a serger---what is it for exactly?

[freestyler]

I am an avid quilter but love to make clothes for our four kids between quilts, or just for a fun break, or whenever they need stuff. Or when I need new skirts or something! A few people have suggested I get a serger to speed up garment construction. Aside from sewing and hemming things in one step, why do people buy these things? They look intimidating! All that thread! Can you mammas explain what you use YOUR sergers for and why you love them? I'm putting down a deposit on a Janome serger today. I am sure that everyone who is a sewing expert that tells me to get one...I am sure that they cannot all be wrong! I find it very tedious to go back and zig-zag every stupid hem. Goodness, it is like twice the work. Even my machine finds it boring.

Edited to ask: What is this I read about a serger cutting fabric? Don't I do that before I start sewing/serging? What is it supposed to cut? Can it also do dishes?

[KariM]

Mine doesn't do the dishes, but maybe it's just holdin' out on me.

What I love about the serger re garment construction is that I DON'T HAVE TO FINISH SEAMS!!! woohooo!!!

Yes, it cuts, but only a small amount - 1/4" or so - of the seam allowance. It cuts off the excess and finishes AND sews the seam at the same time.

There are more things you can do with it, too, like blind hems, etc. I'm pretty much a novice with it - have had it less than a year - but wonder why I didn't get one sooner!

I also have used it to mend/repair things like frayed towels and washcloths.

[freestyler]

Is it hard to learn to use? All that thread scares me! I'm sick of finishing hems, definitely. Do you make a lot of clothes on yours? I LOVE making skirts for all our girls, PJs for our DS and for DH (they like to match!), and skirts for myself. I also love making flannel PJ bottoms for our swimmers to wear to meets.

[deditus]

Skirts and pj pants are my fav thing to serge!

[falcon]

Ok, I just got my serger as a holiday gift, but I'm looooving how much quicker I can complete my sewing projects with it. I love how I don't have to go back over everything with a zigzag, and I can put in an elastic waist much quicker too (here's a tutorial I found about how to do that!)

[KariM]

Originally Posted by freestyler

Is it hard to learn to use? All that thread scares me! I'm sick of finishing hems, definitely. Do you make a lot of clothes on yours? I LOVE making skirts for all our girls, PJs for our DS and for DH (they like to match!), and skirts for myself. I also love making flannel PJ bottoms for our swimmers to wear to meets.

I bought a low end Brother serger and it came with a great DVD that has video clips to show how to thread the machine. The manual was easy-to-follow, too, though. My model has four spools, so it does seem like a lot of thread, but it's not that scary once you use it a few times.

I've sewn four skirts for me so far and two pairs of pajama pants for my DD. I used it for part of a fleece jacket for my DS (other parts needed a sewing machine. Depending on the garment, you can use the serger for all or part of the garment construction.

[scrapadoozer]

Originally Posted by freestyler

Is it hard to learn to use? All that thread scares me! I'm sick of finishing hems, definitely. Do you make a lot of clothes on yours? I LOVE making skirts for all our girls, PJs for our DS and for DH (they like to match!), and skirts for myself. I also love making flannel PJ bottoms for our swimmers to wear to meets.

It's not really all that hard to thread, it just takes a few minutes the first time. After that you can just tie new color cones to the old color cones and pull them right through!

I primarily use my serger for making garments. I don't think I would ever want to sew clothes without one now. It speeds up the construction time, makes the seams stronger and makes the finished product so much more professional looking.

Oh, I have a Janome 634-D and I can not recommend it enough to anyone who might be in the market for a serger.

[p.s]

[freestyler]

Janome....I'm a Janome addict. I put a deposit on the Janome MyLock 734-D serger. It has a free arm, which is important. It's sitting in the store with my name on it!

Keep the ideas coming mammas!

Nice clothes, PS! I love the Favorite Things line so much!