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From: paw5kids
Date: 11-12-2004, 04:59 PM (1 of 5)
Hi all!  I'm Peggy, and I am new to these forums. I've been sewing for years but my mom lent me a serger and I've just been trying to use it. It's a Janome My Lock234D and it does ok but there's one product I make a lot of that requires 3-4 layers of thick fabrics, fleece and hemp. I am having one heck of a time trying to get it to serge the edges nicely! I've been playing with the tensions, but to be honest these four tension knobs and then a differential knob etc., it's just boggling my mind and I just can not get it to work! Thank goodness it's not an 8 thread machine!  Can anyone help me? 
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User: paw5kids
Member since: 11-12-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 11-12-2004, 08:32 PM (2 of 5)
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Peggy are you using the proper needle? That is a lot of fabric you are trying to serge through. I know when serging my diapers I had to use a denim needle so that it would get through all the layers of fabric. Did your mom also lend you the users manual? Some manuals will actually tell you an approximate tension for different fabic thicknesses.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: paw5kids
Date: 11-12-2004, 08:45 PM (3 of 5)
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Yes, I have the manual too but it doesn't seem to be much help at all. :( It tells you which way to change the tension if you are having trouble, but it always tells you to start with all four dials on 3, and then you are to move certain ones higher or lower. What tension would you put your four dials on for your diapers? I am making womens pads, so it would be similiar. I think I just need a starting point for what's 'normal' tension for thick serging? Do you think that would help or are all machines completely different? The needle seems to work well. It's serging and moving smoothly, but it's just looping too big, or one side loops too small etc., I just can't seem to get all four tensions set up properly. :( I spent about 1.5 hours and quite a bit of fabric trying to adjust the tensions but everytime I seemed to get close to having it right, I would adjust something to try and get it better and it would only make it worse. LOL 
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User: paw5kids
Member since: 11-12-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 11-13-2004, 02:11 PM (4 of 5)
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My setting probably wouldn't help you much as my machine needs servicing and needs one needle super tight while the other is super loose. I sews just fine this way so I always forget to take it in. From what you are saying it might not be tension exactly. When sewing with that thick of fabric it is very easy for it to squeeze out from under the foot, to either side. Try setting your tension to normal and pay close attention and see if the fabric is moving after it is cut. If you still have problems then we can try to figure out tension. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 11-14-2004, 04:20 AM (5 of 5)
| I have a Janome very similar but mine has the lay in threads not the knobs. Sometimes just changing your width and length can help in poor stitching. You said you are sewing fleece. I just sewed some and if roll hemming set rolled hem to change the stitch finger and set the 3 tensions at 4- for the needle, 3- for uL and 6 and 1/2 for LL. Diff. feed at 1.0 If you are using 4 threads and not rolled hem set diff. feed at 1.0 -2.2 keep all tensions on 3 and your stitch length try between 3 and 5. You can try changing tensions one by one to see if this makes a difference. Then reset back to normal. I hope this helps. I doubt that you need to change the foot pressure, I rarely need to change mine and I believe these machines are very much the same. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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