Sergers...How useful are they?
07-24-2009, 11:17 AM
#42
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: north TX
Posts: 100
I have a New Home MyLock 4 thread with differential feed. I've had it for years & love it. Be sure you get one that has nothing in the way of threading the needles. I use mine for a variety of projects - rolled hems for napkins, with the blade disabled it makes a ruffled effect on sweatshirts and my favorite is an easy baby or child's quilt done in 6 inch strips where you sew together front, back & batting in one step & when it's finished you're done unless you want to bind it rather than serging the edges too.
Betty
Betty
07-24-2009, 07:43 PM
#43
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 506
I am still trying to learn to thread the Babylock serger a co-worker gave me, but it works perfectly once I get the four threads loaded.
Now if I can just find four cones of thread in a color that works with everything and never breaks or runs out, hhhmmmm. :?
Now if I can just find four cones of thread in a color that works with everything and never breaks or runs out, hhhmmmm. :?
07-25-2009, 05:39 AM
#46
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Winter PArk, Florida
Posts: 1,145
It's good to use neutral colors. I started with white, cream, beige, the greys and black till I got the feel of my machine. Then I began using matching colors. Have you tried making lace on your serger? You can also insert a zipper. And all you thot it did was finish seams.
07-25-2009, 06:02 AM
#47
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Join Date: May 2009
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Well, my impression is this - if you quilt, you don't need a serger. If you do other sewing projects, particularly clothes, then it's a helpful addition to the sewing room (or in my case, the dining room!!).
07-25-2009, 07:54 AM
#48
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: north TX
Posts: 100
The nice thing about the baby quilt I mentioned is with the serger, you end up with perfectly trimmed & sealed 1/4 inch seams (2 layers of fabric with batting between). So no worry of threads or ravels showing thru the lighter fabrics and can withstand lots of washing.
Betty
Betty
07-25-2009, 12:39 PM
#49
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 6,764
Originally Posted by eparys
Originally Posted by Quiltntime
Originally Posted by Esqmommy
Do you own a serger? How often would an ordinary quilter use such a machine, and how do you use it in your quilting? Just curious here.
I am on serger #2 now. I now have a 5 thread Viking which I love. Now that I am not making kids clothes, I use my serger for finishing quilt edges before I bind them, serging edges of fabric that will other wise fray and general maintenance of fabric. If used on cotton I would use a three thread and a longer stitch length. It would also be great on a baby quilt which would receive lots of washing. Some folks do quilt with them - I am not sure that I would like the extra bulk in a cotton quilt-top but I would not hesitate to use it on fleece. I have also used it on wool and flannel.
I love it and would not be without it.
The only serging I've done on quilts (other than serving fabric before washing) is the Kaye Wood 6-hour quilt.
07-26-2009, 06:49 AM
#50
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
I have had my serger for probably 16 years. I use it mostly when I sew garments or tote bags, barely for quilts, maybe not at all, although I am thinking, it would make my pieced backings stronger.
Since I never got into learning how to change tensions to make decorative stitches etc. I don't use it as much as some, but...what I do use it for is great.
It gets a fraction of use, compared to my other machines, but i would buy it all over again. My humble opinion? If you garment, home dec, sew, go for it. If you only quilt sew? spend your money on fabric. :D
Since I never got into learning how to change tensions to make decorative stitches etc. I don't use it as much as some, but...what I do use it for is great.
It gets a fraction of use, compared to my other machines, but i would buy it all over again. My humble opinion? If you garment, home dec, sew, go for it. If you only quilt sew? spend your money on fabric. :D
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