Serger
 

I would like to know what the Quilting Board members use their Sergers for.
Thank you,

I use it for clothing that I make for my niece and sometimes for myself. The serger overcasts so I also can make quick table cloths, napkins and many many accessories and home dec projects. You can zip a stitch across before washing your quilting fabrics too so the strings don't occur.

I personally could not keep house without one.

One of my favorite uses is for the edge of my quilt sandwich before the binding goes one. I get my borders trimmed so they are even, pin in from the danger zone (where I might get the pins with the serger) and then serge the edges. This gives a nice firm edge to turn your binding against and you're sure all of the layers are together.
Pat

I give a lot a table runners and place mats for gifts and also sell them. Some are embroidered silk and some are quilted. I don't like the way a binding looks on the edge. I use a three needle rolled edge or the overlock stitch. I use the rolled edge on the napkins. I finish the seam edges on clothing with my serger - I give baby clothing for baby gifts. put an edge on all new fabric before washing it. I use it every week.

Nothing! I have one, use it every now and then when I make pajama bottoms or the such. I broke a needle in it about 6 months ago and haven't replaced it yet. I just don't use it very often. I should probably just get rid of it!!!

I'm taking a class and making the entire pillow with the serger to get to know mine better. So far I've done pintucks, flatlock seam to thread ribbon through and gathered a strip on both sides (ruching?). Next class we learn to put in a zipper and finish the pillow.

mltquilt

Mine gets used to edge fabric before I wash it. We are on a septic system so the less lose thread going in the washer the better.

I just got a serger and it seems to work fine, so I'm glad CaroleLee started this thread.

I've used one for years, great for clothing. The rolled hem works great for tablecloths, napkins. I also use it to finish the edges of placemats. A serger is great for making cafe curtains or putting lining in any flat work. I really like it for putting an edge on the fleece blankets. I use wooly nylon in the upper and lower looper( as it stretches and covers a bigger area) and thread in the needle. I've also used fine crochet thread in the upper and lower loopers and thread in the needle to hem a tablecloth. You can use lots of fun threads in the upper and lower loopers. You just have to re-adjust the tension. Another hint: I keep a lined note card with a sample of the thread and fabric, write down the adjustment numbers of the knobs on the card. That way if I use that particular thread/fabric again, I don't have to spend all that time fooling around adjusting. I store the cards in an old recipe box close to my machine. My last hint would be if your machine is new, take time to write your factory settings on a piece of masking tape or blue painters tape and attach it to your machine. That way if it gets all out of whack you can set it back to factory settings and it should be fairly close to perfect. I also do this when I have any machine, sewing or serger, cleaned and adjusted. Hope this helps.

I pieced my first three quilts on a serger and my machine quilter said it was the most even quilts she has machine quilted in a long time. I know that serger pieced quilts are not allowed in certain competitions but they stay together really well.