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.

I have a friend who only uses her serging when she pieces a quilt. She says her quilts are meant to be used and she does not want them falling apart.

I pieced a "Turning Twenty" quilt, just as a test. It really turned out great, and was very fast! In past threads, members have said it takes a lot of thread to serge a quilt, which is right, but the quarter inch seams were very accurate. I wouldn't use it for tiny piecing, tho.
:thumbup:

I think I use mine almost everyday.....i serge all my fabric before washing them....i serge my quilts before putting the binding....i serge around all the cut pieces of a pattern before I assemble/sew.....i serge the bottom of pants or dresses before I shorten/sew them....I make receiving blankets by serging around the fabric.....i serge around my quilt if I can`t sandwich it right away.....etc etc etc.....I love my serger


Oh yes...i use it to make pillow cases.....also recovered all my SIL cushions in his hunting camp and ice fishing shack using my serger

wow.. what wonderful hints and tips.. I use mine only when I make clothes..... I'd love to get more use out of it.. hmmmm rolled hems.. I need to research more things to do with my serger!! thanks everyone..

Great topic!

I've never used my serger for quilting; but I use it all the time when sewing for my granddaughter. I especially like it for making swim suits, turtle neck shirts, rolled hems, etc. I use the serger to finish seams.

I use mine to make clothes, slipcovers, curtains, pillowcases. Use the coverstitch a lot for hemming my daughter's pants (she's short). Never tried it for quilting.

That's what I use it for, too.

Also for clothing construction (which I don't do much of these days).

I use mine for all of the above and have used one for 30 years and wouldn't be without one. In fact I have about 5.:D

I have used mine when making flannel quilts.

Question - I am new to the serger and haven't taken the class yet. I am making pajama pants for the grandsons. Do I stitch the seam on the sewing machine first and then serge the edge? Or just serge the edge? If that is the case, how am I sure of getting the 5/8 seam allowance? thanks in advance!!

Your serger should have markings for seam width. Mine has two. One is for a the double needle and the other is for the single needle. It is marked on the front where the fabric hits the machine body as it is cut off. HOpe that helps.

Thanks MaryLane. The book talks about markings but all I can find are raised parts of plastic on the body so I guess I would line the fabric up with those. And my other question was, do I run a seam on the sewing machine first? Or just serge the seam? I'm using 4 threads but it doesn't make a seam next to the serging. do I need that?

I made my son a jersey knit bathrobe once. Found all the thread tensions too tedious and never used again.

Like others, I use mine for rolled hems on napkins and placemats, clothing, serge edges before putting binding on, serge cut out pieces for hand bags, for making charity children quilts, and for curtains (can't beat the ruffler, too!)

But when you use it for clothing, do you run a seam first on the sewing machine and then serge, or just serge?

I just serge. With two needles you have two straight seams on top. If you only use one needle there is just one straight seam. With both you have the looper threads on top and bottom.

thanks. That's what I did. Just made myself some pajama pants!! I used an old pair as the pattern.

Huge thank-you, your message is full of great tips.
loving my serger, but always learning

opps I hit the wrong quote......thanks for taking the time to post your message, lots of great advise.
Thanks again.

I have used my serger to do the "6 hour quilts". I used to use it constantly when i did garment sewing, esp. for my kids. I used the rolled hem a lot when I did heirloom sewing for them. I rarely use it now that the majority of my sewing is quilts.