This is what a diaper looks like when the maker doesn't know how to serge!

[mum2be]

So I just got my first serger. I have not sewn before I started making diapers, so this is all new.

Anyhoo, I have two to show you. The first one came out okay, but the tabs are a bit wonky.

Front

Inside

Now, this is the one I made today. Does anyone know why the thread would be loose and "hanging over" the edge? I played with the tension, but I'm not sure why it's doing it??

Front

Inside

This is the "hanging over'' thing I was talking about...


As you can see, I have a LOT of practicing to do!!

[AngelBee]

They both look great to me!

Have you sew on a sewing machine before?

I am trying to get started and would like a sewing machine and serger within the next couple of weeks.

[beepsmnms]

Maybe its not just the tension, it could be your over edge cutting dial too, also, my serger the loopers have to stay on 7-9 almost all the time for me not to get the loopies hanging over . You'll get the hang of it. I still suck at it, especially tabs but I think it cuz I get in a hurry for the satisfaction of seeing it all finished. Practice on some wipes or liners or something, i made 2 dozen wipes last night just so I could practice curves.

[Jillbob]

My first, oh, 10 serged diapers were horrible! Those look pretty good, usable even it took me a while to realize i was feeding the fabric wrong. Now i guide the fabric as it's going through so it's always entering the machine (don't know the proper way to say that) as straight as possible. I don't even touch the part that's already been sewn, just line up the cutting line with the blade. I had to crank up my upper looper tension to around 8 too. I go really slowly around curves as well. The best tip I ever heard was get some scraps of what you'll be making the diapers out of and play with them to get the tensions right. It's amazing how changing from 3 layers of flannel, for example, to two layers flannel and 1 layer microfleece will affect everything.

[tuffykenwell]

It looks like a tension problem to me. Something that really helped me understand what happens when you adjust those dials was to make two long strips (one for the upper looper and one for the lower looper). Start with one looper on "neutral" and the other looper on 0 or 1 (whichever your machine starts at). Serge a bit, then put a mark with a marker and go to the next number, continue until you have done all of the numbers and then put THAT looper on neutral and do the same thing with the other strip and the other looper. I keep my strips handy where I can see them and I can adjust my serger in no time for the different types of threads.

Steph

[Candice2boys]

I just made 4-5 fitteds as my first attempt at serging. I sewed in middle school and was relatively okay. I have made wrap style carriers, but thats just straight hemming. My first fitted came out beautiful and I was very proud of it! The 2nd I shredded a wing and the next 2 were better, then the last one was great. I am doing the soakers now and boy have I ruined them! The tension is off since the layers are more and there is MM microfleece. I gave up last night when I ran over a snap with the needles and BROKE BOTH NEEDLES!!! I cried and was so upset. The first place I check is this board in the morning. This is the 1st post and I laughed to myself thinking YAY I'm not the only one! BUT your diapers look great!!! I have my looper tension on 7 or 8 I think. I keep telling myself okay remember they said there is a learning curve to this. I just want my diapers to look like the first one that's all Now I gotta go get new needles and have more patience with it then I had last night

[shalena]

Originally Posted by mum2be

Now, this is the one I made today. Does anyone know why the thread would be loose and "hanging over" the edge? I played with the tension, but I'm not sure why it's doin??

Since your serging looks fine in other areas, it leads me to believe its another problem. (user error )

When you are serging near the elastic or around corners, nake sure not to "pull" the fabric in the opposite direction. Let the serger do most of the work for you, pulling the diaper in under the foot while you gently keep the elastic taut. Otherwise, the the back end of the diaper pulls away from the thread causing the loops.

HTH's, good luck with your next dipes!

[mum2be]

Thanks everyone! I will play with the tension a little bit and see what happens.

tuffykenwell-I like your idea and I will try it out!! Thanks

Candice2boys-I broke a total of 6 needles without running over snaps...so I would say you are doing pretty well!!

shalena-I have to admit...I am a major puller! I keep pulling the fabric, and that's how I ended up with 6 broken needles. But I'm getting loads better. I just need much more practice!

[BlissP]

i'm impressed! I love your fabrics!

[Jayneysews]

Curves take lots of practise!!!
Don't fret!
I think that nappies are actually fairly small things to start your serging life with,I would like someoneelse suggested make wipes and soakers for a few hours and you will be serging like a pro!!!
well done I think they are fine!!!

[tuffykenwell]

Here is my favorite article on serging . My favorite part is page 4 which discusses how to serge curves. It got me serging pretty in no time!

Also you might try using wooly nylon (similar types go by fluffy nylon or similar names). I find it is far more forgiving in terms of tension and even if things aren't precisely correct my serging still looks nice.

Good luck it will get better I promise!

Steph

[our3boys]

Originally Posted by beepsmnms

Maybe its not just the tension, it could be your over edge cutting dial too.

Beeps, are you speaking of the width of the serging? That is what I first thought of when I saw the looper threads hanging of the edge like that.

Going around inside curves can cause the width to narrow a bit b/c the fabric is slightly stretched when you pull it straight in front of the blades/presser foot to serge. You might have to either figure out what widths you need when you are serging straight edges and when you are serging those curves and change the width appropriately, or you may need to find a balance. Sometimes the width needs to be adjusted when your layers/types of fabrics change.

[boscopup]

If it's happening around the entire diaper, you probably need to change the cutting blade width (there's stitch width and cutting blade width - two different things, and you might need to mess with both!). I've never had tension cause loops to hang off THAT much. To check tension, take scraps of your "fabric sandwich" and serge straight lines. Then check the stitching and also make sure the fabric is not curving (then you'd mess with differential feed if it is).

When going around curves, you need to try to get the fabric straight in front of the presser foot - that might include bunching it up in front. That's ok. The serger will pull it through.

Also, are you rough cutting your pattern and having the serger chop some off, or are you using the real cutting lines and just trying to serge over the edge without cutting off fabric? It will help ALOT if you let the serger cut fabric. Give it 1/4-1/2" to cut off, and it will be very happy. I find that I tend to get those loops more if I don't rough cut first.

[cozymama]

this isn't a permanent solution to your problem, but rather a temporary idea until you figure out the problem, you can serge your dipes inside out and them flip them the correct way (as if you were sewing not serging). you can serge the elastic to the outer when it's inside out and this will make the edges around the legs/back roll in beautifuly!! it works well for my aios with pul. i HATE T&T (doing it, not the style!), and sometimes by serger thread doesn't match the dipe i'm sewing, so i serge the inside until you figure out the loopy issue (which i've had too btw, but have no ideas beyond what other mamas have suggested!), you can still make use of your serger!!

[Jcrsmom]

did you by chance pull the fabric away from the needles a bit? To me, it looks like that more so then a yension issue

[allnaturalmama]

May I suggest you check out The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide from your local library? It is indispensable! has great photos of just about any serger issue you'd like to troubleshoot, and all the suggestions for fixing it. I learned a TON about serging from this book, not just how to fix my problems, but just about the mechanics of serging in general.

[capemom]

I just made a diaper with that same dragonfly fabric - got it at Joann's - so cute. Anyway, your diapers look good for your first attempts. You've already received some great advise. I am a fairly new serger myself though I was an experienced sewer. I was frustrated because I had all those loopy things on the edges. I played with the tension for a while and finally decided that the loops were caused by the way I was feeding the fabric through the machine. You just can't tug on it at all. Now, I really concentrate on making sure that the fabric is not getting pulled away from the needles - hard to do, especially around curves and such. My serging is much neater now. Keep practicing. I've made 8 or 10 diapers with my serger and the last one actually looked pretty good.

[tippytoes26]

hey those look pretty good! I haven't read all the replies on the looper thread problem and I'll bet you get great advice on how to fix that. But, I did want to mention something that I found out.. If you can get your hands on some wooly nylon (make sure you get a looper threader too.. it makes it so much easier to thread the loopers with this stuff), it shrinks up a bit in the wash. So when you serge with it, you actually want it to not be too tight up against the cut edge. Then, when you wash and dry it, it snugs up just a little. You can also set your serging on a longer stitch length with the wooly (I find it much easier to serge using a longer stitch length) because it spreads out more an gives better coverage. It can be a tad spendy, but I enjoy serging with it more because it covers small mistakes better IMO.

Amber

[mum2be]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try all of your suggestions. I was kind of frustrated yesterday and decided to turn and topstitch my latest diaper attempt. It came out pretty well. But I definitely like the look of serged diapers better.

I'm going to keep practicing. I'm running out of hemp fleece though!! Where can I get more?

[Jayneysews]

Serging is nice and fast too!