Thread: I need some serger help.

Originally Posted by Gilla

I've been making a bunch of pillow cases for my grandkids and also for a Craft Show. I have never figured out how to finish off the end of a serged seam. I gotta do something or it will unraffle, but what? I have been going in with needle and thread and sew a few stitches to seal it. Not to mention I just broke my sewing machine needle trying to do it by sewing machine.
Is there a better way?
Gilla

Here is the best way and easiest way. Get some floss threaders from your dentist next time you go (they're free there). Then when you finish serging your seam, leave about a 6" tail. Stick the end in the loop of your floss threader, then take the pointy end and thread it through the stitches you just made for a couple inches. Then snip off the excess threads. Voila, hidden thread ends. If you can't picture this I will make a tutorial for you.

I am thinking, if you get to the end of your fabric, your seam, if you turn it around, & start it right back in, & go back serging about an inch or so, then just sew of the edge to end it, that's like backstitching a seam on a serger. I have done this on garments made alot! Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by happymrs

I am thinking, if you get to the end of your fabric, your seam, if you turn it around, & start it right back in, & go back serging about an inch or so, then just sew of the edge to end it, that's like backstitching a seam on a serger. I have done this on garments made alot! Hope this helps!

You can do that, but these ends are still the ones that will unravel eventually. Still works better to enclose them in the stitching. Thats the way I start stitching; by starting a couple inches up the seam, sew down to the end and then reverse my seam to go back up from the start of the sleeve or shirt bottom.

Originally Posted by Gilla

I've been making a bunch of pillow cases for my grandkids and also for a Craft Show. I have never figured out how to finish off the end of a serged seam. I gotta do something or it will unraffle, but what? I have been going in with needle and thread and sew a few stitches to seal it. Not to mention I just broke my sewing machine needle trying to do it by sewing machine.
Is there a better way?
Gilla

When I got my new serger a few years ago, I learned something in the "get to know you machine" class that might help you.

Let's see if I can explain:

1. Take just a few stitches past the end of your seam.
2. Lift the presser foot.
3. Without pulling out a lot of thread, flip the piece around and place it under the presser foot, positioning it so that you will be sewing back down the same seam in the oposite direction. Be sure you angle the work piece a little so that the cutter does not cut the orriginal seam.
4. Stitch several stitches, gradually running it off the side.
5. Clip the threads and you're done.

Thanks, everyone. You have some good solutions. I've tried the Easy Fray as I had still some from way back, and I also want to try the stitching back.

Next pillow cases I'll I will use French seams. Looks better.

Originally Posted by Sadiemae

This is a great way to make pillowcases with the sausage or tube method.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnrC9yo8tY

This is a great video! Thanks so much for sharing!

Hapymis, this is what I learned in my class too. It's like double stitching the serging, then I add Fray Check to it also. It's always worked.

This is basicallly what I do, except I use a large needle to pull it back thru

Use a small size crochet hook or a darning/embroidery needle (dull point) to thread those ends back into the seam. Works fine, just make sure to leave the thread tails long enough, 4-5" and pull them straigth between your fingers first for easier working.

I always chain off a long thread at the end. Then I get a wide eyed needle and thread the end back under the overlocking so that the ends sit inside the stitches of the seam. - Sorry, did not see the post above before I rattled off - the diagram is how I do it.