fellow seamstresses/sewers: I threaded my serger (finally)

[AmandaRuth]

lolol, it took about 3 hours to get it right, but i did it. man, those things are complicated.

when i was getting frustrated, i took it out on MAGA's via twitter. (doesn't add up to a hill of beans but it makes me feel better)

ok, off to sew up some unique fashion.

[Lindsay]

1. Now that you've done it

(yay you!), the pro trick is don't ever un-thread it. When you want to change thread color, cut the thread from the spools you've been using, leaving a few extra inches with the rest of the old thread still going through the machine. Then tie on the new color to the cut ends and gently pull each thread through all the threading gizmos and the needles. (If your knot is tight enough, you should be able to do that. If not, you can cut off the knot and thread the needles.)

[AmandaRuth]

2. thanks, that is an excellent tip

for sure, I'll do it that way.

[louis-t]

3. How many needles? My family biz was sewing machines.

Spent much of my youth at a desk working on machines.

[AmandaRuth]

4. 4 cones of thread, 2 needles

and 4 tension dials. It is working fine now, but I had a heck of a time getting there.

[zeusdogmom]

5. Those sergers are a royal PITA to thread

One would think there would be an easier way to keep the machine threaded. I spend more time fiddling with mine than sewing with it.

I took my sewing room apart for holiday guests - needed the space for sleeping. Let's see - approaching the middle of February. Sewing machine is up and running, serger still sitting where I stashed it in November. How bad do I want to use it? I've been doing quilting stuff all winter - haven't needed the serger. Think it may sit a bit longer.

[csziggy]

6. Some of the newer ones are self-threading

But I think that takes the fun and challenge out of using one.

This is from someone with a cheap serger who got it threaded and have never figured out how to re-thread the one that broke with my first attempt at using it.

[HeiressofBickworth]

7. I do little sewing, but for the longest time

I longed for a serger. I got over it when I discovered that in a box of attachments I've had for 50 years, was a little gizzmo to attach to the thingamabob on my basic 10 stitch machine that did a perfect overcast stitch making the seam look like it was serged. The big test was a couple of years ago. I found a pure cotton bedsheet for $5, still in its plastic packaging, in an antique store. Couldn't tell how old it was but I figured that at that price I would figure out something to do with it. So, for Xmas one year, I made pillow cases out of the sheet. The double hem at the top was just perfect for the open end of the cases. I sewed up the sides with the overcast stitch and they turned out just perfect. I then hand-embroidered some flowers on the cases and gave them as Xmas presents that year. So, considering that I sew very little, I think I'll stick with my old machine and my box of mysterious attachments. There could be another gem in there!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. I learned something new tonight - I had no idea what a serger was

until I read this thread and went to Google to learn more.