New to sergers - suggestions?

[mainegirl]

Hi mamas!

I finally bit the bullet and got myself a serger. Since I couldn't afford a new, nice, shiny one I opted for a vintage Baby Lock EA-605. It's green. I'll have to admit that was one of the things I liked about it (along with the fact it was under $50).

Anyway, I know nothing at all about sergers and I need to get an instruction manual for this one...I've been able to find them to buy online, but I was wondering if anyone out there might happen to have one I could trade for?

I also wanted to ask if you sergemaster moms have any advice or tips or definitely-DON'T-do-thats for someone just learning to use a serger?

I'm excited and scared all at the same time!

- Jen

[jillyofthevalley]

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[momto l&a]

All I can say is threading the thing is a pain...
So cut the old color long enought to be able to tie into the new color. then run the serger on a scrap of fabric to run the the thread through.

Enjoy!

[mainegirl]

Originally Posted by momto l&a

All I can say is threading the thing is a pain...
So cut the old color long enought to be able to tie into the new color. then run the serger on a scrap of fabric to run the the thread through.

Enjoy!

That is an awesome suggestion, and one I would never have thought of. Thank you!

I was actually sitting here yesterday worrying over how to thread it. Isn't that funny? The new Baby Lock sergers have some sort of air blowing thing that threads it for you, but alas I can't afford one of those!

- Jen

[rubelin]

You actually got a great deal, vintage BabyLocks rock! I have one and also one of the new ones with the jet-air threading, and I use them about equally. My old one is BL3-418, a little older than yours, I think. They are really simple, there should be a threading chart in side the door just in case a thread breaks. I you can take some pics I could probably help you figure out what everything is.

[luvtjones]

I was lucky to get an able-to-borrow-indefinitely serger from my mom. I've never even learned how to sew a button and my husband was teaching me to use the sewing machine but I've found the serger to be a piece of cake compared to the machine!

The threading is the nasty part. Took me all afternoon. Get a good book from the library once you figure out the threading thing. I got "The new Sewing with a Serger" by Singer at the library and it was a huge help in learning how to use it.

Start out with old crappy material you have lying around at first. My first projects were cloth wipes and doublers. They are kind of funny shaped but I think you can disable the knives on the serger so you can just serge and not trim the fabric.

What I've learned for me is that it would be easier to just trace and cut out the material myself, then serge it. I don't really like the knives because the serger moves so fast it's hard for me to get the rounded corners nicely shaped with the knives trimming the fabric. They get really lopsided. And I prefer the rounded corners because you can serge all around and back over the first stitches to secure them. Doing square corners was a huge PITA for me (perhaps someone with more knowledge could tell me an easier way to do square corners??).

Hope that helps and good luck! You'll love using a serger!!

[calmom]

momtol&a's suggestion was awesome! I've never thought to try that.

I wanted to add to be patient with yourself. Threading sergers canb e a pita, imo and many problems that people have with their sergers can be corrected by rethreading the machine.

christie

[Irishmommy]

I can never get the tension right, no matter how much I adjust. What am I doing wrong? It's put me right off - I got a brand new serger for my birthday 4 years ago, and have used it maybe twice. It's such a shame.

[calmom]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

I can never get the tension right, no matter how much I adjust. What am I doing wrong? It's put me right off - I got a brand new serger for my birthday 4 years ago, and have used it maybe twice. It's such a shame.

nak that is a shame! what is your machine doing? what fabric are you trying to serge? and what serger do you have? theres gotta be a way to get that machine running!

[Irishmommy]

I was mainly using cotton, but I've tried with different fabrics. I can't remember the make offhand, I'll dig it out tomorrow and look.