margecam52

I have a log cabin quilt I made in 1987 from swap fabric (anyone remember Prodigy bulletin board?). I had recieved a used serger as a bonus when I bought a mini industrial sewing machine...was horrid to thread. That aside...I decided to make a quilt from the Black and White swap fabrics..they were 1/4 yard lengths (not fat quarters)...so I cut them into 2" strips. Sewing machine (old Kenmore) seemed awful slow...so I decided to use the new to me serger...loved it! Faster (at least double the speed), and it had a seam guide...which I set at 1/4" and started serging.
First I took a 3" wide strip of vintage red calico and paired it with a black on white (my light)..did long strips till I ran out of red (ok..not the best way...but my first log cabin & my first serger project). I then cut this pair of fabrics into 3-1/2" long sections. Next, was the 2nd light strips..stitched the 3-1/2" sections to the next light strip, long strip on bottom, sections on the top...went perfectly..though you have about an inch or little less between sections (so a bit of waste). When I was out of sections, I cut them apart (this before rotary cutter and mat...at least for me).
Continued each color until I had 12-1/2" blocks. I then serged the blocks together in a diamond pattern. I still have the quilt...though it's been through the ringer with my son's use. In 2004, I was helping him with a jet ski part...opened his trailer storage...there was the quilt..protecting the delicate parts! Several of the cheap fabrics had disentigrated...so he was using it for camping/and whatever else. I've repaired it several times..not because of the serging...but because the fabrics from that swap have not all held up...two just disapeared in washings..they were neat too... Bob Hope, James Cagney, Mae West, etc...line drawings on the white and reverse on the black fabric...both seemed to disolve in the wash over a year or two.
I have done several since then...and now have a nice serger that is very easy to thread. I got it (White ATS 2000) because it's easy to thread...and has settings for a rolled hem..just with the turn of a dial..makes the changes for you. Easy to make napkins to match table toppers & placemats.