Monday 10 January 2022

The Urge To Serge

In this country, we call them overlockers, but in the USA they are sergers. I got my Toyota SL1t in 1996 [I think] so 25 years on, I am pleased it is still going. These machines have 4 spools of thread, and two needles above, and 'loopers' below. And most importantly, built in blades.

They will cut and finish the edge of the fabric all in one go [and if there are two or three layers, you can seam, cut and finish] I love my machine.

Quick, and easy, and so useful - especially for people like me, who are frequently making play costumes, covers for garden furniture or PA gear, or general purpose household repairs.

I got this book in 1998, and it is full of useful tips, and importantly, troubleshooting help. With all those spools the threading up process and stitch construction is quite complicated. I have sometimes spent 45 minutes getting the machine to produce a simple row of stitches, when the job in hand will only take 10 minutes. I mislaid my official instruction book a long time ago. But in November, I came across a newer guide to using the overlocker. Bob bought it for me for Christmas.

This one is really useful, with careful explanations, and clear diagrams. It explained properly how to make a frilled edge, do gathers, stitch a rolled hem... and how to get far more out of the machine than just simple cut-and-finished edges. Bob suggested I might treat myself to some of the accessories needed. I checked out the prices online - around £10 each

I got the machine out on Saturday afternoon to have a bit of a play around. And discovered to my shame, that I had both a rolled hem foot, and a gathering foot in the box of bits that came with the machine 25 years ago. And I had never used either of them, or done anything more than simple sewing.

It took an hour to master the art of the rolled hem -and then I made a lightweight dustcover for Bob's record deck using a scrap length of voile.

But when I came to replace the original foot and plate, I could not  get the machine to stitch 'properly' again. There was something wrong with the tension settings. I got progressively more stressed "I'm not putting it away till it works right" But it was almost time to eat. In the end I listened to reason, and Bob got the food ready while I just packed up all the sewing stuff on the dining table. 

The tension can be sorted out this week, when I feel less stressed! It will be good to master some new skills if it makes the overlocker more useful. I definitely needed to look again at this machine and its possibilities. I will give this new book a ***** rating.

Have you used an overlocker?

Did you have tension troubles?






18 comments:

  1. I have never used an overlocker/serger, but, I seem to have plenty of tension troubles, anyway! And most of them have nothing to do with a sewing machine! :D

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    1. May there be much less tension for all of us in the coming year

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  2. My overlocker was a total bargain - free! A friend bought it but couldn't get on with it so she passed it on. To my shame the only thing I use it for is neatening seams and making t shirts but I hem them with the twin needle on my main machine. Maybe you have inspired me.

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    1. I don't think we are the only people who have never learned to use our machines to their full extent. I like using my main machine with the twin needle for hemming stretch fabrics.

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  3. I HAVE used an overlocker and found it very useful when making my Mum a skirt for Christmas about 18 years ago. Norma supervised me and I was super impressed with this piece of machinery but I didn't have to do the threading!!

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    1. They are very clever gadgets - having a friend to advise and encourage is a real help

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  4. Utter respect as you try something new. Good luck with the tension.

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  5. Sorry I'm no help I have never used an overlocker, in fact my last sewing machine was a hand operated Singer. But it sounds like a fantastic thing for all the sewing that you do, I hope you can sort out the tension ... and relieve your own!!

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    1. It is a long time since I used a hand operated machine!

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  6. I used an overlocker at school but that was the only time that I can remember. The teacher threaded it and got it working properly so it wasn't really a test of my skills! I'd like one now that I'm getting back into sewing though.

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    1. I noticed that they used them on the Great British Sewing Bee - but never ever seemed to have stitch/tension issues.

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  7. I've never owned one but they must be really useful. Good luck on sorting out the current issues and learning new skills.
    I only use a nearly 60 year-old Bernina sewing machine. 50 years ago, before it was shipped out to Canada, I used a treadle machine in our rental apartment and made baby nighties and blankets, and a cover for a large easy chair.

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    1. Berninas are the Rolls Royce of the machine world. I'm sure yours works as well now as it did when new!

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  8. I had terrible tension problems with my ancient Ella lotus, an 'ordinary' sewing machine. The problem turned out to be a very large bit of fluff caught in the tension wheel for the top thread. I don't know if there is somewhere a bit of fluff could hide in your overlocker?

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    1. I suspect there is fluff which needs dealing with, thank you for the reminder

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  9. A tip - I always make a note of my tension dial settings before I play around with my overlocker. I set the dials to 0 to change thread colours - tie on and pull through and as I have the tensions noted down - easy to set up again.

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    1. That is a great tip- thank you so much! Once I get the machine going again, I shall keep meticulous notes

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