What Can I Make With A Serger?
Becoming the proud owner of a new serger machine is the first step in expanding your sewing skills and creativity. These invaluable machines are the best tools to put a professional finish on your hand-made garments and sewing projects. Plus, a home serger gives amateurs and professionals alike an opportunity to try out new decorating and embellishment techniques using a wide range of stitches and specialized threads. But you might find yourself asking, “What can I make with a serger?”
A serger can do far more than trim seam allowances while securely encasing the raw edges of a garment or home décor project. If you’re new to this sewing skill, you’ll be amazed at the range of projects you can make with a serger.
Beautiful Knitwear
Sergers are designed to work with a variety of stretchy fabrics. The unique overlock stitches not only produce flat, secure seams, they move with the fabric instead of pulling against it. There are a wide range of threads you can choose from that will work best with the fabric you’re using. Whether you plan to create your own T-shirts, yoga wear, bathing suits, knit baby clothes or sleek sweater dresses, the hems and seams will be smooth, flexible and durable. For knit fabrics, a 3-thread overlock stitch will provide you with the most flexibility.
If you’re new to serging, start out using knits made of 100-percent cotton jersey or a cotton and rayon jersey. These knits are easier to handle than thick sweater knits, silk or polyester.
Sheer and Lightweight Projects
Most home sewers know that putting a clean, crisp rolled hem on sheers, chiffons and silks can often be difficult. If you love creating your own blouses, scarves, lingerie, gowns, curtains or dresses using lightweight fabrics, a precise finish can make or break the piece. The rolled hem feature will create small, nearly invisible stitches while evenly trimming the raw edges on the finest fabrics. This feature eliminates time and frustration, as cutting sheers evenly can be difficult.
When working with sheer and lightweight fabrics, either a 2-thread flatlock or overlock stitch is the best choice for producing strong, clean and flexible seams.
Home Décor
If you love creating custom décor items for your home, a serger can expand your capabilities and creativity. Imagine dressing your everyday or holiday table with an elegant linen tablecloth and napkins, creating your own fabric ribbons edged in metallic threads or adding a personal touch on your hand-made gifts. Making beautifully finished, decorative pillows, soft, warm, knit throws and personalized hand towels are great home décor or gift projects.
If your serger includes a good range of stitch options, you can add decorative elements, including beading, cording, or stitching, to your projects.
Gathers and Ruffles
One of the best features on any serger is an adjustable differential feed. With the touch of a dial, knob, or lever you can control the speed of each of the two feed dogs that move the fabric smoothly beneath the needles. The speed ratio differs depending on your sergers make and model but adjusting the differential will either gather fabric into perfectly spaced ruffles, produce a gorgeous lettuce-edge on sleeves and hems, or slightly stretch fabric to sew perfectly flat, smooth seams on a variety of fabric types, thicknesses and weights. Creating pretty ruffles for dresses, tiered skirts, or hand-made bedspreads are only a few examples of what you can make with your serger.
While it’s true that most sergers don’t offer the same features of a traditional sewing machine, these specialized machines are invaluable in putting a professional finish on beautiful, hand-made items. One of the most impressive advantages is being able to stitch, trim, and perfectly finish a seam, hem, or fabric edge in a single, fast process. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, using a serger to make or enhance your home sewing projects will save you time while producing professional-grade results.
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