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From: sydame helene
Date: 03-18-2006, 05:29 AM (1 of 10)
| I've just startet to use my new Bernina 800DL, but the instruction book is not very good... So if anyone can tell me how to adjust the stitch width (not the length or the cutter width or tension), I'd be more than happy! In the instruction book there's an overwiev of all the seams, but I cannot find a proper explanation on stitch width... PLEASE HELP! |
User: sydame helene
Member since: 03-18-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-18-2006, 07:27 AM (2 of 10)
|
Bernina is not known for good manuals. The serger manuals are worse than the machines. The machines have all the instructions it is just like someone threw them up in the air and dropped them on the floor. The newer serger manuals..well, that's something else entirely. Ok, off the soap box. Most of the Bernina sergers are made the same way. Raise your presser foot so you can see and open the right hand door. You'll see a knob that has numbers. This guides the width of your cut. Usually above and toward the needle you'll see a sliding finger shaped knob. When you push the slide, if you look toward the feed dogs, you'll see a little bar that is smaller at one end and larger at the other. You'll notice that as you push the bar gets wider at the needle and as you pull it getsnarrower. This is determines the width of your seam. Also, if you use two needles, you'll find that the majority of your stitch is controled by the left needle and the lower (far right) looper. If you stitch looks hairy or too tight, adjust the right looper tighter or looser. 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 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 03-18-2006, 10:00 PM (3 of 10)
|
"Stitch Width" and "Cutter Width" are the same thing on a serger. Pams suggestions shoul help find that. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
|
User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-18-2006, 11:31 PM (4 of 10)
|
Well, yes, and no. The width is determined by the knife, but on the three Bernina/Bernette sergers I have, there is an adjustable fork that the seam forms around (I don't know what else to call it.) It is shaved toward the far end. There is a flat lever or button above the cutting regulator. The lever is located closer to the needles. The seam forms around that plus the regular forks to make the sttich (again, I don't know how to explain it). If the moving portion is small, the stitches will roll into a small ball...if the width of the cut is wider, the ball will be larger. If the moving portion is large and the cutting width is set at the same width, the stitch will be wide and flat. If the fork is set wide but the blade is set thin, the stitch will overhang the edges of the fabric. Since I haven't sat down at anything but a Bernina or Bernette serger in years, I don't know if other sergers are made this way or if it is specific to these models. However, I don't know anything about your particular model. I have an old Bernette 335, (five thread incl. chain), Bernina 2000DCE, 4 thread, (13 yrs old...the follow up model to the 335), and a one year old Bernina 1300 CD (does both 5 thread does up to 3 thread cover and chain). So far there have been only minor changes between the models so I'm thinking that yours is probably similar. Also, when I trained on the 1300 there were multiple serger users there who did not have my machine but could take the same basic training classes. 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 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-19-2006, 12:02 AM (5 of 10)
| Pam, I believe the fork you are posting about is called the "stitch finger". |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-19-2006, 12:06 AM (6 of 10)
|
Whew! Kylnne, I needed that! Thank you!
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 |
From: sydame helene
Date: 03-19-2006, 01:03 PM (7 of 10)
|
Ok, so I've found the sliding finger shaped knob, but this is located on the other side of the cutting-width regulator (you don't have to open the right hand door to see it) and only makes the seam rolled. It might be this one that adjust the seam width, but what confused me, is that in the seam overwiev it says that the seam width could be adjusted seperately! I wish I had the instruction book in English though, so I could write exactly what it says, but it's in Norwegian... |
User: sydame helene
Member since: 03-18-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 03-19-2006, 04:10 PM (8 of 10)
|
Right Pam, I stand corrected. I had forgotten that some Bernina sergers allow you to adjust the stitch finger independantly of the knife.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
|
User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-19-2006, 04:45 PM (9 of 10)
|
The reason I wanted you to open the door is so that you could get a clear view of the stitching area. I wasn't sure you'd see the movement as well with the door closed. When I bought my first serger I was just told to adjust the lever and the cutting knife to the same width always. I was never very satisfied with the width of my seams. Only with the last serger did I have a teacher that taught us how to properly use them together. So, I guess Tom that even if you have that adjustment, if you don't know how to use it is like not having it at all. Like I said, I've only owned Bernina sergers. I've priced and sewn on a couple other brands but never had reason to be fully trained on one so I didn't know if this was true of all machines/brandsl. 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 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 03-19-2006, 07:50 PM (10 of 10)
| I have never seen the inner workings of a Juki or Bernina serger so I really cannot help much. I can say that on my Elna 744 I have a stitch finger adjustment and also a width adjustment. On some sergers that do not have a stitch finger adjustment they have the separate plate that needs to be changed in order to do a rolled hem yet still there is a little roller that can be adjusted to change the cutting width of the knife. On a New Home (Janome) serger that I had, you had to open the left side of the serger to adjust knife width yet this serger still had the little roller in the front to adjust the stitch finger. On my older Babylock I had to change the plate for the smaller stitch finger in order to do a rolled hem. On that serger I had to stand on my head to even change needles but the loopers threaded easily and width adjustment was not even explained in the few pages of what was called a manual. I think it would be nicer for owners if all sergers came with videos or better manuals. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
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