Serger seam finishing questions...
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Serger seam finishing questions... Dannielle 03-24-2006
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Posted by Dannielle on March 24, 2006, 11:25 am
Ok, I am hoping to get some tips and tricks here. I decided that I am
in such a need for summer that I would put together a couple of outfits
for my little girl, just a little sunsuit and shorts/overall type
thing. However, I have this nifty serger that I *cough* stole from my
MIL. (Like she's ever going to use it!) And I would love to have some
ideas on seam finishes before I get too far involved in these projects.
So far I have mostly used the thing to go around evenweaves before
putting it on scrolls to do cross stitch!

Do you use the serger for just finishing the seam or do you use it to
create the seam and finish the edge as well? (This is for future
reference, as this time around I am just using for finishing and using
the regular machine for the seaming.)

How do you finish with the serger seam? I know how to serger across
the beginning if I am going around something, but most of these seams
are very straight and some are very short! It's that tail end (or
beginning tail) piece that I don't know what to do with and I don't
want the thing unravelling on me!

Also, do you serge each side of the seam when pressed open, or do you
serge them together and press the seam to the side as a single unit?

Ok, I think that's all I can think of for the moment. I know these are
pretty generic questions, but I didn't see anything on Kate's site
about serging, just using a regular machine to do finishing....and
those were pretty cool too! Yes, I know, Google is my friend and I'm
going over there to do some reading too. I just wanted to hear from
everywhere so I can get as much information as I can! Sometimes
personal experience is better than a webpage!

TIA!
Dannielle


Posted by Kate Dicey on March 24, 2006, 11:46 am
Dannielle wrote:

> Ok, I am hoping to get some tips and tricks here. I decided that I am
> in such a need for summer that I would put together a couple of outfits
> for my little girl, just a little sunsuit and shorts/overall type
> thing. However, I have this nifty serger that I *cough* stole from my
> MIL. (Like she's ever going to use it!) And I would love to have some
> ideas on seam finishes before I get too far involved in these projects.
> So far I have mostly used the thing to go around evenweaves before
> putting it on scrolls to do cross stitch!
>
> Do you use the serger for just finishing the seam or do you use it to
> create the seam and finish the edge as well? (This is for future
> reference, as this time around I am just using for finishing and using
> the regular machine for the seaming.)

The latter - especially on knits! magic for that, it is.
>
> How do you finish with the serger seam? I know how to serger across
> the beginning if I am going around something, but most of these seams
> are very straight and some are very short! It's that tail end (or
> beginning tail) piece that I don't know what to do with and I don't
> want the thing unravelling on me!

Thread it in a darning needle, slide it an inch up the stitches, snip
off! :)
>
> Also, do you serge each side of the seam when pressed open, or do you
> serge them together and press the seam to the side as a single unit?

If I've finished the edges, I press open, but if serged together, they
lie to one side. I rarely bother to stitch AND serge - waste of time on
most fabrics! Occasionally do that on very fraying furniture fabrics,
but that's about it...
>
> Ok, I think that's all I can think of for the moment. I know these are
> pretty generic questions, but I didn't see anything on Kate's site
> about serging, just using a regular machine to do finishing....and
> those were pretty cool too! Yes, I know, Google is my friend and I'm
> going over there to do some reading too. I just wanted to hear from
> everywhere so I can get as much information as I can! Sometimes
> personal experience is better than a webpage!

There are some serger finishes on the projects - nip back and have a
look! :) The Mistress Kate's Folly one has the neatening the tail
trick on it...
>
> TIA!
> Dannielle
>


--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Posted by Dannielle on March 24, 2006, 4:43 pm
Thanks Kate! I guess I am going on the right lines and just wanted the
extra verification. These are outfits for my DD, and she's turning two
next month, so I've stitched and serged! Maybe overkill, but better
safe than sorry I think!

I think I will try using the serger to create and finish at the same
time on another piece. I think I am starting to like this clothes
making thing (at least for DD). *sigh* Yet another hobby.

Dannielle


Posted by Pat in Virginia on March 25, 2006, 3:31 pm
Thanks for the replies to basic questions,
Kate. And thanks to Dannielle for asking them!
Here is another beginner question. Let's say
I'm making a set of scrubs ... not fitted
garments at this point. So, do I cut them
with 5/8" seam allowance as usual, or do I
cut with a different seam allowance?
TIA, PAT in VA/USA

Kate Dicey wrote:
> Dannielle wrote:
>
>> Do you use the serger for just finishing the seam or do you use it to
>> create the seam and finish the edge as well? (This is for future
>> reference, as this time around I am just using for finishing and using
>> the regular machine for the seaming.)
>
>
> The latter - especially on knits! magic for that, it is.
>
>>
>> How do you finish with the serger seam? I know how to serger across
>> the beginning if I am going around something, but most of these seams
>> are very straight and some are very short! It's that tail end (or
>> beginning tail) piece that I don't know what to do with and I don't
>> want the thing unravelling on me!
>
>
> Thread it in a darning needle, slide it an inch up the stitches, snip
> off! :)
>
>>
>> Also, do you serge each side of the seam when pressed open, or do you
>> serge them together and press the seam to the side as a single unit?
>
>
> If I've finished the edges, I press open, but if serged together, they
> lie to one side. I rarely bother to stitch AND serge - waste of time on
> most fabrics! Occasionally do that on very fraying furniture fabrics,
> but that's about it...
>
>>
>> Ok, I think that's all I can think of for the moment. I know these are
>> pretty generic questions, but I didn't see anything on Kate's site
>> about serging, just using a regular machine to do finishing....and
>> those were pretty cool too! Yes, I know, Google is my friend and I'm
>> going over there to do some reading too. I just wanted to hear from
>> everywhere so I can get as much information as I can! Sometimes
>> personal experience is better than a webpage!
>
>
> There are some serger finishes on the projects - nip back and have a
> look! :) The Mistress Kate's Folly one has the neatening the tail
> trick on it...
>
>>
>> TIA!
>> Dannielle
>>
>
>

Posted by BEI Design on March 25, 2006, 3:45 pm

> Thanks for the replies to basic questions, Kate. And thanks to
> Dannielle for asking them!
> Here is another beginner question. Let's say I'm making a set of
> scrubs ... not fitted garments at this point. So, do I cut them with
> 5/8" seam allowance as usual, or do I cut with a different seam
> allowance?
> TIA, PAT in VA/USA

Depends! ;-)

I cut DD's scrubs with 5/8" seams allowances, and serge all/most edges
*before* construction, then sew the actual seam with the regular
sewing machine. Her scrubs get a lot of use and laundering, and have
lasted on average, several years. But, really that's just a matter of
personal preference, I prefer most seams to be pressed open. You
could cut 3/8" seams and assemble with the serger, and press all seams
to one side.

Beverly



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