BEST SERGING TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PERFECT SEAMS
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. A serger or over lock is a sewing machine that cuts off and closes a seam allowance or fabric edge in a thread case in one step. The serger uses 3 to 5 different bobbin threads and a top thread to sew the seam. Width, thread count, and stitch density are some of the many variables on a Serger. First, sew your neckerchief all the way around and how to start and stop the seam to make it look its best.
The tricky part is that you’ll be starting at an angle, so to make sure you go back and keep a consistent seam allowance afterwards, try marking your seam allowance where you start and end. New Horizons patterns have a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Mark it from the raw edge to get the clue first.
A serger creates a knit stitch with one or two needles and one or two loopers no bobbins that are less stable than the “lock stitch” on your sewing machine. This is an excellent advantage when working with knitwear. Knitted garments often have a “negative lightness”, meaning they stretch when worn; take them off, move around in them, etc. Think swimwear and workout clothes. The over lock stitch is stable enough to hold the knit together, but flexible enough to stretch and move with your body as you swim, run or lounge around in comfy knit leggings.
TOP TIPS AND HINTS FOR PERFECT SEAMS
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. An overclock machine makes sewing many of your projects quick and easy. It can sew a seam, finish a seam, and trim excess seam allowance, all at once! Your fashion will get that ready-to-wear look that only a serger can provide! However, it is important to have your machine set up correctly to get the best sewing results. Below are some top troubleshooting tips to help you sew successfully on your over lock machine.
Make sure each thread runs freely through its entire thread path without obstruction. Uneven threading on the serger often results in uneven stitch formation, possible thread breakage and even needle breakage.
Cross-wound bobbins, such as serger cone threads, are recommended for thread sewing because the thread is drawn more evenly and consistently from the bobbin than when using regular sewing thread bobbins. Spools of regular sewing thread are not cross-wound, so they may not always unwind as consistently. They can also have small bumps on the edges that can “catch” the threads during sewing, in which case a bobbin cover might help.
Some decorative threads may have a tendency to “spill” off the spool. They could catch around the base of the thread stand. Use a thread net to help control the flow of thread from the spool. If the coil itself has a base (so it can stand on its own), try placing it on the table behind the machine as well.
Before threading, raise the presser foot lifter to make sure the threads are properly seated in the tension discs. BEFORE you start threading the machine, you MUST raise the presser foot lifter to open the tension mechanisms to receive the threads. When the presser foot lifter is down, the tension mechanisms are unable to accept the thread and the result will be distorted stitches. It will also be helpful to “thread” the thread back and forth over the tension disc to ensure it snaps into place. Always raise the presser foot before threading.
There is a correct “order” for threading the machine through the lock to ensure proper stitch formation. The loopers are threaded first and then the needles are threaded. Start by threading the top looper first. Then thread the lower looper after the upper looper is fully threaded and make sure the lower looper thread sits on the upper looper or the stitches will not form correctly. Once the loopers are threaded, you can thread the needles.
If the fabrics are warping or wrinkling as you sew, you may need to turn on the machine’s differential feed to adjust the way the feed teeth feed the fabric through the machine. The serger has two sets of feed teeth, one at the front and one at the back – located under the presser foot. A differential feed lever on the right side of the machine controls the movement of the front feed tines relative to the rear feed tines.
SEWING AND FINISHING THE SEAM WITH A SERGER
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. Sergers, also known as over lockers, are all-in-one surface finishers. They sew the seam, trim the seam allowance and adjust the seam with a button stitch – all in one motion. Arch seams are especially useful for knits because they create a flexible seam with stitches that don’t break.
The serger can either do an all-in-one process where it sews the seam and trims at the same time, or you may want to sew as usual and then sew to clean up the seam. In order to adjust a seam with a serger, it is good to know something about the stitch capacity of the serger. Different sergers, depending on the number of threads they support, produce different stitches.
Sergers come in a variety of sizes and models. They have different thread counts and can sew a double line or a single line, depending on how many needles you thread. A typical thread count is 3, 4, or 5. The more threads on the machine, the thicker and wider the stitch will be.
Although the machine has up to five threads, it is not necessary to use all the threads. It is possible to sew with a serger and use less thread. The important thing is to first find out the thread count that best suits the fabric you plan to sew and practice on a scrap.
A serger is not an essential piece of equipment for sewing and finishing beautiful seams. However, the advantage of the serger is its ability to finish everything in one motion. It’s a machine that will make your sewing look professional.
HOW TO SEW SERG SEAMS STEP BY STEP
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. Here are the steps to finish straight gusset seams. The first step is to practice the serger stitch on a piece of fabric you plan to sew. The loops and stitches and tension of the serger must be adjusted to the fabric.
The serger will cut and sew. For this reason, the tension and width of the seam must be exactly as you would like. Prepare the seam. Sewing with a serger and knowing that your machine will cut and trim means you need to avoid using pins where possible. Your machine’s blade will be damaged if it goes over the pin.
First, you can baste the seam by hand. Sew the seam line with a straight stitch using a regular sewing machine. If you’re creating a pattern you know well or an easy-to-make style, you can be sure to sew freestyle without pinning or basting.
Get ready to cut along the seam and watch your machine cut, sew and trim all at once. If you have prepared and practiced, you will feel confident in this step. You don’t have to raise the presser foot when you lower it to support the edge of the fabric like you would with a regular sewing machine. The fabric moves forward under the foot.
Use the stitch guide on the side of the clutch to make sure you are sewing the seam line at the correct width. Be sure to leave a “tail chain” at the beginning and end of the quilting stitch. The chain can be re-threaded using a large eye needle to thread the chain and push it through the stitch. Threading the chain back on itself is essential to the finishing process and ensures that the seam does not unravel.
SEAMS WITH CORNERS AND CURVES – SEAMS TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PERFECT SEAMS
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. Here are some other ways to use a serger to clean and sew serger seams. Sew your seam with a regular sewing machine along the seam allowance. Finish the edges with drywall and press the seam to one side.
This is a basic serger seam with straight sewing threads forming the seam and loop threads forming the overclocking edge. It’s up to you whether you need three or four or five threads for your all-in-one closed seam on the serger.
There are two ways you can sew open seams on a serger by changing the order of the steps. Sew the seam with your regular sewing machine along the seam allowance. Finish each raw edge separately with a serger, and then open the seam.
You can also finish the edges first before sewing the seam. Adjust the rough edges and take into account how much of the seam has been trimmed with the serger. You can also choose to just lock and disengage the serger blade without breaking any seams. When the edges are trimmed and hemmed, sew the main seam with a smaller allowance and open the seam.
It is possible to use a serger to start your French seam and get a really neat edge to tuck into the seam. This is a great way to use the serger’s ability to move and trim. Test your serger on a denim sample using two pieces of denim together to see if the fabric is too thick for your serger.
If your pattern maker is reluctant to join two pieces of fabric together, cut each side separately. Use a serger to clean up rough edges before you start sewing the seams. This will adjust the seam and prevent fraying before the seam is sewn.
CONCLUSION
Best serging tips and tricks for perfect seams. The ability of this machine to adjust and trim the edges of pressed seams gives the serger an advantage over other machines when it comes to adjusting and reinforcing seams. The serger is ideal for cleaning the seams of heavy-duty fabrics that fray easily. Tailored hems made of durable fabrics, hidden for example inside the lining of the jacket, ensure that the seam does not fray.
