Beginner’s Guide to Serging

Are you ready to show your serger some TLC? In this video, we teach you how to change the upper knife and lower knife of your Serger. Sergers, also known as Overlockers, are loved for their ability to quickly trim raw ends. Unlike sewing machines, sergers have two built-in “knives”. These razor-sharp blades are strong enough to cut through thick denim, yet…

Just like a sewing machine, your serger needs to be cleaned and oiled regularly. Remove all lint after each use and oil according to your manual. You don’t need any fancy tools. A simply lint brush or paint brush and sewing machine oil will do the trick. Do not use household oil or grease. Use only sewing machine oil. In addition to…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In this episode, we will teach you how to use a Gathering/Shirring Foot on your serger. Gathering on your serger is as simple as switching your differential feed to 2.0 and increasing your stitch length. However, with the gathering foot, you’re able to gather fabric and attach it to a straight edge while finishing…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In this episode, we teach you about the Lace Application Foot. This foot is great for applying lace and trim of any size to a raw or finished fabric edge. You can even attach lace to lace using flatlock settings. This foot has a built-in guide to protect your lace edge from the knife…

Welcome back to the Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In this episode, we’ll learn about another great presser foot – the Yarn Application Foot. This foot is really more of an all purpose narrow cord foot because it can attach any cord 1mm or less wide. Most people use it to attach clear cord to create a curly fishing line hem. However, it…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging. In our last episode, we learned about the blind hem foot. This week we will dive more into presser feet for your serger. In this episode, we will teach you how to apply elastic using the Elasticator Foot. In our next episode, we will go over the Yarn Application Foot.

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging. In this episode, we’ll teach you how to create a three thread flatlock and a two thread flatlock (using a spreader/converter). You will also learn how to create a blind hem. Flatlocks are commonly seen in athletic wear and dance wear. The flatlock stitch is great for knit fabric and spandex mixed fabric as…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In episode 7, you’ll learn about the Rolled Edge. We’ll show you how to do a wide a narrow rolled edge using a 3 thread stitch. You’ll also learn about a narrow 2 thread rolled hem using a converter/spreader. A rolled hem is a great decorative feature and can be created using all purpose…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In episode 6, we’ll learn how to serge curves and corners on your overlock machine, as well as how to maneuver small circles and cuffs. They can be a little tricky at first, but with a few tips and some practice, you’ll be a pro in no time. If you find your fabric is…

Welcome back to our Beginner’s Guide to Serging! In this episode, we talk a little more about tension and go over how to stabilize you seams and why. Last week you learned how to balance tension for a standard overlock stitch. This week we’ll go over how the fabric weight will alter your tension. However, with serging, you’ll find sometimes tension alone…