Friday, August 17, 2012

Introduction to Sergers

Have you ever looked at the inside of your clothing and wondered what kind of machine makes that type of stitch?  Usually there are two lines of sewing plus thread that loops over the seam to keep it from fraying.  The machine that does all of that is called a serger.



When I first started making diapers I really didn't know what sergers were all about.  When I found out, my mind was blown!  A machine that sews, finishes hems AND cuts off excess fabric all at once?  Awesome... I was sold.

A serger is a valuable tool in cloth diaper making.  It can be used to make fitted diapers, soakers, doublers, and liners.  It comes in pretty handy when making clothing, giving your seams a professional look.  I also use my serger to finish the edges of woven fabrics before I prewash them so they don't fray.

When I was ready to purchase my first serger I did lots of research and decided on the Brother 1034D.  If you frequent any diaper sewing message boards, you'll see that this is a popular model for beginners and advanced sewists alike.

It is easy to thread and adjust and powers through fabrics like a champ.  With a price tag under $200, it really is a great investment if you are serious about sewing.

In future blog posts, I will show you how to thread the machine and also share some serging techniques to make your projects look more polished.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about sergers or how to use them and I'll try to address them in another post.