Treasures Hidden in Plain Sight!!
 

About 2 years ago, at a flea market in Claire, Michigan, I bought a Singer serger. It was an older one, but was assured it worked. His "aunt" had used it right up until her departure from this world. $8. Yep, $8. I'm ashamed to say, I talked him down from $10. Hey, it was a flea market and I really didn't know if it worked. Anyway, it has been sitting on a shelf for nearly 2 years. I bought the thread for it sometime between then and now. When we moved into the new house 4 months ago, it went back on a shelf. Then 3 or so weeks ago, I was sorting through my manuals and found the one for the serger. So I got it off the shelf and set it on a table in my sewing area. The cord, footpedal and other stuff was in a zipper bag and apparently was in storage. It took me a few days to get over there to pick it up, but I finally did. Got it all hooked up and ready to try it out. Where did the book go? Well, needless to say, I got sidetracked and there it sat for another week. Then, as I was cleaning up from the project I had been working on for several weeks, there was the book. LONG story short. Last Friday night I dove in with both feet. Well, both hands anyway. Cleaned and oiled first. Then, at least an hour later, I finally had it threaded. I'm thinking, the first time the thread breaks, I am DONE! Did you know you need tweezers to thread one of these things? now. I AM IN LOVE. This machine has been used regularly since it was set up. I can't believe I let it set on a shelf for nearly 2 years. It works like a charm!! Now, all I have to do is figure out what I did with the baggie, as it has all the extra attachments in it. LOL I really am not usually that bad. For some reason, this machine just gave me fits!! (Probly mad at me for waiting so long). LOL

Way to go! I love when old becomes new again:)

Oh Wow, I am so glad to got betsy going.

Thanks for the post! I've been wanting to get a serger for making doll clothing but don't want to put out big bucks for one...maybe I'll look on Craigslist!

Diannia

The first few times threading is difficult but eventually you will get the knack of it. Remember, when you want to change thread colors, cut the old color at the spool and tie the new color on (use a square knot) and just serge until the new color is through all the loops and hooks - that way you won't have to re-thread it to change colors. I LOVE my serger! Enjoy yours.

Sounds like that serger is there to stay..so glad you are enjoying it at long last!

Congrats on having fun with your serger! Great story too! Now I need to find the manual to mine.......hmmmmmm. :)

You ha.ve inspired me to get out my old serger. Thanks--and keep enjoying your new ba by

They are wonderful for hemming men's pants or womens pants or skirts. I have an Elna and the tweezers too. I don't think I have extra feet tho. When I change thread I have to watch the needle, it doesn't want to go thru the hole.

I have a serger that I HAD to buy when I made a jacket from jeans, and thought I would be making more...I haven't used it since...I will have to think about if I am going to ever use it again, or if I should think of selling it...seems a shame to keep it if I am not going to use it...I mostly just sew quilts and don't need a serger for those...but...I hang on to it...just in case...maybe I will want to make another jeans jacket someday...or something else that could use a serger.

Just a footnote to these instructions - tying on the new thread to the old thread works very nicely BUT it does not work for the needles, well at least for actually putting the thread thru the needle eyes. You will have to do that manually & usually with a pair of tweezers that you should have received with your accessories. Lucky find for you at $8.00 - that is an absolute steal !!

a real good use for a serger is to serge the edge of a quilt before you bind it---keeps all the layers together and makes it much easier to put the binding on---stablilizes the edges---I also use mine when I shorten jeans or anything

same here Scarlet...it ends up being used almost every day
always serge the cut edge of yardage before washing it especially flannel as i wash and dry it 3 times before cutting so the finished project does not shrink

my serger does not let the knotted thread serge thru 100% of the time ...so i knot the new thread on then turn the tension down to lowest possible on all dials then lift the presserfoot with the needles in the highest position and pull the threads thru till all the knots have cleared then turn the tension knobs back to the correct tensions lower the presser foot on scrap and do a test run.....this has worked every time.....it has been 15 years since I completely rethreaded it.

I love my serger! I've got enough napkins to set my table 20 times over! LOL!

Me too; I keep my serger threaded up ready to use all the time.....and the note about not trying to sew the knot through your needle--it will break it--just snip your needle thread and hand thread it only. The other two will sew through just fine, but it is H... to have to replace a broken needle and still have to thread it by hand. And yes, I haven't bought a "dish rag" in fifteen years--I just serge the four sides of whatever 100 percent cotton item that is most recently worn out in 12" squares. See, I am as full of good ideas as all the rest of your smart ladies.....

I have a small Singer serger and I never unthread it! I tie the thread together and pull. I learned to make a tiny slip knot and it goes right through the needle eyes.

Have a three thread baby lock I got in 80's when they first came out at Cloth World, had to make payments, and it still sews great, and if material likes to ravel, it is just what is needed.

Great story! Glad you're having fun with it!

Lost the manual to my Singer overlocker (serger) paid $15 for a new one then the old one showed up. I now keep one in the overlocker box and one with all my other manuals. I've had my machine for 27 or 28 years. It has certainly had some use in that time.

I have a Singer surger i bought at Costco in 92 or 93. it is just a basic surger but i really enjoy it. Threading it is the worst part. Lots of patience required;) sometimes. other times it is right the first time. using the tie on method works well if you have'nt broken the thread. I try to do it that way but you still need the tweezers to thread the needles.