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From: blackie
Date: 07-29-2006, 05:29 PM (1 of 14)
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I am making cloth napkins for a friend and finishing the edges with a rolled hem. Long story short, I ended up with square corners and I am concerned these corners will unravel. I have discovered a rolled hem does not "lock" on itself (and hence discovered why most rolled hems have rounded edges. I have fray-check'd the &*$ out of the corners and crossed my fingers. I don't want to go over every corner with a few handstitches because of time constraints. Can anyone help me ensure my friend's napkins will hold up? Anyone have any fabulous tips I haven't thought of? Thank you! Kelly see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 07-29-2006, 07:20 PM (2 of 14)
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I always leave a little thread tail on each corner and weave it into the stitching with a blunt needle. Of course, this doesn't help if the tails are already gone! photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: blackie
Date: 07-29-2006, 07:47 PM (3 of 14)
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I always leave a little thread tail on each corner and weave it into the stitching with a blunt needle. Of course, this doesn't help if the tails are already gone! You sassy wench! Of course I can't do that now. Thank you though - it's a great idea. I had been leaving tails, but then clipped them because A. I didn't want to take the trouble to orient all those tails past the stitch finger when it came time to do the next side and B. I was mistakenly thinking I would be locking stitches when I did subsequent sides. I will definitely take your suggestion next time! Kelly see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 07-29-2006, 07:59 PM (4 of 14)
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I didn't want to fight with my tails either, so I would clip the one on the end of the seam I had just finished, because it was going to be stitched over by the next seam. So I left the tail at the beginning of each one and clipped the end tails (except the last one)
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 07-30-2006, 03:00 AM (5 of 14)
| I have a back tack feaure on my serger that stuffs the tails into the thread seam. I don't use it however because of habit over the years when I serge I use my sergers knives to cut the threads when chaining off. Most of the small baby blankets I make have rounded corners but I use a lot of Fray Check on the grandkids clothes and with many washings these things have held up for years. I really think the Fray Check will hold. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-31-2006, 07:27 PM (6 of 14)
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I like the notion that I bought from Clotilde's that is like a needle but has an eye on both ends and ithe eyes are large enough to thread the serger stitches through and pull back through for an inch or so, and then I clip the excess off.. Works so well, and I have never had any to pull out or work loose and I have been doing that for years..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: blackie
Date: 07-31-2006, 07:50 PM (7 of 14)
I just finished a reconstructed t-shirt (into beach dress / zippered hoodie for my daughter). For all the serging finishes I left tails, then threaded through with a blunt needle like Jessica suggested. Then I clipped the excess and fray-checked the end that was snuggled under the loops. It looks great! I think I am addicted to fray-check now tho'.  Thank you for the suggestions, ladies! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 07-31-2006, 07:54 PM (8 of 14)
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I use Fray Check most of the time but if it is not going to be enclosed or cut off or sewn over I run a few sewing machine stitches back and forth over the tail then trim it. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Kylnne2
Date: 07-31-2006, 11:20 PM (9 of 14)
| Dorothy, you can just use your serger to trim the tails and stitch over the ends to save the step of using your sewing machine. I have done this for years. I picked it up from watching serging programs like Sewing with Nancy etc. Just run the tail through your sergers knives. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 07-31-2006, 11:38 PM (10 of 14)
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Side #1- Start with a tail approx 3" long. Stitch to the end leaving a tail about the same length as what you started with. Side #2- Hold the end tail from side #1 and the tail coming out from under the presser foot, insert side #2 under the foot and stitch about 4 stitches, with needles in the down position lift your presser foot and bring all the tails under the foot to the front of it and hold firm, but do not pull. Drop your foot, hand turn the fly wheel to lift the needles while you wiggle the threads under the needles and then sew another inch or so catching the tails into your stitches. You can then pull the remaining parts of the tails under the blades to cut them. Repeat this on the next two sides, when you get to the last side leave a long tail and with a hand needle feed it back into the sticthes you just did. I always follow with a drop of liquid stitch lock on the last corner and where the tails came out and where cut off. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-01-2006, 06:51 AM (11 of 14)
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I tried securing the ends with the serger itself a few times when I first got the machine but find it easier to spin the chair around to the sewing machine and zip, zip it's done. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: luv2sew
Date: 08-01-2006, 01:25 PM (12 of 14)
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I do not clip threads at corners. I serge to the first corner, stopping with the needle at the edge of the fabric, release the stitch finger (slide forward and back) then lift the presser foot and gently pull the fabric so that when it is turned to serge down the next side the needle will be at the edge of the serged side. Lower presser foot and serge to next corner. Repeat to finish. Then with double eye needle pull the final threads through the back of the stitches. However, the double eye needle does not work well on rolled hem so I use a regular needle to finish. This make nice corners. I use Bernina sergers so not knowing the make of your machine, the stitch finger on your machine may work differently but you should be able to achieve the same result. Hope it helps. Luv2sew
An act of kindness is never wasted!! |
User: luv2sew
Member since: 05-21-2004 Total posts: 174 
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From: blackie
Date: 08-01-2006, 06:07 PM (13 of 14)
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I do not clip threads at corners. I serge to the first corner, stopping with the needle at the edge of the fabric, release the stitch finger (slide forward and back) then lift the presser foot and gently pull the fabric so that when it is turned to serge down the next side the needle will be at the edge of the serged side. Lower presser foot and serge to next corner. Repeat to finish. Then with double eye needle pull the final threads through the back of the stitches. However, the double eye needle does not work well on rolled hem so I use a regular needle to finish. This make nice corners. I use Bernina sergers so not knowing the make of your machine, the stitch finger on your machine may work differently but you should be able to achieve the same result. Hope it helps. I don't think my stitch finger moves at all! I have a Simplicity. I am having a hard time picturing a double-eye needle and why it is any better than a regular blunt needle. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-02-2006, 12:15 PM (14 of 14)
Because its made for this use, it is not round like a real needle , it is flatter and easier to handle. It is a great notion and I have used it for hundreds of times.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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