Gods help me, I've commited serger

[chowmama]

I got one. It's a Brother 1634DX.

I've thought about an interlock machine for a while, but never used one. My original really old beginner model sewing machine had an overlock stitch, so I used that for knits. When it finally bit the dust (hard), I inherited my mom's old 1971 Bernina Record. It's lovely and solid, but no overlock. I've done knits with a zigzag, but it's really not ideal.

So I was at Joann Fabrics a week ago to see if I could pick up some fabric for a scrub top. (An old one wore out and I could have gotten one from our standard source for free, but I like to have a few really beautiful ones. Got a batik on sale that coordinates with both colors of scrubs I'm allowed to wear.) And I saw the machine on sale for about 25% off.

Went home and did research to see if it was well reviewed and it seems that it'll suit my minimal needs. Went back today and got what turned out to be the last one in the store. (Although I could have still ordered one in, so it wasn't that desperate.)

Oh, crap. I've got a serger. I guess I'll have to learn how to use it. I do have some fabric I need to turn into a long-sleeve shawl neck with enough left over for a jewel neck short sleeve t-shirt. I've got about a month of previous project to finish first, but I guess I know how I'll be spending this summer.

Why do I do this to myself?

[IA8IT]

1. Urge to serge shall not be denied. Good Luck

[Tetrachloride]

2. My area has a bunch of cast iron sewing machines

anyway old

[COL Mustard]

3. So now you can perform serge-rey?

Figured I’d say it before someone else did.

[Beatlelvr]

4. I inherited my grandmother's

Singer Featherweight, year 1948. Not fancy but does what I need it to.

[Scrivener7]

5. Crafts are crack.

[Srkdqltr]

6. If you make clothing the serger will be very useful.

[surrealAmerican]

7. If my experience is any guide ...

... sergers are not hard to use, but they are extremely difficult to thread.

[chowmama]

8. Well, I guess a serger doesn't do everything...

I've got it correctly threaded, and it produces a nice chain, seam and seam finish. I cheated on the lower looper. I could figure out the other looper and the needle threads, but there were instructions that didn't make any sense, or I couldn't see what they were referring to. It had been a floor model, so it came already threaded with 4 different color threads - I finally tied my new thread to the old one and just pulled it all the way through. I'll figure it out later.

So I'm playing around with it and some scrap knit fabric. It looks good. I've cut out a t-shirt using an old knit sheet and I'm starting to get ready to sew (serge?). Then I realized - this machine doesn't have a stretch stitch. Since the shirt has a jewel neck, some stretch is going to be needed if I want to get my head through it. I looked through the instructions, went on the internet, played around with the settings - nothing.

It's not a deal breaker - I'll just turn around to the Bernina and sew the neck the way I always do, with a narrow zig-zag. I'm going to have to use that machine anyway to ease the side seam. There's one area just where the sleeve ends and the side begins, where I have to ease 4 inches of front into 3 inches of back. It's subtle, but it makes a little extra three-dimensional space for boobage. I can't figure out a way to do that on the serger, either.

I'm still looking forward to not having to do a seam and a seam finish in 2 different steps.

[chowmama]

9. Ok, I can stretch stitch

Apparently I have to use a 3 thread stitch, not using one of the upper needles. I'll start practicing with that now.

I'm not that excited about the manual that came with the machine. I'm sure the info is in there somewhere, but it's not that easy to find; it doesn't seem to be for real beginners. However, I frequent my local used bookstores and got a couple of books - one is for beginners and one claims to have more advanced 'couture' techniques. (I haven't fully explored that one yet.)

You often find things in used books, as well as written-in notes from previous owners. It's one of the things I like about them. The beginner's book contained a yellowed folded paper sheet from Butterick, of all places, that was a handy quick reference even though it isn't about my machine. (It actually doesn't say what machine it does refer to, and the internet doesn't mention a serger/overlock made by Butterick, although they do seem to make sewing machines that may also serge.) This, and the book itself, supplied better guidance about what/where to explore.

So, more fun. I know I'm being ridiculous about not wanting the first trial to fail. It's not really fabric for a garment I could wear for anything but a work shirt. But I don't like to do 'muslin' trial garments that just get thrown away. I usually do something from fabric that isn't as special as the one I plan to end up using but still makes something I can use. It's just something that wouldn't break my heart if I did have to throw it away.

If I ruin the two fabrics that I plan to use eventually, I'm going to be 'sum pissed'. Old knit sheet, not so much. Just keep thinking that.

[demigoddess]

10. I'm in the same boat. Someday I will have to get going and use it!