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So, What IS a Serger Anyway?

A serger is a type of sewing machine that uses between two and four threads continuously, giving you a finished seam like the one you see on the inside of manufactured clothes. A regular sewing machine generally does a line of thread, always using two threads. Using a serger you will typically get a kind of a zig-zag appearance with thread on both sides and all the way around the edge of the fabric, but you can achieve a variety of types of stitches depending on the setting you choose. It is a very strong seam, and allows you to do just one pass through the machine per seam, avoiding multiple steps of folding and ironing, to get a finished edge that won't fray or unravel. Thanks to Ann for asking what a serger is!

Mine is a New Home MyLock 234D. Apparently it is made by Janome because that is what came up in Google Search when I typed that in. Unfortunately, I don't have the manual for it, but I do have the original receipt from when my grandmother bought it in the 90's! It seems similar to this Janome MyLock 204D Serger Overlock
at Amazon.

Here is an example of a serger seam, not perfect but OK:



And an example of a serger seam with something wrong with it. How do I fix this? I swear I have tried every single tension option on the machine. But isn't Sweet Pea's hand cute?

You can see I'm using my "cloth kleenex" as test fabric. It needed to be hemmed anyway and it doesn't matter to me if it's not pretty, as long as it doesn't unravel.


I used a friend's serger to do a set of napkins for myself about two years ago and they are still going strong. So, my first project on my own serger is napkins for friends and family. Since my last update I haven't made any more progress. We went out of town for a couple of days and have been very busy with holiday events and plans so I haven't had the chance to get any more napkins done. Tomorrow will be the day, hopefully. Cross your fingers for me because there are only a few more days until Chirstmas!

Lastly, just because I took a picture of it, here is all of the tangled thread I cut off the napkin fabrics after running them through the washer and dryer - always very important when you're making something that should be machine washable.

Comments

  1. Oh, like I said before: I want one! I have some Christmas $ so I think I'll look at buying one for myself.

    Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know I am getting one for Christmas and I can't wait!!!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, I see! Sounds very useful. I have seen those types of edges on clothes and always wondered how they did it.

    And I tried to make a mitt out of washclothes one time and had the same thing happen - they completely fell apart the first time I washed them. If only I'd had a serger!

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