing room making your projects look more professional and last longer in the wash. In most cases, you will sew a seam with your regular sewing machine and then finish the seams with your serger.

Do yous need a serger to sew knit?

While you don't NEED a serger to sew knits, the stretchy durable seams it sews on knit fabrics will certainly make you want one! Knit fabrics can be sewn on a regular sewing machine with a zig-zag run up.

What is the divergence between a serger and an overlocker?

Nothing, they are the aforementioned matter! Information technology simply depends where you live as to which term is used. In the US the term serger is used and in the rest of the globe, it is referred to an overlocker.

Ownership a Serger

Thinking of buying a new serger or your commencement serger? I have both a Janome and an sometime Singer. My Singer is over xx years old so I definitely got my money's worth with that buy! Here are some popular models from Amazon.

How to use a serger - Parts of a serger

Make certain you lot know all the dissimilar parts of the serger. Look them up in the handbook and identify them on your new machine.

The main parts you should know are:

Tension dials - these are of import for getting nice smooth stitches without any loops.
The 3 or 4 thread spools (or more on some bigger machines). These are normally at the back or pinnacle of the machine.
Ii needles - but you can sew with ane if necessary
Fabric cut blade
Sew length dials
Differential feed punch – this is useful for gathering (gathering with a serger)

The beneath images were taken from my old Vocalizer U34 serger manual. Each make of serger will have slightly different configurations and placement of dials so delight cheque the transmission for your car. If you don't have a transmission, most manufacturers have downloadable links on their sites. (Read Free Sewing Machine Manuals links) Alternatively, look for second-hand manuals on eBay.

How to Use a Serger Diagram — How to Employ a Serger Diagram

How do yous Thread a Serger?

And so, how practice you thread a serger? Don't exist put off by its actress threads and cut blade. Just follow the elementary steps in your manual to get your machine ready to become. The threading does look complicated initially but as your confidence grows you'll never look back.

FRUSTRATION SAVING TIP: Always utilise quality thread to avoid snapping and having to thread all once more!

On most models, the directions for threading can be found on the inner console of your automobile and the colors are set up to assist with the threading process.

The important matter to remember for most machines is that the order of threading does matter. If I thread my Janome machine in annihilation other than the 1,2,3,4 order shown on the panel below, it won't piece of work.

If you don't want to have the laborious chore of rethreading each fourth dimension you want to modify colored threads then try this niggling fox:

Fourth dimension SAVING TIPS: Cutting your threads at the summit by the spools and tie on the new color. Gently pull the new color through the motorcar and away you become sewing with a bright new color with no fiddly re-threading to be done.

How to Use a Serger Threading — *How to Use a Serger* Threading

How to Employ a Serger When Sewing

It is ever advisable to test drive on a flake before y'all starting time on a new garment. It takes a chip of practise to become used to the serger's ability to take the cloth and run with it! You lot are the guide in every situation and too much pulling or pushing can upset the rhythm of the machine.

When you are prepare to sew, insert your fabric merely nether the foot. Take a tail of concatenation thread hanging out the back at the stop. Hold on to this chain as you start to sew so it doesn't go caught up in your material.

Let the motorcar's presser pes and plate guide the fabric through, while the stitches sew and the blade cuts to create the very neatest seam.

Keeping a conscientious eye on your speed via the human foot printing is important. Speeding can toll you some precious seam allowances. Take it easy and slow for best beginner results. After some practice, yous'll be whizzing abroad and running up dresses in no time.

Once you have mastered the straight edge seam you volition be ready to larn the next technique – the curved edge.

How to Use a Serger for Curves

Cutting out some curved border pieces from a chip fabric to practice on.

Convex or outside curve instructions

Sit directly in front of the machine; put the fabric just under the foot ready to sew.
Aid feed the material with one hand and gently guide information technology effectually the bend.
As you go, be sure to picket the blade equally it cuts off the excess fabric and make certain you don't go off the edge.

How to Use a Serger for Curves — *How to Use a Serger* for Curves

Concave or inside curve instructions

This is a scrap more fiddly equally you have a smaller infinite to run up.
Straighten the edge to sew along in line with the bract. Just catch the edge of the fabric and pull it direct. (Come across the red pointer below.) This volition mean the textile volition bunch upwards on the side.
Keep your fabric shut to the blade as y'all sew.

At present for some square corners!

How to Use a Serger for Corners

Once over again practice, practice, practice on a fleck before launching into the existent affair.

Start sewing as normal forth the first border.
Finish at the stop of the first corner, at the very edge of the material.
Take one or two stitches off the edge. Go slowly and so yous don't take as well many stitches. You lot just desire to create enough of a concatenation to allow you to pin the fabric in the next stride.
Lift the foot upwardly and pivot the fabric in line with the next border. Put the pes down to continue sewing. (See picture beneath.)

How to Use a Serger for Corners — *How to Utilise a Serger for Corners*

Starting and Stopping with a Serger

Depending on your project you may need to get-go and end at the aforementioned bespeak and overlap the serged stitching. An example of this would be when you are sewing an armhole or a ruffle to the bottom of a skirt.

Start stitching at your beginning bespeak, running the stitches onto the material at an angle.

How to Use a Serger for Ends — *How to Utilise a Serger for Ends*

When you come up to the point where you started, overlap the stitches and run off the edge at an angle and cut the chain from the motorcar.

Trim the chain even with the edge of the fabric. If y'all used a matching thread, the overlap will be about invisible.

If yous are worried about the cutting stitches unraveling, y'all could apply a liquid seam sealant such as Fray Check by Dritz.

Is learning how to utilise a serger challenging? Yes, but it is well worth the effort to run across how cracking and secure the seams and edges are after the serger has added its value to your handiwork. You volition presently encounter that as a team, y'all and your machine are invincible.