serger and quilting
 

Several years ago I was gifted with a serger. I do not make clothes,( can but don't like to) and this machine has just been sitting. Does anyone use a serger in their quilting? What do you use it for? I'm trying to decide if I should keep the serger and use it or pass it on to someone who will use it. Thank you for any input.

I use mine to overcast the raw edges of fabric before washing the fabric.

If you make bags and purses, it's great for finishing some of the edges that aren't hidden.

I think Kaye Woods used a serger in some of the quick kids' quilts that her group made as give-away quilts.

I love my serger and I'm sure I don't use it to full potential but I do love to make napkins (rolled hem) and pillowcases using my serger, finishing seams and other essential sewing needing finished seams.

I say keep it! I also serge the edges of my new fabric before washing. I got sick and tired of threads wrapping themselves around the fabric. Too much ironing ! UGH! The more you use it, the more you will use it! One tip: when you need to rethread, just tie the new thread to the old and pull it thru (gently), making sure it seats in the tension discs. You may have to clip the knot and rethread the needle, but it is OH so much easier than threading the whole darn thing! (ask me how I know!)

I do not use my serger for seams in quilts. I do use it for other projects that may have some piecing work included. Tote bags, pillows, pillow cases , potholders .... Etc. For a while I left my serger covered and in the closet. But I receintly put it on its own table. Now that its more handy to use .. I do use it alot more.

I have used the serger to finish the edges of quilted postcards. It does a much better job than the satin stitch on the sewing machine! But, my favorite project....napkins! No more paper in my house....napkins can be made from those cotton fabrics in your stash! They wash and dry well, and don't need ironing! Cloth napkins aren't just for company :) I've even made "cocktail" napkins as gifts. They're smaller in size and made from fabric with "cocktails" printed on the fabric. Use the "rolled edge" settings for these.

I serge my binding on.

if you have the room to store it, i say keep it. i don't use it in quilting, but for finishing edges, it can't be beat.

I used my serger for the very first quilt I made. It came out nice, I used scrap fabric before to tweak the seam so that it was 1/4". Pretty fast, too!

I haven't tried this yet but someone here said she serges the edges of her quilts before binding and it makes it easier to put the binding on. I am going to try it!

I've had the serger for 10months now and have been afraid to use it and couldn't thread it. Finally, I presented it as a challenge to my mechanically inclined BF and wha-la! my serger is threaded and he showed me how to use it...LOL

I serge around the quilt before I put the binding on. Keeps all those threads and frays under control.

Great thread!

yes, i started serging around the edges of my quilts before binding them. it really helps. keeps it under control better.

Keep it! I use mine all the time for sewing curtains mostly but love the way it finishes edges. While making some cast iron dutch oven pot padding for my husband's camping stuff I notice even Longaberger basket cloth inserts have a serged edge. I do like to sew my quilts with the serger but know many feel it is too bulky, I just like how it stays together forever! Good luck on your decision.

I have a serger given to me by my mother and I've never used it. I'm not sure I know how to use it, but with all the suggestions, sounds like I need to learn how. It looks like it will make some things easier in the quilting process. I like the idea of serging the edges before binding.

I think my serger gets more use than my sewing machines. It is a fantastic, versatile machine to sew fancy stitches, piping, putting on bias binding, making belt loops, pin tucks, chain stitching on fine fabric, flat lock seams to thread ribbon through, cording, and just finishing the edges off. I would never part with it. There are patterns on the Kaye Woods and Nancy Zieman sites that use sergers for quilting. Nancy Zieman makes a fancy prairie point using the serger in one of her quilt demos.

Sounds like I need to keep it and learn how to use it. Thanks for all the suggestions!!

anytime i am making straight seams, with no curves or insets, i quilt with the serger...super fast, perfect quarter inch seam and when pressed, the thread gives you just the teeniest bit of support to a great looking seam...i sew with my serger set to approx 1.5 length away from each other so that it looks like a normal seam on the outside. Tip** only one thread really shows in the 'ditch, so use gray for three cones and your 'fashion' color for that one needle thread on the left side.... much less thread to buy... i buy beige, white, black and 2 shades of gray in sets of three, everything else is 1 cone per fashion color...one of the neutral sets will blend just fine with almost anything

Here's a quilt I made totally on the serger...quick & easy...used up scraps...wasn't bulky at all...quilted great; another donation.

How do you serge your binding on? I have not seen this done. I have a serger and would like to try your method. thanks!

This is just the top...finished the quilt as a normal quilt would be finished. But, as much as I use my serger (& it's alot), I think it is easier to sew it on rather than serge it. Serge around the quilt, first, is a good idea; then sew the binding on.

I have made many log cabin blocks using my serger. They look so nice from the back I hate to hide them with backing! I sew them all and then square them up and sew the rows together with the serger. Easy to make! Chain piecing each block. My serger has 4 threads so is a nice sturdy seam. I also make socks and hats from polar fleece that are wondeful. Very fast and cozy. Love my serger!

Those who quilt with your sergers do you do anything with your thread ends, such as tying, knotting, liquid glue so that they don't unravel? I usually take my ends to the sewing machine and back tack the edges, which wastes time. Would love to skip the step.

ONE of two things...if it will be covered and i just want it safe, i serge off the end about an inch, then pick up the foot, pull seam out just a bit and pull it straight back under the foot, just about an inch...set foot down, serge off again....the two layers of serging lock together and can be clipped even with the end of the fabric......Two, if it may show a bit, ....keep crochet hook and/or double eyed needle right by the machine... serge off fabric about 2 inches, cut thread and the thread the crochet hook OR the double eyed needle under the thread, thru the channel they create about 2 inches from the end...slip it down to the end, catch the thread tail and pull back into the channel... clip extra off and done...it won't go anywhere...

we have a TOYOTA serger that we have never used...if I need a serged type of edge I go over it with a zig zag...its easier than pulling out the serger...its just taking up space be it ever so little

I am not realy familiar with sergers but know that it actually cuts fabrics as it sews. I cant picture in my mind how it works to put binding on:confused: Would love to know about the Nancy Zieman prairies point quilt - If you have information please send me pm - I have a quilt in the planning stages that I would like to put prairie points on thanks cheryl:thumbup: