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From: tonigirl10
Date: 01-15-2005, 11:06 AM (1 of 5)
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I have a new serger and I'm just beginning to use it. I am making pillowcase dresses and am making the case narrower for my little girl. I don't want to remove the bottom hem so I serged all the way to the bottom. When I washed the dress, the serger threads unraveled. How do I finish off a serger seam to prevent this? Also, should you also sew the side seams w/ your regular machine in addition to using the serger? My machine does a 3 thread and a 4 thread. Which one should I use? Thanks so much for the advice. 
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User: tonigirl10
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-15-2005, 02:48 PM (2 of 5)
I'm not sure that I can answer all your questions accurately, but I'll try to answer some of them.  I don't know of any sergers that lock the seams/stitches at the beginning and end (like backstitching on a regular sewing machine.) When I serge, I put my chain under the presser foot at the beginning and sort of "lock" that seam in that way. At the end of the seam, I think you either need to put some fray check/seam sealant on it or use a tapestry needle and run a couple of inches or so back through the stitched seam. Does this make sense? There may be more experienced folks come along to give you better answers. I'm still fairly new to serging myself. I prefer to sew a seam on my regular sewing machine first and then I serge it off after that and press the seam to one side. I have also finished off the seams on the serger prior to sewing the seam on the regular sewing machine and then pressed the seam open. (I think this may be a matter of preference.) In both cases, I use the 4 thread because that is my preference, although someone with more experience may tell you the "right" way to do it.  Hope this helps a little. |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: esrun3
Date: 01-15-2005, 05:44 PM (3 of 5)
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I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you...I don't own a serger. However, I've been sewing for many years and have never heard of a pillow case dress-what is it and how do you make one?
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 01-15-2005, 06:58 PM (4 of 5)
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I run a long tail at the end & knot it before trimming.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-16-2005, 01:10 AM (5 of 5)
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If it is unraveling from the end, all the before answers are correct. You can also chain off a long piece and pull it back through the stitching you just finished or you can use a no-fray type product to "bind" the end... I tend to serge over the serging I started with and taper it off so that the serging overlaps(when you do this though you have to be careful not to clip the old stitches as you pass over. Did it come unraveled from the end or did it pull out of the fabric on the way around. If it pulled from the fabric you may not have had a wide enough serge, you may be serging too close to the cut edge or something may be wrong with the stitching itself. You can also serge you edge and then fold it up and sew it down if you are having a lot of trouble. This would take the place of the old method to fold under 1/4 inch, stitch that down and then them the fabric. It is just another method to clean finish the bottom of the garment to make sure that it doesn't ravel. However, a thin serged rolled hem is perfectly fine on this type of product. You can either use a 4 or more thread serge to sew/finish your seams, OR you can sew your seams and then serge them together, OR you can serge the edges to clean finish them and then sew the together with the machine. The method of constructing your garment varies from seamstress to seamstress. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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