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Have any of you ever tried a serger quilt? I saw a YouTube video on a Quilt In A day, a gentleman made a whole quilt in a day including quilting it on a longarm. He pieced the top using a serger. It seemed like it was a very long day, but he did it. Since I use my serger so much for sewing, I am wondering how it would do for piecing a quilt top. Any thoughts on this?
I will sometimes serge the seams if the fabric is delicate or has a tendency to fray. I would imagine that a whole quilt could be done on a serger. The seam allowances would be bulkier with the additional thread. A block pattern with strips or squares would be pretty doable. I'd probably leave the triangles/pinwheels/circles off of the serge list. The seam intersections would be mighty thick.
Let us know how it turns out if you try one!
Cathy
I might try it. The ones I've seen online were log cabin style quilts with wider logs. Some used a flatlock style egde that showed on the front, an interesting concept.Quote:
Originally Posted by toggpine
Nancy Z has a video on this. I don't remember if she said or someone else commented, but besides being a bit bulkier, which probably could be lessened some depending on stitch choice and thread, I remember someone commenting on it being tougher to rip out mistakes.
Slokarma, I could definitely see that being a problem! I might try it on something small just to see how it finishes before contemplating a large serger project. It would certainly give one strong seams, especially if it's being washed lots and lots. I imagine anything for baby gets lots of washing so it might be good to do a trial on a baby quilt!
Yes, the ripping could be a real headache, couldn't it! I always have to rip something out on every quilt I make. :)
If you can believe it, I bought a serger off the TV's QVC site. When it arrived, I said that it was much too complicated for me. It is still in its case never used. That's been about 10 years now. I do wish I knew how to use it. The quilt I saw was one that had the seams showing on the top, and they used decorative threads. I am going to search for those videos. Maybe it would inspire me to give the serger a try. It should still be ok since it's in a case.
I've been thinking about doing this and making a duvet cover.
Kay Wood has a book on making a 6 hour quilt using a serger. You can use a regular machine but have to go over each seam twice using 2 different stitches. Here's the Youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOTV-YSF-48
This is not the video I was thinking of, so I'll keep looking.
But here's the link: http://www.nancyziemantv.com/serging...-serger-quilt/
They are only complicated to thread, once you master that process, they are so easy and fast. I have only bought BabyLocks ( on my 4th one in 20 years) because they use an air threading system, one two three you're done. And I've become a master at ripping out serged seams. Can you tell I 've had plenty of practice doing that? Don't be afraid, if you need to build strong garments quickly, the serger is the way to go! Since I make costumes, I wouldn't get my jobs done without one of these because they sew 3 times faster than sewing machines.Quote:
Originally Posted by madampolo
I saw this one several months ago, it makes a colorful cheery quilt. Sort of like a 3 Dudes style, or Summer In The Park. Would be fun with bright colors for a kid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slokarma
Someone gave me their old Bernina and I'm having so much fun with it once I got through the threading hurdle. :) I never thought to try making quilts with it. I bought a skirt pattern so I'm going to try that first I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine
This one is a keeper! Thanks for sharing it! I told Marilyn that I would help her with quilts for the children's hospital, I can see me so doing some like this! Thanks, Denis!Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis
Thanks for the links, I'll search for the one I saw and post it, then there will be at least three styles of quilts to try with the serger.
I bought a serger from TV as well. It came free with my sewing machine. It is not an air threader. I love my serger. Threading is the most difficult thing to learn about a serger. I would recommend going to the manufacturer's website. Once the serger is threaded, you really don't have to do it again unless you are completely taking off all threads for awhile. To rethread using a different thread; just tie a knot from the thread you are currently using to the new thread you will be using. Just take the thread spool off from the back of the machine and tie the knot there from the old thread to the new one on the new spool. I asked someone to help me learn how to thread my serger the first time. I haven't used it in awhile since I started learning how to quilt. I still love it though. It surely is fast for making home decor and clothing items. The edges look so professional. I don't think I'm ready to tackle a quilt on it though. Go ahead, take it out of the box, just play around with it. Maybe you could get some help near where you live. I'll bet you will be serging in no time at all. Someday, I hope to be able to buy a Babylock machine. Hope this helps.Quote:
Originally Posted by madampolo
I saw the Nancy Z youtube video on serging with exposed seams, it is a beautiful quilt!
I can't imagine life without a serger anymore, I will probably try making the quilt with it. I alos saw that air thread system- LOVE and really WANT!!
My serger is a few years old now but still going strong- my next one will have that way-cool handy dandy air thread system though.
There is a tool that you can purchase that is a threader for a serger. It is like a plumber's snake made out of very thin flexible wire with a loop on the end. First you thread your serger thread through the loop, then you feed the wire through the looper tube and pull it through. Voila, looper is threaded! They gave us one with the Babylocks in case lint or a piece of thread gets caught in the looper tube and you can't use the air threader. This happened to me once. My 20 year old serger is losing its suction uumpf, so I occasionally have to help it along with this threader. Don't be afraid of sergers, get them out of the box and use them!
I've started my first serger quilt tonight. I isn't dfficult, but I had to guess on yardage. I'm using the Kay Woods video style of quilt, it is reversible and is a " quilt as you go" style. I t might be a keeper of a pattern.
Does anyone know where to purchase a Kay Wood books. I watched the video on sergered quilt and thought I would like to try it.
I also have a Babylock serger and also a coverstitch machine and love them both. When I traded my last serger to get the air thread I already had the coverstitch machine and my dealer would not trade in two machines.
Sergers are great I make knit tops and it is so easy. I would like to quilt with it too.
Grace
Grace there is a link to Kaye's site for the book beneath the video, but here it is:
http://www.kayewood.com/item/6_Hour_Quilt_Book/214
You can also go to Walmart or any store like this, check out the dental floss area and find these dental floss loop things. They work like a charm and come in packs of multiples and aren't all that expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine
I saw these used at the long arm demo this weekend for threading long arm quilt machines. I would think they would be too short to fit through a serger tube, but maybe they would work on some sergers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis
Denis
Thank you for the website. I ordered the directions (5.95). I tried to download it but it wouldn't work so I called the Company and they sent it to me in attachment. So I printed out and now I am anxious to start it.
Grace
I don't know how old Kaye Wood is, will she still participate in Quilt shows? She mentioned in one video that she goes to them, and mentioned Paducah in particular. I just don't know how old the video is. I'm going to Paducah on Friday, I hope she or a representative of her company are there, I want some of her star rulers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis
This is what my instructor gave me. They're about 3" or 4" with a loop at one end. This is what we used to thread our loopers. I've bought some since...I have no idea where they are now, so guess I need to buy more.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine