There are many sewists out there who swear by sergers, and it's no wonder why! Similar to a sewing machine, a serger is used to sew pieces of fabric together, but it does so with a twist. Not only does a serger stitch fabric, but it also cuts off extra fabric and seals in hems with an overlocking stitch, all at once! By using this one-stop-shop machine, you can cut your sewing time in half and produce projects that look professionally sewn. See only some of what you can do with this page full of serger basics and 15+ Serger Sewing Projects! Your stitches will be stronger than if you use a sewing machine and your hems will be protected against fraying. In short, a serger is a godsend for the sewing process. Itching to try out a serger yourself? Whether you want to know more about what a serger is, how to operate one, or to find free serging patterns, this collection has something for you! In this list, you'll find everything from a guide on serging 101 to patterns for couture fall accessories. If you'd like to know more about sergers, read our guide, Is a Serger the Same as an Overlocker? You don't have to scour the internet for serger patterns anymore. We've done the heavy lifting for you so that you can get to sewing designer-level pieces right away. Click any link below, and your serger will do the rest! Plus, we're sharing advice from our readers who use sergers to help you before you buy or as a beginner. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>>
Learn the 8 different types of serger stitches you can do. Included: close-up stitch photos & beginner-friendly descriptions.
Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the topic of serger vs. sewing machine. We’ll talk about what a serger is (and what it does) versus a sewing machine. Spoiler alert: by the end of this I’m certain you will be convinced that you absolutely need a serger!
Learn all about serged seams. Your serger can be used to sew simple seams or finish existing seams. Guide for beginners learning how to use their serger.
We are answering the question what does a serger do. A great guide for beginners who recently bought a serger or looking to buy one. This serger guide will help you.
Learn the 8 different types of serger stitches you can do. Included: close-up stitch photos & beginner-friendly descriptions.
Want to make your sewing projects last and look professional but can't afford a serger? Check this genius serging without a serger methods!
Here's your guide to selecting the best serger for beginners. But if you’ve never used a serger before, shopping for a new machine is a bit intimidating.
With a few adjustments on your serger, you can create a sweet lettuce-edge hem on your garments! Adorable and easy, I'll take you through the process, step-by-step.
Save time gathering with a serger. This seemingly clumsy machine can turn gathering with a serger into an easy task with just a few eay setting adjustments.
Serging and overlock stitches look complex, but they are super easy to remove. Easy to follow video guide to unlock the secret. Don't just pull!
Want to learn how to use a serger? Well this video is perfect for you. Find out the benefits of using a serger and see how fun it can be.
Wondering what is the difference between a coverstitch machine and a serger? In this sewing tutorial on coverstitch vs. serger we will analyze these machines, find out how to sew with the coverstitch, what operations it performs, etc.
Have you ever wondered how to undo serger stitches without ripping them out one by one? This tutorial will show you how.
A simple tutorial to cover your Brother 1034d serger!
In this sewing tutorial you will learn all about sergers sewing machines. Find out what a serger is, how to sew with a serger and what types of stitches sergers have. What does it do? What sewing techniques to look for in a serger/ overlock machine? Learn to use a serger for your sewing projects.
I used to think that sergers were super expensive machines. Then I snagged a cheap Singer ProFinish Serger, and I don't know how I ever lived without it.
Sergers can be used for hemming thin knits. They give a handmade-not-homemade vibe to the exterior of your FASHUNS. Let’s explore types of serger hems and the tools and tips to help you sew t…
Using a blind hem technique, hemming knits with a serger is quick and gives you beautiful results! Here's how to do it.
The best stitches for knit fabrics: sew knits without a serger, with options for knit seams, hemming knits, and seam finishes on knit fabric.
I love the internet! I posted on Facebook to ask the question if there was a quick settings guide for my serger (it seems like I'm always spending more time getting the tension right then actually using the machine!) Most responses were that you need to make one yourself. (Booooo!) But I did find some helpful posts of other bloggers that have the same model and listed their settings. I included the settings and their blog posts on the downloadable and printable chart but you may find that your machine works better at a different tension setting. To download the pretty version with shaded tables, click here! To download a print friendly version, click here! (They are the same....after I made the pretty one I thought maybe people wouldn't want to waste their ink for all the dark gray space!) There's a ton of information out there - my sheet does not give all the details on your machine since my goal was just to have a quick guide available. Honestly, sometimes I feel information overload when I start to read about everything my machine can do! LOL! I just want a pretty finished edge on my garments but maybe one day I can do all the fun bells and whistles! Hope you find it useful!
What is a serger and how do I use it? This is a question I hear all the time. Today we are breaking it down and telling you exactly how to use this sewing machine.
Learn how to adjust serger tension on your overlocker needles and loopers for a perfect overlocked seam finish.
When you think of a serger, you probably immediately think of clothing! Although garment sewing primarily is done on a serger, we are here to tell you that sergers can accomplish so much more! We've compiled a list of 20 things that you may not have known that you can do on a serger. Let's dive right in!
Let’s face it. Serger tension can be tricky AND it takes a lot of patience. All those threads create beautiful, and dare I say magical, overcast stitches but they also create more opportunities for a tension issue. Each thread has a tension dial that can either be too tight or too loose, meaning you
Use our free pattern to make a beautiful sewing machine cover or serger cover! This step by step tutorial walks you through making this free pattern from start to finish. Add some sass to your sewing space with custom dust covers!
After hitting publish on yesterday's Hemming With your Serger post, I realized that I had opened a can of worms. I loved getting a...
Use our free pattern to make a beautiful sewing machine cover or serger cover! This step by step tutorial walks you through making this free pattern from start to finish. Add some sass to your sewing space with custom dust covers!
Achieving a professional finish for your hems can be a challenge. Learn how to make a rolled hem with a serger. It's a great technique to add to your sewing repertoire.
The best stitches for knit fabrics: sew knits without a serger, with options for knit seams, hemming knits, and seam finishes on knit fabric.
If you love working with knit fabrics, then you know that a serger is an essential tool for sewing these fabric types. A serger sews, finishes raw edges, encases seams, and prevents fraying - giving your garments a professional appearance. It also save you time by sewing and finishing edges in one step. When serging knit fabrics, look for a machine that can handle various stitch types and has differential feed. Differential feed helps to prevent puckering and stretching when serging knit fabrics.
Wondering what is the difference between a coverstitch machine and a serger? In this sewing tutorial on coverstitch vs. serger we will analyze these machines, find out how to sew with the coverstitch, what operations it performs, etc.
There are many sewists out there who swear by sergers, and it's no wonder why! Similar to a sewing machine, a serger is used to sew pieces of fabric together, but it does so with a twist. Not only does a serger stitch fabric, but it also cuts off extra fabric and seals in hems with an overlocking stitch, all at once! By using this one-stop-shop machine, you can cut your sewing time in half and produce projects that look professionally sewn. See only some of what you can do with this page full of serger basics and 15+ Serger Sewing Projects! Your stitches will be stronger than if you use a sewing machine and your hems will be protected against fraying. In short, a serger is a godsend for the sewing process. Itching to try out a serger yourself? Whether you want to know more about what a serger is, how to operate one, or to find free serging patterns, this collection has something for you! In this list, you'll find everything from a guide on serging 101 to patterns for couture fall accessories. If you'd like to know more about sergers, read our guide, Is a Serger the Same as an Overlocker? You don't have to scour the internet for serger patterns anymore. We've done the heavy lifting for you so that you can get to sewing designer-level pieces right away. Click any link below, and your serger will do the rest! Plus, we're sharing advice from our readers who use sergers to help you before you buy or as a beginner. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>>
A cover hem is a professional-style "serged" hem that traditionally has two to three lines of parallel stitching on the right side and a looper stitch which covers the raw edge of the fabric on the back side. It's the type of hem commonly found on most ready-to-wear knit garments (and many woven RTW items as well) as it has plenty of stretch and so will not distort the hem. It's also very fast and clean! We have a short lesson showing how easy it is to make a cover hem as well as our thoughts as to why a specialty cover hem machine may just be the coolest machine to add to your sewing space. Before we explore the "how," let's talk about the why. As in, "Why on earth would I want a machine that only does one thing?" The best answer? "So you can do more than one thing!" A cover hem machine is all about making professional, high-end-looking hems. Most folks use them for garments, although there's no reason you couldn't also use this type of hem on home décor items, especially items with lots of length to hem, such as tablecloths and curtains. A cover hem is made using a serger with a cover hem looper. There are high-end, five-thread sergers that allow you to do general serging as well as cover hems. The Janome 1200D is one such machine. Although we have general sergers in the Sew4Home studios, we personally prefer using a stand-alone cover hem machine. It's simple to use and ready at all times to sew a hem. We use and recommend the Janome CoverPro 1000 CPX. In addition to giving you super professional hems and eliminating the stretching so common with knit fabrics, a stand-alone cover hem machine has more throat space on the bed of the machine, which makes it perfect for sewing deep hems. Plus, it's simpler to thread and use than a standard serger. But the biggest benefit is how this type of machine allows you to sew in a more efficient manner, especially if you are making several items at once or creating more complex garments that require you to hem at multiple points within the construction process. You don't have to take the time to re-thread and set up a standard serger for a cover stitch, you simply switch to the cover hem machine to create the hem, then go back to your regular machine for basting or buttonholes, then back to your standard serger for clean seams. Repeat as needed, and your project is done more quickly and easily! Our thanks to Janome America Education Coordinator, Nancy Fiedler for providing these helpful tips, techniques, and samples. Okay... now let's see the "how" A cover stitch is normally sewn from the right side. Press the hem in place and, if possible, use a seam guide. An adjustable seam guide is usually an optional accessory (the Janome CoverPro Seam Guide is pictured below), but it does offer that extra bit of precision. The type of hem: 3 thread, 2 thread or chain stitch, is decided based on the number of needles and the finish you desire. See the Samples section below for more information. You can use matching or contrasting color serger thread in the needles and looper. This choice depends on whether you want the hem to blend in (matching thread) or to be an accent element (contrasting thread). Once the needles are threaded, turn the hand wheel a full rotation towards you, and slide the tip of your tweezers (yep, sergers always come with tweezers) under the presser foot to pull the needle threads under the foot. Place the fabric, right side up, under the presser foot and start sewing. Stop sewing at the end of the fabric. Do not attempt to sew off the fabric to create a chain as you might do with a standard serger; the threads will break and tangle requiring you to re-thread. To release the threads and create a secured stitch, turn the hand wheel towards you until the needles are in their highest position. Lift the presser foot, and use the tip of the tweezers to pull the needle threads toward you about 4". Clip the needle threads leaving about a 4” tail. This gives you starting thread for your next hem. Grasp the fabric behind the presser foot and gently pull straight back until you've completely removed the fabric from underneath the foot. This pulls the looper thread up through the needle plate and the needle threads to the wrong side. It's kind of like magic. Cut the looper thread. The needle threads will have all been pulled to the wrong side, securing the stitch. For a neater finish, thread the tails into a large-eyed needle and sew them (hide them) under the loops. Stitch samples 3 thread - 3 needles: Best hem for high-end detailing. 2 thread wide - 2 needles: Most common hem. 2 thread narrow - 2 needles: 2 needle hems are good quick-finish hems for things like T-shirts and pajamas. The width you choose is simply a matter of personal preference. Chain stitch - 1 needle: This hem can be a decorative effect or used as a temporary seam that can be quickly removed by pulling the chain from the looper side (this is the stitch you often find on bags of pet food or farm feed). The chain shows up on the looper side so this is an instance when you would sew with the wrong side up. Our thanks again to Janome America Education Coordinator, Nancy Fiedler for her help with this tutorial. To stay up-to-date on all the news from Janome, visit their website and/or follow the creativity on their blog, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
