HOW TO USE A SERGER FOR KNIT FABRICS
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. As a newbie to sewer, you may have always wondered how a sewing machine is going to be enough for all your sewing projects. But after coming across sergers, your opinion may have changed instantly, especially when it comes to sewing knits. Now that you understand the importance of this machine, you may have already purchased it. But realizing how its mechanism differs from that of a sewing machine will sooner or later intervene.
That’s why we bring you an article on how to sew knitwear with a serger. Although the process is quite easy, we have included as much detail about it as necessary. So take some time to go through this article and it will help you immensely. Better than a serger. So we will discuss all the aspects in which a serger will significantly improve and facilitate your knitting.
HOW TO KNIT FABRICS ON A SERGER
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. Using a serger isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s not a piece of cake either. So there are a few steps and tips that you should know if you want to sew knitwear with them without any hassle ie. We will talk about three methods and you can follow any of them without any worries.
The name of the method already hints at the entire technique – you sew the entire fabric using a serger, which also includes the joining seams at the end. You sew all the parts that hold the garment together using a serger. You can then use a cover stitch or sewing machine to sew or hem the garment.
For this method, it will be optimal if you use a 4-thread stapling stitch. This is easy and will require less time and trouble. But with a 3-thread serger stitch, you’ll need to use a different method. If you are more comfortable with a sewing machine, then we recommend sewing the fabric first on the best knitting sewing machine.
Basically, you put all the parts together using a sewing machine. This method is preferable because it gives you more control over sewing speed and provides more precision when it comes to seam allowances, corners and curves.
After you finish putting all the pieces together, you will need to use a serger for the construction seams and finally finish the garment. Even a sub 300 over lock machine will do the job quite effectively. This method basically suggests the opposite of what was described above. Although this is one of the less used techniques, you can use it on seams that are stressed more than others. The basic idea is that you join all the seams and stitch the fabric together with a serger, which speeds up the whole process. Once you’re done with that, you’ll reinforce the stitching with a sewing machine.
HOW TO KNIT FABRICS ON A SERGER
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. And it is these differences that make them so soft to the touch, flexible and provide a beautiful drape. Unfortunately, these same properties (especially stretch) can make knitwear frustrating for beginning sewists. If the thought of sewing knits conjures up broken stitches, twisted fabric, or misshapen clothing, read on for some tips to help make the process successful and less frustrating. All it takes is a little knowledge and a few tricks to stand between you and your beautiful new home-made knitwear.
There are hundreds of different types of knitwear produced in a wide range of weights, textures and fibers and they can vary widely in their properties. So you would treat cotton jersey differently than polyester mesh or acrylic knit lace. The more knowledge you have about the knit fabric you have chosen for your project, the easier it will be to use the fabric.
Different knits stretch in different ways depending on the quality, fiber content and even how they were made. Knits will either be two-way (stretch only horizontally, left and right) or four-way stretch in every direction, both vertically up and down and horizontally left and right.
Sometimes 2-way stretch is called 1-way stretch and 4-way stretch is called 2-way stretch. I know it’s a little confusing, but the point is clear enough: some knits stretch only horizontally, and some knits stretch both horizontally and vertically. If the knit is very stretchy and has 4-way stretch (such as spandex, lightweight rayon, jersey, rib knits), you will probably need to use a serger to sew and select a suitable thread that is very stretchy, such as nylon wool.
However, if the knit is slightly stretchy on both sides (like medium interlaced knits), you can sew it with a regular sewing machine. In order to work with patterns, you need to know how much your fabric will stretch and also pay attention to the direction of the stretch when laying out the pattern pieces.
SOME IMPORTANT TIPS FOR KNITTING FABRIC ON A SERGER
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. Sergers are great for sewing seams on knitwear, but not the best for sewing hems. Hemming is an important, if often tedious, part of the process, and that’s where your sewing machine comes into play. It helps to get those strong elegant finishes on all those flexible hems and you get professional looking hems without any hassle. A cover stitch machine creates two straight stitches side by side on the front and the back looks closer to a serger style stitch.
Most knits require a pre-wash to shrink the material as much as possible BEFORE you work with it. If the garment shrinks after being sewn, it is likely to be ruined. Then press out the wrinkles before cutting. However, some knits should not be prewashed, such as fleece or knitted vinyl.
Knitwear does not fray. So you don’t have to overdo it. However, some very fine knits can “run” when a cut or broken thread pulls through the fabric and unravels not at the edge but inside the fabric. So be careful not to stretch the edges of delicate knits.
The edge can also curl, which can make it difficult to cut knits and sew them. Or leave them raw if you want that look. Start with woven fabric and gain some experience. When you first start sewing, it can be tempting to use knitwear to make a simple, comfortable t-shirt. The problem with this strategy is that your first few projects will most likely struggle because you don’t have the experience yet.
If you are using a pattern for the first time, make a trial garment to ensure a perfect fit, especially if the pattern is not very simple. Use an inexpensive knit that has the same stretch as your main fabric. The first step to a successful project is to test the settings and needles on scrap fabric. This way you can get an idea of how the fabric behaves before starting any larger project. This will help avoid unnecessary surprises.
FOURBEST TIPS FOR KNITTING FABRICS ON A SERGER
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. For bulky knits, a wider stitch makes a noticeable difference in how flat the seam will lie when sewn. Increase the stitch width to the second to widest setting for thick knits. If your serger has a differential feed, this means that its two sets of feed dogs can move at different speeds. The ratio is the speed at which the front feeders move compared to the speed at which the rear feeders move.
For those brand new to serging with knits, this last step may not be as obvious as it sounds. It is always recommended to press the pressed seam with a hot steam iron (use the appropriate setting for your fabric. It almost always works. Be sure to make a note of the settings so you don’t forget them when you return to a similar project in the future.
Because knit materials stretch at different rates, knit patterns usually have some sort of ruler on the cover to determine whether a particular material is suitable for the pattern. Take the fabric in your left hand (one layer only) as shown in the picture. Then hold the fabric 4 inches away with your right hand. Then gently stretch the material in the transverse direction, without using much force. If the material easily stretches to or beyond the marked limit, it can be used for this pattern.
Knits also have different stretch recovery. Use the same test to see how well the fabric recovers and returns to its original size. If you end up creating a garment from this type of material, your item will most likely be too large and uncomfortable to wear.
CONCLUSION
How to use a serger for knit fabrics. The knits are incredibly comfortable to wear, they don’t wrinkle, they don’t have frayed edges, they fit better and you can make a knitted garment relatively quickly, within hours. However, their downside is that the very qualities that make them feel so comfortable and forgiving can also make them more uncomfortable for beginners. There are two main types of fabrics: woven and knitted. Woven fabrics consist of vertical and horizontal fibers woven together hence the name. Knits, on the other hand, are not woven.
