Things You Can Do With Your Serger
Posted on 08. Mar, 2009 by David Trumble in Arts and Entertainment
What the standard sewing machine was to hand sewing, the serger is to the sewing machine. The serger advances sewing in ways that most people still do not realize. While the serger is actually a specialty type of sewing machine, it does so much more than a ordinary sewing machine.
The ordinary sewing machine makes a locked stitch. Sergers on the other hand, make overlocking stitches and chain stitches. Sergers overcast the edge of the fabric, while seaming and trimming.
What kinds of things can you do with a serger? A whole bunch. In many cases, sew faster, easier, better than an standard sewing machine. Sergers do not replace ordinary sewing machine, but they certainly enhance them.
The appearance of a serger is very different from the ordinary sewing machine. Its body is much more compact. It uses several cones of thread instead of a single spool. It may have several needles. Instead of bobbin and hook assemblies, the serger has an upper and lower looper.
Serger features are identified by how many cone of thread they use. Usually, this will range from two to eight, but the most common are identified as 3-4 thread sergers. These sergers can produce a variety of stitches like chain, flatlock, rolled edge, safety, overedge, and wrapped stitches. Some stitches are used for utility and hidden away out of view, while others are used decoratively if fully view.
Your serger has almost unlimited possibilities. Many people think of their serger in terms of clothing construction where serged edges are used for security, strength, and finish. Open any jacket and you will see serged edges. Yet, the possible applications for serging is much broader than this. Utility applications speed clothing construction, quilting projects, and home decorating. Decorative serging, however, offers an almost endless variety of project options. You can apply beading with your serger. You can apply braid. You can apply casings. You can do couching. You can do amazing things with edging applications. Fagoting, gathering, heirloom, hems, lace, neckbands, piping, placket work, shirring, tucks, waistbands, zipper installations, and other applications are all enhanced with the serger.
When you first get your serger, you will want to experiment and discover all about it. Use your users manual. Participate in classes and clubs. Read several serger books. Watch videos on serging. Most of all, put your serger into action. Use it. Serge with it. Make project after project using your serger.
Watch the needles and loopers while you turn the hand wheel toward you. With the serger all set up to serge, open the front and side covers and watch what happens. The needles come down through the fabric drawing their threads. They reach the bottom of their movement, and start up again. At this moment, look carefully just behind the needles. You should see thread loops formed in the scarfs of the needles.
At this point, the lower looper moves from the left behind the needles and picks up the upper threads. The lower looper reaches its far right position. The upper looper moves behind the lower looper, and picks up the threads from the lower looper and needles. The lower looper moves back to the left and the threads slip off. The threads wrap around the edge of the fabric held taught by the stitch finger. The stitches trail off leaving the overcasting – overlocking stitches encasing the edge of the fabric while seaming the fabrics together.
To get the best out of your serger, you need to do three things: Learn all about it. Us it. Maintain it in good working condition.
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