A comment on our Thanksgiving crafty things post made me think about sergers. Sewing machines and sergers. And the many conversations Adrianna and I have had about them.
We both have pretty basic sewing machines. Nothing too fancy.
We’d get together for crafternoons and talk about projects and what we’d like to work on next. And whenever we’d talk about how we’d like to make t-shirts, Adrianna would make a sad pouty face and stare off into imagined craft utopia, wistfully saying “but I don’t have a serger.”
I really hadn’t thought much about getting one until then.
But I decided to do more reading and research and pondering. Well, the pondering lasted about 30 seconds. I decided I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And I didn’t want to see any more Adrianna sad face and feel like my crafty-sewy potential was being obstructed by lack of critical equipment. Or what might be critical equipment.
I loved the reviews I read for this serger
. Because I was overseas and anything I used would have to be run through a transformer, which is hard on machinery, I wasn’t ready to shell out big bucks for a fancy one. Not that I was ready to anyway since this was sort of a whimsical decision. I mean, I figured I’d love it… once I figured it out.
. Because I was overseas and anything I used would have to be run through a transformer, which is hard on machinery, I wasn’t ready to shell out big bucks for a fancy one. Not that I was ready to anyway since this was sort of a whimsical decision. I mean, I figured I’d love it… once I figured it out.So I chose this one because the reviews sounded like what I’d want– works well, affordable, accessories included, instruction video included, … and free shipping. As another reader commented recently, “I’m allergic to shipping”.
So the really important part of this post: it arrived. The dials and wheels and spools are fun to look at, but I’m fascinated by the double needle and the looper thing-y.
I watched the video for how to thread it, even though I didn’t actually HAVE to thread it initially because it arrived already threaded with color-coded threads. I studied it. And studied it. And took a deep breath. And tried it. HOLYMOLY THE KNIVES! The knives are totally scary at first. KNIVES. Like, look, we’re making a sweet little baby blanket and there are KNIVES involved. See? Look under the presser foot:
But once you get past the knives, literally, looooook at the fabric shooting out the other side! Like literally SHOOTING. And the finish is so amazingly neat. And so amazingly fast. And so amazingly beautiful. Well, the front side. But even the thread chain that the machine makes is cool.
The memories start to get fuzzy at this point because I got a little frenzied. I called Adrianna. I’m pretty sure she was stomping her foot with impatience to come over for a crafternoon at this point. And her serger-jealousy-phase began. (That didn’t last long. She got her own for Christmas.)
The moment we were both sitting with the serger and checking it out was blissful. I loved watching A’s face as she did the first serge (?) with some scraps and saw the resulting seam. It was one of those moments where the clouds parted and a beam of light shone down magically through several layers of roof and fell upon the dining room table. Angels singing and all that.
The fact is, neither one of us knew exactly what we’d do with it. We just knew we wanted to try. Since then we’ve made skirts, dresses, pants, shirts, naked dressform outfits, spaghetti straps, tablecloths, napkins… loooooots of really fun awesomeness. The rolled edge is particularly fun. The better part of our tutorials post-serger-introduction involve serging. Not that they HAVE to, we’ve just found it pretty useful. (We’re working on moving tutorials to their new spot on a page, by the way. Now located on the upper left!)
Oookay, there’s occasionally some cursing about re-threading. It takes a few rounds to get the hang of. But the video that came with the serger was great (and a fun fashion flashback!) and the plentiful online tutorials and tips for this machine are really helpful. Adrianna chose a Janome serger, and while she loves it, she did find that the Brother model is so widely used that it has lots and lots of how-to’s online that she had a hard time finding for hers. She can edit this post at will or write her own to discuss as she sees fit. As soon as she’s done getting over jet lag, since she’s just landed on the other side of the world.
model is so widely used that it has lots and lots of how-to’s online that she had a hard time finding for hers. She can edit this post at will or write her own to discuss as she sees fit. As soon as she’s done getting over jet lag, since she’s just landed on the other side of the world.
(originally posted here)
A reader’s comment about not knowing what to do with a serger started this train of thought and I thought I’d share. (Thanks for the inspiration, Tara!) Since we didn’t know what we’d do with them either. And the answer is: you may not know now, but you can do eeeeeverything with one. Once you get past the knife thing. And I thought the thought had some good timing, because if you’re not sure what to ask Santa/Sweetie/Mom/yourself for… this is my/our recommendation.
P.S. Julie’s 20% discount is active until Friday. She noted, however, that you need to enter the code in the special box at checkout rather than in the notes to seller to get the price adjusted automatically.
P.P.S. A, hope your trip was easy-peasy!
Oh my goodness… thank you for answering my question!!! I think I’m just going to have to get one!
I love my serger! I got mine last year for my birthday, and I find I now can’t live without it!
Loved this post — so much so, that I got distracted and… well… now my house, my clothes, and my hair smell like burnt grilled cheese sandwich……. Sigh.
My mom bought me a magnolia serger. I think it’s the cheap janome line?
anyway, I totally love it. I’ve had it for about 3 years and it just keeps chugging along!
I have that same Brother serger and I LOOOOVE it. Totally worth the investment.
I’ve got the Brother serger as well. It comes in handy. I’m particularly proud of the deal I got on it! And yes, those videos are definitely a flashback! I kept waiting for Dorothy, Rose, Sophia, or Blanche to make an appearance ;)
well my husband threads my serger, when the thread is gone, because what I usually do it knot the new thread to the old one and sew a piece of fabric, and the thread comes right through everything, so I don’t have headaches anymore trying to thread my serger =)
Ok, that’s it. I’m getting a serger.
I’m cracking up here! A few years ago, I was going over to my mother in law’s once or twice a week to use her serger. Hubby surprised me one day and brought home a box that said Bernina on it. It was the previous year’s model, of their top of the line serger. It has 5 threads, yep that scared me. I had used 4 thread sergers many times, but not a 5 thread. I love this serger. It is persnickety at times, and a paint in the patootie to thread, just like all the rest, but it sews beautifully! I love the rolled hem, I have used it on tons of stuff, including brides maid dresses for a friends wedding. They are so worth having, even if you can’t afford a “top of the line” serger. All that said, serger’s are awesome, and a great asset in sewing!
I would love to hear anything A has to say about her Janome, I have one as well and haven’t seen tons on it. I’m starting to really get the hang of it (which is code for I am not scared and I can rethread it without needing help and without even curses unless it’s the third time in ten minutes.) but i just know I could do more. MORE, I tell you. Although the ruffle foot I got my sewing machine cured me of wanting to ruffle on my serger cos it’s stinkin easy-peasy.
I am seriously having Serger envy. I have been reading about the different brands and trying to decided which one “Santa” should bring me. Thanks for the info.
I want one of those new fangled sergers that suck the threads into place. Someone please give me $1500 for that please.
I just bought one, too, & absolutely love it! Great for cottons, knits, you name it!I got a bernina to match my old Bernina machiine
I enjoyed reading your serger post. Mine was given to me a couple of years ago and I am embarrassed to say that it took me nearly 1.5 years to really get over my anxiety about threading it and using it. When I finally decided to get to know my machine, I found myself laughing at how stupid it was of me to wait so long. It is absolutely wonderful to have a serger. Now, if I would just get around to learning how to do all the different stitches that mine will do… ; )
I have a big ol industrial beauty that gathers while you sew. There are ladies that remain my friends just so that I can gather their skirts on in less than 30 sec. So once you get past the fear of the home serger think about a really fast industrial one that will gather. Your life will never be the same. In the best way possible.
I love my serger – Babylock Wave – I got a great deal on it after they used it for demo at show -I also go to same shop all the time – I had another one before that I screamed at all the time – and only used one color thread – forbid that I would have to change thread!! This one I can thread in 2 minutes flat and it constantly adjusts its self a little pricey BUT SOOOO worth the $$ .
I cannot believe this post! I decided to help my wonderful busy husband with his Christmas shopping (for me) and ordered that identical serger. It arrived this evening. I had to open it, just to make sure it wasn’t damaged during shipping, and now I’m thinking I might need to give it a pre-Christmas test run. You know, just to make sure it wasn’t damaged during shipping. So why not make a few gifts while it’s plugged in, right?
You are both hilarious. I love your blog. Thanks for all the great tips and ideas!
I have had that same serger for about a year now and I LOVE it! I use it all the time and I think it is so easy to thread.
♥Michelle
I have a janome too! I LOVE it. She (Sally my seger) is one of my best friends. We do so much together. My son is picky about his clothes, well, not so much picky as he would rather be naked, but I finally made my own pattern for pants that he won’t fight me on wearing, so I have made lots of them and the serger makes them SO quickly and so very nicely. I made some pants for my Brother-in-law and I’ve been told how much they look professional. Even my husband told me the other day how much better my crafting has gotten since I got my serger. He is actually willing to wear/use some of the things I make now.
I have this serger and LOOOVE it. Seriously, I love serging and I find an excuse to run everything I am working on through it. But really, I find it super difficult to thread, I’ve had it nearly two years and I have to set an hour aside to rethread. Which includes an attempt at threading, a cursing then cooling off phase, and then a retry 20 minutes later. Am I the only one who can’t figure out what thread lays on top of what? And if the thread goes behind the top looper post thingy or before? And in that video they cut away when she is bringing that last thread around…gah! Could you post any links to online tutes, I have tried but could only find that official video on Youtube. I would love to see another perspective on it. But seriously, while I don’t love the mechanics, the price and end result it soo worth it. Just don’t make me change to matching threads!
Hi. I’m looking at making a first Communion dress for my 3rd daughter. My biggest challenge on the first two was the seam allowances. Is a serger good for making formal wear? Or is it just for knits?
Hi! Susan here. I looooove it for use with non-knits. It makes those inside seams neat and tidy and professional looking with hardly any effort at all! It’s just as useful for wovens as it is for knits.