Serger Quilts?
 

I just bought Eleanor Burns " Quick Trip Quilts" book and she says that the pattern would make a great serger quilt. Just curious, has anyone here made a serger quilt and what did you think the benefits were? Why would some one want to make a quilt with a serger?

Your question prompted a few thoughts I had not had before. A serger goes really fast, does not have a bobbin thread to worry about, and most can be adjusted to make a quarter inch seam. right off the top of my head, I wonder if those Jelly Roll quilts could not be done with a serger? Gonna pay attention to answers to this and see what others have to say. Love my serger and really don't use it enough.
What a great question....

I remember when Eleanor made the quilt with the serger prompted me to want a serger but the more I thought about it I couldn't figure out about the seams. How would it work with quilting? So I never did it! I'll be watching the responses as well.

I did a quilt, two of them from a pattern in a book on serging, and it used the jelly roll, even though I cut my own stips. First of all, it'll hold up really nicely. It lays pretty flat. I'm going to use my Sashiko to quilt them. Nancy Zieman has a book on making quilts on a serger. Check out the you tube videos. I do like the speed even though my machine is fast but I really like not having to change the bobbin or run out of thread

I pieced the back for a Turning Twenty quilt on the serger. It went fast, was done and gone to the quilter in a jiffy. I was happy with it. The longarm quilter, not so much! She was pretty new at the longarm process, and said the seams were bulky. I think it might have been her inexperience, but maybe not. It was not obvious in the finished product, and I had a good time making it. The top was pieced on the sewing machine, so no bulk there. I think you could whip up a quick project with a panel (I LOVE panels) and some borders, so not a lot of little pieces, and it would be great!

I think it depends on if the fabric is something that ravels. In that case a serger would be a godsend. I use my serger all the time in dressmaking and home dec. It makes life easier finishing off the seams as you sew. Also in the wash, it stays put, is neat and looks great for most projects.

Like RedGarnet, I use my serger extensively in home dec and garment making. The only problem I can think of for quilting is that the seams are very bulky because they have 4 threads wrapping around them and so might be hard to get really flat. Also, the seams to tend to shadow thru when pressed very hard so that might be a deterrent. I'm not sure I want to try it. I'm just learning accurate seams on my sewing machines. I don't think I'm ready to try to make an accurate seam on my serger.

Many sergers can use two or three threads so it would lessen the bulk.

Cari

I made a very simple wide strip quilt out of flannel on my serger. It was a wedding gift to my son and his wife. I used a serger because they have inside cats and I knew the quilt would be washed a lot. I quilted it on my longarm. I did not have any trouble at all and it went together fast and the seams were pressed well and they layed nice and flat. I used a 5 thread safety stitch for added strength.

I often use just 3 threads to serge seams of knits and to finish edges of large pieces of fabric before washing. Try out some scraps and see if the 3 thread seam is sturdy enough for your needs. My biggest worry would be a mishap with the knife taking out a chunk where it shouldn't.

Some may. I used to have one that would use 2 threads but it made a rolled hem that way. The one I have currently has to use all 4. But even if you only used 2 threads, they wrap around the edge of a fabric instead of being just one line of stitching and would make considerably more bulk than a normal seam.

I made a carol woods 6 hour quilt years ago (least I think that's the name). I made a crib size to see if I liked it. It's ok but it is the only one I made. Can't speak on any other.

Kaye Woods "6 Hour Quilt"

Thanks! I never get it right!

I made a disappearing 4 patch with my serger and loved doing it. There was not enough bulk in the seam to worry about to me. Was really fast. I do plan on doing more. Some patterns are not serger friendly, but others can be.

I attended an Eleanor Burns workshop where we made three different quilts. One was her braid quilt. We made it completely on the serger. Completely finished the top in one day. I quilted it on a longarm and had no problems what so ever. It was quick and the seams laid very nicely to one side.

I also attended a workshop taught by Eleanor Burns. We used a serger to piece a log cabin quilt. The pieces were precut for us, but the quilt top only took a few hours to sew. I still have the quilt top. The workshop was 10 years ago and I still haven't sandwiched or quilted it yet because I love looking at the nice, even, non fraying seams. I bought a serger at a garage sale in February and have plans to make my next quilt either a rail fence or lot cabin quilt using my serger.

I took a class years ago at my LQS. It was quilt as you go with a serger. I loved the fabrics I had chosen and really wish I had not used them for this class. Reasons were: no info or suggestions were made about the batting (and the one I chose was too stiff and heavy so made very thick seams), I was very much less than impressed with the instructor, no guidance was given for people who were less than comfortable with their sergers. All in all, the quilt was made, used as a bedspread because it was not comfortable to sleep under, and now languishes on a closet shelf.

I think it might be good for something like a t-shirt quilt tho.

This was my thought as well, but I've never used a serger on a quilt.

I might have to take a look at those videos and try this on some charity quilts. Like you said, no bobbin worries.

I have a 3 thread serger & used it when I did garment sewing. I never used it to do seams, just to finish the edges of the seams. I would sew the seams on the sewing machine then finish/trim with the serger. I didn't think just the 3 threads would be strong enough for the critical seams. Didn't want to chance a 'split'.

Many years ago -- almost twenty, I think -- I did costumes for JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at our local community theatre. I used twelve different colors of denim to make overalls for each of the brothers. I cut all of the leftovers into twelve-inch blocks, which I sewed together to make a false proscenium for the stage. When the production was over, I sewed the blocks together to make a huge picnic quilt, which we are still using today. It didn't need backing or batting of any kind because of the weight of the denim. I did it all on my serger using a plain four-thread stitch. Yes, the seams are a little lumpy; but, when it's on the ground, no one seems to notice them. It goes through the washer and dryer without any problems whatever.

Thanks for all the inputs and ideas everyone! I like the idea of no bobbin. I've a lovely serger that was given to me for Christmas last year and I feel terrible that I haven't used it a lot, as it probably cost a pretty penny. I think I'll try Eleanor Burns Quick Trip with my serger; give it some mileage :) I'll lower the blade and increase my stitch width to 1/4" seam. I think it'll work. I'll keep you all posted!