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.

I dream about cloth diapers...

I'm serious....I do.  I lay in bed at night and think about what I want to try next, what I should sell, what combinations of diapers and doublers would work best...it literally consumes my mind.  I would even go so far as to say that cloth diapering, for me, is a hobby.  It's great to have a hobby, but when you're working and in Grad school, your hobby should fall to the wayside every once in a while...

But, it doesn't.  So I'm starting a blog so I can share everything I've learned along the way and hopefully try more new things and share about those also.  It's just fun and I love that I'm not creating my own private landfill full of stinky diapers!

My journey with cloth diapers started last summer when my daughter was about 7 months old.  Since then I've tried prefolds with covers, pockets, fitteds, PUL, fleece, wool, microfiber, bamboo, hemp...the list goes on.  In future posts I will explain each diapering system I've used along with Pros and Cons, and a few pictures for good measure.  I will also post tutorials on how to use different types of cloth diapers for those just starting out.  The options out there can be overwhelming and confusing!  And just when you thought you found the perfect diaper for your child, something will inevitably go wrong...diaper stink, repelling issues, etc.  I will address those as well.

So stay tuned, there's lots to come!

And thanks for joining me on this journey!