Re: Curious about Sergers??
I've never used my serger in quilting. I actually haven't used it in years. I used to make tshirts and then a lot of clothes for my daughter when she was younger.
I know some people have used their sergers in quilting.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I also hear about using a serger for quilting but can never track down any real info about how it is done. However, I did get a second hand simple serger and love it for making little dresses for my great granddaughter. Also, it makes short work of lined curtains and drapes.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have a serger and do not use it in quilting. In fact, it sits alone and unused more than it is used. This past week it got a work out because I was making bedding for a doll bed and used it on the sheets, pillows, pillow cases, mattresses, quilts, throw pillows. Enjoyed it then - actually probably the only time I've used it, in the two years I've had it, for anything except testing to see if it worked.
Save your money and buy a better sewing machine would be my suggestion.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I've had a serger for several years but I rarely use it now and I don't use it in quilting. When I made quilted Vera Bradley style handbags to sell I'd serge the edges of the sides of the bag before assembling for a neat finished edge on the inside w/o having to do a French seam.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have had many sergers. I costume large cast plays, and it is invaluable for garment sewing, especially costumes. It sews fast, finishes edges cleanly. I've used mine for quilting occasionally. I actually did one of my jelly roll quilts using the serger, it worked out well. It sews a pretty good 1/4" seam. I have also made some serger quilts that are quilt as you go quilts. Kaye Wood has a great tutorial on using a serger to make a quilt, check it out on YouTube. Marilyn and I used this method for some of our charity quilts.
I'd say if you sew a lot of garments, a serger is a useful tool. If you just quilt, it might be of limited use. I've also sewn those cuffed pillowcases on my serger when I got lazy and didin't want to make the French seam to finish it. It sews mighty fast, I've also made bedskirts using my serger, and that saved me tons of time doing the gathering and sewing the gathered part to the middle that goes under the mattress. Plus, I just hemmed one of my bedskirts on the serger--again, laziness set in. Great for finishing curtains, whether you do another hem or just leave the serged edge as the hem, I did this for my sheers in my house.
If you like to make placemats, tablecloths and napkins, and your serger does a narrow rolled hem, it works great for that. I hemmed 16 table cloths in one hour for a woman who was in a panic about doing them the regular hemming method (roll under 1/4" and sew). She waited until the last minute to finish them, and then realized she'd never make the deadline, so Jean came to the rescue. I owed her big time for handsewing yards and yards of maribou trim to some costumes the year before. That saved my sanity, so I paid her back!
That's my take on sergers. You be the judge whether you would use it enough to warrant the expense. Mine is a workhorse, I've worked my way up from a $200 serger (20 years ago) to a $2000 one, and they have all been Babylocks. Why? Because threading a serger is a pain in the neck, but threading a Babylock with Air Threading is a breeze--literally, You push a button and a jet of air threads the loopers. We had a long discussion a couple of months ago about threading other brands, and most folks said they were difficult if not impossible to figure out how to thread. Just ask Joyce--Madampolo. She took the challenge, and I think she managed to get it threaded, but don't know if she is using her serger at this time.
Good luck with your decision, let us know what you decide.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Wow! Thank you for all the helpful information!!
I really appreciate it.:D
Hugs,
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
K. McEuen
I've never used my serger in quilting. I actually haven't used it in years. I used to make tshirts and then a lot of clothes for my daughter when she was younger.
I know some people have used their sergers in quilting.
I have never used my serger in quilting either. I used it when I do pajama pants or sometimes pillowcases. However, I broke one of the needles over a year ago and I have yet to replace it. Shows you how much I really use it (and before I got it, I just couldn't live without it. Hum. .. . )
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Someone here turned me onto this video tutorial on how to make serger quilts - you might find it interesting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOTV-YSF-48
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KatiesQuiltingCorner
This is the one I was referring to in my post. I've done several of these for the hospital quilts, they are quite easy to do and turn out cute, and they are completely reversible.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jean Sewing Machine
This is the one I was referring to in my post. I've done several of these for the hospital quilts, they are quite easy to do and turn out cute, and they are completely reversible.
They are on my to-do list! I have a bunch of flannel waiting to be turned into serger quilts. It's a great video.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have a Brother 1034D and I rarely use it. When I do use it, it is to finish seams and I have also serged the edge of my fabric before prewashing.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have my second serger, a babylock. I up graded from a three three thread Singer I had for like twenty years. It was just so hard to thread and use after awhile. So my new machine holds eight threads, a little over board unless you want to make sleeping bags. lol. But I love the insant threading. All I can say is wow on that! They have models that are four and five threads too. I wish I would of looked into it better. I sew a lot of childreds clothing and buyers want it to look clean inside,so I couldn't do with out it.
They are fast and clean but the cutter can make mistakes real fast. I suggest going in for a class because there are so many things you can do with them besides seams.
Lorie
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hulamoon
I have my second serger, a babylock. I up graded from a three three thread Singer I had for like twenty years. It was just so hard to thread and use after awhile. So my new machine holds eight threads, a little over board unless you want to make sleeping bags. lol. But I love the insant threading. All I can say is wow on that! They have models that are four and five threads too. I wish I would of looked into it better. I sew a lot of childreds clothing and buyers want it to look clean inside,so I couldn't do with out it.
They are fast and clean but the cutter can make mistakes real fast. I suggest going in for a class because there are so many things you can do with them besides seams.
Lorie
Yes, don't make a mistake and cut something by mistake. It is a non-reversible mistake. I have the 8 thread Babylock. Mine is about 4 years old, it's an Evolve. Bet you have the Evolution.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have the Evolve too. I had a hard time with the orginal foot though(heavey and clunky) so I invested in a clear foot. I totally recomend it. I put little marks on it with a sharpie for my measurements.
I don't alway's use serger thread either. I mix and match regular thread I have on hand or buy just regular spools. I works just fine if you can't afford the big spools.
Lorie
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I have pieced one quilt with a Serger and it was SO much fun! want to do another!
just posted a picture of it on my profile. donating it to my kids school for an auction/fundraiser.
Attachment 26721
(it is the only quilt on my profile right now - new to this site and trying to figure out where / how to do it)
no 2 blocks are exactly the same in this quilt, so very easy and very quick piecing with a serger in this semi-crazy style quilt where the 1/4 inch is not so critical.
have the Bernina 1300 MDC (5 thread) and it sews great but is very painful to thread! I have been told it gets easier every time you thread it....grrr
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Sergers are great for just about everything except quilting! If quilting is predominantly what you are doing don't bother buying one. I used mine a lot when I was sewing for customers. Now that I'm just quilting it sits quietly by, totally unused. I would never give it up, though. When I do make something other than quilts I'd be lost without it.
I didn't know they make 8-thread sergers! Mine is only 4. I'd be interested to see what the seam looks like with 8 threads.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rebeccas-sewing
Sergers are great for just about everything except quilting! If quilting is predominantly what you are doing don't bother buying one. I used mine a lot when I was sewing for customers. Now that I'm just quilting it sits quietly by, totally unused. I would never give it up, though. When I do make something other than quilts I'd be lost without it.
I didn't know they make 8-thread sergers! Mine is only 4. I'd be interested to see what the seam looks like with 8 threads.
An 8 thread seam to me is goofy, it is mostly decorative. I bought my Evolve because it has a very heavy duty motor, it can power through most anything.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bhaggerty
I have pieced one quilt with a Serger and it was SO much fun! want to do another!
just posted a picture of it on my profile. donating it to my kids school for an auction/fundraiser.
Attachment 26721
(it is the only quilt on my profile right now - new to this site and trying to figure out where / how to do it)
no 2 blocks are exactly the same in this quilt, so very easy and very quick piecing with a serger in this semi-crazy style quilt where the 1/4 inch is not so critical.
have the Bernina 1300 MDC (5 thread) and it sews great but is very painful to thread! I have been told it gets easier every time you thread it....grrr
Where did you get your embroidery symbols? They are really unique! Love your quilt and so interesting that you made it on the serger. Hope it brings in big money for the school.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
I worked where they used to call a serger "the microwave of sewing"... very accurate!!!!
I had to have one, and bought a
White (340D i think).. very basic, i pulled out the tread first thing, and taught myself to thread it... not a snap, but once you get the hang)....
i don't use it a lot, but when fraying is an issue,,, you can't beat it...
Jean is right,, the babylock is in my future for purchase.. my quilting friend has one and it's amazing!!!!
She uses her sometimes,,, to do a row on the edge of her quilts... to keep everything together before adding her binding to a quilt... she likes the stability of it...
2 Attachment(s)
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Yea eight threads is a little goofy. It's useful for heavy stuff though. I got my manual out and scaned the pages for it for those curious about it.
Attachment 26734
Attachment 26735
Lorie
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Thank you! I had a very hard time finding the symbols I needed, so I begged my hubby for the Bernina Version 6 Embroidery Digitzing software and designed them all myself (after a one day class and many, many hours on the computer!) The fabrics are all velvet, damask, brocades, silks & satins; so it was easier to piece it on my serger than on my regular machine.
Re: Curious about Sergers??
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bhaggerty
Thank you! I had a very hard time finding the symbols I needed, so I begged my hubby for the Bernina Version 6 Embroidery Digitzing software and designed them all myself (after a one day class and many, many hours on the computer!) The fabrics are all velvet, damask, brocades, silks & satins; so it was easier to piece it on my serger than on my regular machine.
It really is elegant looking! The symbols add to the elegance. Needs a formal room to be placed in!
