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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-20-2005, 07:11 AM (1 of 14)
I have the serger working and the tensions set for the project I'm working on and for the most part it is going very good.
BUT
I have noticed that while most of the time the tension seems very good with the threads meeting right along the edge of the finished seam, there are a few spots where it is just a little loose over the edge. I think -- but I'm not sure yet -- it might have to do with an uneven speed of the machine.
It's a theory I'm testing.
Like I said, this is a minor problem. You can't really see it unless you are looking closely. But I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to sewing and would like to figure this out.
Any suggestions for cause and cure?
Or is this normal?
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: plrlegal
Date: 01-20-2005, 10:36 AM (2 of 14)
Dorothy one of your cones may be unwinding and feeding through the tension disc faster than the others. I use the thread nets and it helps to have a more even smoother feed of the thread off the cones through the tension discs.

Patsy
Patsy
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001
Total posts: 318
From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-20-2005, 10:37 AM (3 of 14)
Dorothy are you cutting off some of the edge of the fabric when you serge or are you passing the edge right up to the blade? If you are not feeding the fabric evenly this will happen. The fabric is not passing close enough to the stitch fingers when this happens so it's leaving those little lose threads sticking up. I always try and make sure I'm shaving off just a little tiny peice of the fabric to insure the fabric is close enough.
User: Mother in Law
Member since:
Total posts:
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-20-2005, 11:54 AM (4 of 14)
Susie --
I am shaving off just a little -- and sometimes about 1/4 inch along the edge but I wouldn't swear its real straight.
Patsy -- if it was a cone feeding faster would it be just in spurts like it is? I'll try those little caps on the tops of the thread spools and see if that helps.
Thanks guys for the input.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: sewcr8v
Date: 01-20-2005, 12:14 PM (5 of 14)
In my experience it would be you not keeping it in a straight line. Don't let your fabric curve over to the left after it has been stitched - keep that fabric going in a straight line off the back of the machine, don't let it fall away to the left after serging.
Sewcr8v
Keep the world sewing...
User: sewcr8v
Member since: 09-05-2004
Total posts: 30
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-20-2005, 02:05 PM (6 of 14)
I'll try to keep it straighter. There is no guide to follow and no where to make one. Straight has never been my strong suit.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-20-2005, 03:49 PM (7 of 14)
I suggest changing your stitch width when you have loops hanging over the edge..also sometimes changing the length helps sometimes but I have no clue as to why. But for sure the change in width will help.
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
From: sewingrandma
Date: 01-20-2005, 05:59 PM (8 of 14)
How about cleaning the tension discs? When I have that problem I stop and clean the entire machine with my vacuum (bought some mini attachments that I love)inside and out and run a piece of dental floss thru the discs, and it generally takes care of the problem. Sometimes it takes a needle change too.
Brockie
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003
Total posts: 432
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-21-2005, 07:21 AM (9 of 14)
I just changed the needles and I cleaned the machine according to manufacturer's directions. And this is only the second project I've done on it. I'll try a little longer stitch length. I didn't sew yesterday -- I had to work -- and I'm working on some other work on my regular machine today but should be back to the serger by the weekend.
Thanks again
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: Kylnne2
Date: 01-21-2005, 07:00 PM (10 of 14)
Dorothy if your stitches are still looping over the edge you might want to widen your stitch width.
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-22-2005, 12:33 PM (11 of 14)
Dorothy,
I took a small amount of paint, (acrylic, lt. blue to match lettering ) and measured a line from the stitch finger to the back of my serger, and painted a line. It looks like part of the decoration, but it is a straight line. It is a perfect seam guage, and nobody knows, but me.. I don't care about that, though, because it works..
Sew With Love
Libby
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002
Total posts: 2022
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-22-2005, 02:44 PM (12 of 14)
Libby --
I'm not really concerned about what it looks like. I'll try a line behind the needles. What was bothering me is no place to mark in front of the needles but behind would probably help. I didn't think of that. Thanks.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-23-2005, 07:15 PM (13 of 14)
I fooled around with it and shorter stitches seems to have solved the problem.
Thanks all.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: foxy
Date: 02-06-2005, 04:26 PM (14 of 14)
Hi---I'm back---sorry I was away so long----few things came up in my life!
I would tighten the looper threads---try one first & if not still a good serge then tighten the other. The upper looper & lower looper should kiss at the edge of the fabric. Good luck
User: foxy
Member since: 11-13-2003
Total posts: 58
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