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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-22-2005, 07:48 AM (1 of 14)
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There seem to be a lot of people here, like myself, that are rather new to this serging thing so I thought I mention a book I picked up last weekend. I'd been looking for a good book to learn the basics. What I had was all quite advanced and I really needed one that takes you just a step or two beyond the manual. The book, The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James, is just what I was looking for. I got it at Barnes and Noble. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 09-22-2005, 08:13 AM (2 of 14)
When I got my serger almost 2 years ago, I check that book out of the library, and it is a pretty good book. I did purchase "The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide", which was recommended to me, and helped allot when adjusting tension! It has great pictures of wrongs & rights, etc. Just a great little book to have beside the serger. It doesn't help you understand how to use the serger, but will help you down the road when you need to adjust it!  To help me sewing with the serger I bought 2 books by Pati Palmer of Palmer/Pletsch 'Sewing With Sergers' and 'Creative Serging'. You can also get these with DVD's if you like a visual. They are both great books, although 'Creative Serging' had allot of repeat info from 'Sewing with Sergers' but they did answer allot of my basic quesions. LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-22-2005, 06:44 PM (3 of 14)
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When I bought my serger 15 years ago, I bought 2 books by Patti. Best books ever.. I still consult them from time to time.. One was the Creative Serging, I think.. I still find ideas in there I haven't used yet.. The other was more of a how to book on sergers in general.. Both great books..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: LauraM62
Date: 09-22-2005, 07:24 PM (4 of 14)
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Gosh hope no one got me wrong! Those books by Pati were great, especially when you were new to a serger, and didn't have any classes available. They really helped me with the concept of serger with the flat concept! I think the DVD's would be nice to have, be a great visual. It is just the 'Creative Serger' book goes back over the basic serger book, but it is briefly, somewhat condensed, covering just the first couple of chapters, before it gets into other ideas on using your serger. I do agree there are still things I haven't done with my serger yet that are in the 'Creative Serger' book. When I bought my serger 15 years ago, I bought 2 books by Patti. Best books ever.. I still consult them from time to time.. One was the Creative Serging, I think.. I still find ideas in there I haven't used yet.. The other was more of a how to book on sergers in general.. Both great books.. LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
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From: DorothyL
Date: 09-22-2005, 08:22 PM (5 of 14)
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Creative techniques weren't an issue for me. I have a couple books and lots of magazines full of ideas. I needed the basics -- like which knob to turn to get things to look right and I had a heck of time finding a book with that. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 09-23-2005, 11:23 AM (6 of 14)
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I just got the Chris James book this year. Wish I had had it when I first got my machine. It has helped me a great deal with my machine. I also have the Singer book Sewing with and Overlock. This one has been a lifesaver when it comes to tensions and deciding which looper or needle was off.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-23-2005, 12:38 PM (7 of 14)
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I guess I was lucky with my owners manual and my serger.. It taught me all about my serger and gave super suggestions about adjusting the tensions, etc... Best suggestion was "write down every adjustment you make for each type of fabric and garment"... Saved me hundreds of hours in experimenting..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: Aussie sewer
Date: 10-16-2005, 01:38 AM (8 of 14)
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Dorothy Thanks for the tip on the book. My local dealer has that but it's very expensive in Australia. I did buy 3 books and the one I really like most is called The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide (Naomi Baker, Gail Brown, Cindy Kacynski) - Troubleshoting for any overlock brand or model. It's got lots of tips for things that go wrong and has illustrations. You know, wavy seams, rolled hem problems, skipped stitches - and how to fix it. It's helped a lot. I also bought one called Serging Fine Fabrics which is pretty helpful too. What I need is not so much how to do things but what sort of things I can do. Does that make sense. So that I can get the most out of it. Be great to get any suggestions. Maree 
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User: Aussie sewer
Member since: 06-02-2005 Total posts: 29 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-16-2005, 02:36 AM (9 of 14)
| I have given away many of the books I accumulated from years ago. My eyesight is not the best so I do like the newer books with all the pretty colored pictures of threads and the pictures of proper seams can be seen better rather than in black and white like the older books. I did also give away my Serging on fine Fabrics book that Maree posted that she had. I love and kept an old book called Know your Babylock by Naomi Baker and Tammy Young. It has many projects etc. I have one small book by Nancy Zieman plus Simplicity's Simply the Best has both sewing machine and serger technique. The books I keep close at hand are, The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James, The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide by Naomi Baker-Gail Brown and Cindy Kacynski, ABC's of Serging by Naomi Baker, Serger Secrets (High Fashion Techqniques) and the last Book unless I can find more is Serger Shortcuts. Many magazines have good articles like the recent Nov. issue of Sew News has a good article about Serger Basics etc. Instruction Books that come with Serger feet are also helpful as are the videos that come with machines. I have learned much through the years from watching the sewing programs on my PBS station also. I have never taken a serger class but I have taught them because I sold them. Now with the newer coverhem machines serging is so much more fun. I am thinking about the 8 and 10 thread machines and their capabilites but my Elna serves me well for all that I need to do, at least for the time being... |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Aussie sewer
Date: 10-16-2005, 03:26 AM (10 of 14)
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We seem to have a lot of the same books. I have Serger Secrets but don't like it as much as the Ultimate Serger Answer Guide. I am just about to buy ABC of Sergers. It looks good on Amazon. Thanks for the advice. maree |
User: Aussie sewer
Member since: 06-02-2005 Total posts: 29 |
From: marl
Date: 10-16-2005, 10:53 AM (11 of 14)
| A good place to check out useful books before spending any of your fabric money is your public library. Ours doesn't have everything that is available, but I have found several on techniques that interest me. This way you can borrow the book and preview it at length before you decide whether it is useful enough to buy. |
User: marl
Member since: 12-03-2004 Total posts: 16 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-16-2005, 03:28 PM (12 of 14)
| Yes, the library would be a first place to look and also used Book stores. Used books usually run less than half the original price of the book. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: bren
Date: 10-16-2005, 08:04 PM (13 of 14)
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I have one serger book...Serger Savvy and it is okay but I need one for more basic idea's... I think I will look up the one you have Dorthy...
Bren:
Don't let anyone ...Live Rent Free In Your Head |
User: bren
Member since: 11-30-2002 Total posts: 489 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 10-17-2005, 04:18 AM (14 of 14)
| I thought I had Serger Saavy but I see I didn't mention it in my earlier post and darn I cannot find it..I guess I gave it to my DDIL when I gave her my Pfaff 4842. The Nancy Zieman booklet that I forgot to name is Serge Ahead. It does have overlock basics, easing with diff. feed, wrapping corners, how to use different feet like ruffler and blindhem foot, rolled edges, flatlocking and flatlock patchwork, flatlock blindhem, coverstitch hem and topstitch and deco cover stitch and chain stitch. It is a flat book like a magazine, interesting and very inexpensive. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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