Serger question

[leighi123]

Ok maybe this is a dumb question, I dunno....

On a serger, can you sew 2 peices of fabric together so that when you open it out on the right side it looks the same as if you used a regular machine?

When I've tried, you can see little horizontal lines of thread all along the seam (on the right side), and its anoying, so I always have to sew it with my other machine, then serge along the same line to make it look nice. Im wondering if there is a way to just do it all on the serger without having to sew everything twice.

Its a singer btw, I dont remember the model # but its the cheepest one you can buy at Joanns

[andisunshine]

Yes, it sounds like your left needle needs a higher tension to keep the stitches from "laddering." It sounds like it is too loose and the threads are showing through because they aren't taut enough to keep the two pieces of fabric together. When you raise the tension on this needle you may need to adjust the looper tensions as well. With my serger I usually need to loosen the loopers a tad.

I just had the thought that possibly you have your machine set for flatlock stitching? This would mean that when you opened your fabric after stitching the seam would lay flat and the edges of the fabric wouldn't be ovelapping, like with regular stitching, but the two edges would be butted up against each other and be only a single-layer thickness.

[leighi123]

I think my machine only does flatlock with 3 threads (taking 1 needle out).

I THINK it is in 'mock saftey stich' settings, but its really hard to tell because it all looks the same to me! what kind of stich and I supposed to be at? Should I be using 4 threads or 3?

I dunno if this helps any but these are the settings I have now -
blue (left needle) 2.5
green (right needle) 3
and the orange and yellow are both at 4

It looks nice for finishing stuff, it just doesnt 'sew' the peices together right.

[leighi123]

Ok you were totally right, my left needle tension was way too loose. I adjusted it all the way up to 4 and now its working!

Thank you for your help!!!


I got this serger of craigslist with no manual so its been a pain to figure out how to use

[andisunshine]

Great! It's so awesome to figure these things out on your own. I once had to learn to use an industrial serger from a skimpy manual translated from Chinese. LOL! It was frustrating to say the least!

And you might be right about the flatlock using only three threads. I haven't tried it with my serger but at least when I do I hope to locate the instructions somewhere in my sewing room.