Is sewn and turned as strong as serged and turned?

[thekimballs]

I am posting this in Diaper Making because I think it would get moved here if I posted in the regular forum.

There are a couple of WAHMs that I'd like to try, but they sew and turn their pockets (twice along the stitching line, I think) instead of serge and turn. Am I heading for trouble? Is it as strong/durable a seam?

Thanks so much!

[beepsmnms]

Originally Posted by thekimballs

I am posting this in Diaper Making because I think it would get moved here if I posted in the regular forum.

There are a couple of WAHMs that I'd like to try, but they sew and turn their pockets (twice along the stitching line, I think) instead of serge and turn. Am I heading for trouble? Is it as strong/durable a seam?

Thanks so much!

Im fairly new to sewing so I don't quite understand your question but, it seems to me it would be fine, I don't have a serger and lots of people don't either and still make diapers. I've had no trouble with my diapers but I've only had mine a little over a month. The ones I know who have a serger dont turn the diaper at all, they lay it out the way its going to look and serge around it for finished edges. When you don't serge and you Turn and Topstitch after you turn it, you topstitch all the way around it so really its double sewn. Understand what I mean? HTH

[thekimballs]

Thanks--what I'm talking about is a diaper that isn't topstitched. What I've most normally seen is that the diaper is serged right sides together, then turned so you see a clean seam (like most off-the-rack clothes are fashioned). Topstitching is then optional. These are pockets that are made by someone who doesn't have a serger, I'm guessing, so the sewing line has just two courses of regular straight-stitch along it and then the diaper is turned right-sides-out. I'm just not sure if that's a durable enough seam.

[beepsmnms]

I've made pockets as well with no serger and it works fine for me.

[boscopup]

I think it would depend on the fabric. Fabrics that fray - you want to finish the seam somehow. That's the main purpose of a serger. If you don't have a serger for a fraying fabric, you want to zigzag over the edge. I do this with the baby carriers I make - I straight stitch, then go back with a zig zag over the edge to finish the seam. It will be SO much easier when I get the serger.

Most pockets are made from materials that don't fray though - like PUL and microfleece, or PUL and suedecloth, or fleece and microfleece, etc. So in that case, I don't think it would matter that the edge isn't finished.

If fraying fabrics are used, then yes, I think the seam should be finished for a WAHM type product. Otherwise, the longetivity of the diaper is at stake. But I can't think of a fraying fabric that a WAHM would typically use in a pocket diaper.

So based on the assumption that this WAHM is using non-fraying fabric, I'd say that the 2 lines of straight stitching would probably be sufficient. That's exactly what the serger would do. The loops over the edge that a serger does just wouldn't be necessary.

[thekimballs]

Thanks! Good answers all .