Sewing without a Serger

[Former_Member]

Do you sew with just a regular sewing machine? I'm trying to get my seams looking nicer, but just find I wish I had a serger (okay... I had one given to me but don't have the money to get it looked at/tuned up and pay for lessons... hopefully soon though!!!).

All your shops look so lovely. I am just wondering if you do your sewing on just a standard machine. Any tips on seam finishes you find are best?

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

I use a serger. I know some people that don't have a serger use a straight stitch to do their seams and the go back over it with a zigzag stitch on the right side of the seam to keep the material from fraying. Make sense? Otherwise there's always pinking shears, or if sewing knit there's usually a stitch thats a stretch stitch. Hope this helps some.

[missymaetutus]

I will stitch with a straight stitch and then do a zig zag stitch to the right of it and then also use pinking shears to the right if that:)

[Former_Member]

If you have exposed seams go over all exposed edges with an overcast stitch and then sew up the garment as planned. The items in my shop all have enclosed seams so this is not a problem for me when selling. However, garments that I make for gifts that have exposed seams I do the above. It keeps the edges looking nice, finished and not at all frayed.

[Former_Member]

I do French seams. I want a serger though. One day I will make enough money that it will be worth it. :)

[Former_Member]

I do not have a serger either. I use a straight stitch, then use pinking shears to trim the edge. I also press the seams open so that they look nice and neat. I include in my listings that I use pinking shears and press seams.

[susanstreasures]

I have a serger, but workspace is limited, so I ziz zag exposed seams.

[TouchofComfortHome]

I have to admit, I have a serger, and I LOVE it! It is definitely a lifesaver and it makes things look so nicely. I agree with those who have said they do a french seam, it also looks very nice. In a circumstance that you don;t want to much bulk though I like the idea of the pinking shears.

[Former_Member]

Before I had a serger, I used the overcast stitching (with a special foot) for exposed seams. Now that I have a serger, I use that and it's such a time saver!
Flowerbubbles: I think if you have one, it may be worth the money to have it looked at if you're working with a lot of items with exposed seams.

[Former_Member]

I could not live without my serger. I use it for every garment I make. I wore out my first machine and just purchased a new one to replace it. lol

Flowerbubbles - what brand and model is your serger? Lessons are really beneficial, but have you also tried going on line? There are so many articles and video tutorials that can help you.

It's a cryin shame to see an idle serger..... :>)

-cheryl

[villageneedler]

I do french seams on all exposed seams

[Former_Member]

I iron a 1/4 seam and then fold down to cover exposed edges. I also use bias tape and hem tape.
pinking shears work in a pinch!

[Former_Member]

I haven't got a serger, and I have just learned that one should use a straight stitch before zig zag stitch. I'll try that, thanks!

[FelixFunhouse]

Omg i want a serger! I always double fold, then stitch..dunno what thats called but that's what i do haha. A serger would be awesome!

[Stoffenjunkie]

If anyway you can buy yourself a serger, it is so much faster and way more professional looking. I honestly can't imagine sewing for others and selling it without it...

I'm sortof a nut about having the inside of my garment looking as neatly sewn as the inside. I use a coverstitch for the hems of my knit items, 4 thread overlock for sewing knits and 3 thread for finishing woven items.

I even cover the overlockstitch on the necklines of my jackets (like the one below) with a nice ribbon.

If a serger is really out of reach you could use a french seam which incases the unfinished edge or finish it with a biastape.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97385453/farbenmix-baby-jacket-unisex-hoodie-sz-3

Greetings from The Netherlands,

Denise

[FelixFunhouse]

im gonna have to look into getting one..I only used one once in home economy so it'll be interesting lol

[Former_Member]

I use the French seam, but would LOVE to have a serger. I seen one at a Wal-Mart store for 200.00 nothing fancy. I am curious how well it works. Does anyone know?

[Former_Member]

I don't have a serger but would like one. I do french seams which take a few minutes longer but I prefer that look to the serged seams. I think if I had a serger, I probably would like the serged look as well!
Shirley

[NinaJeansYarnShop]

I love my serger! It is well worth the investment in a good one. I had a cheap one for a while and it was a nightmare after a few years of use. If you don't have one though, I would say that french seams would be the way to go. You could overcast the edges with a zigzag or overcast stitch. Some machines do this better than others, so you would just have to experiment with it a little and see what works for you.

[DivineChildDesigns]

I have an overlocker (serger to you all) and it's brilliant, but sometime I may ziz-zag the seam as I have a special foot on my sewing machine or use a French, or a welt or a flat fell seam; they are all self neatening and what I use depends on the effect that I want to get.

[Former_Member]

I definitely prefer french seams and when that is not possible bias tape, hem tape or overlocked stitch. I'm much more old-school and coutoure and can't afford a serger just yet anyways. I just don't like the look of serged hems.