Great. Top ten reasons you need a serger
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Been wondering why you'd want a serger? Here are the top ten reasons to add one to your sewing room:
Number 10
Sergers are fast! Most sergers sew at least 1000 stitches per minute (spm) and many go as fast as 1600 spm. In addition, a serger sews and finishes the seam at the same time, cutting down sewing time considerably.
Number 9
Sergers give a professional finish to seams. A serger trims the seam to an even width then covers the edges of the seam with beautiful stitches. Not only does this look great, it also keeps your fabrics from fraying, something that could result in failure of the seam.
Number 8
We all know it’s important to stretch and sergers create a seam that will not break when stretched. Seams made by sergers are not only prettier than those made with the stretch stitch on a “regular” sewing machine, they hold up much better to the strains of stretching.
Number 7
Sergers do more than just sew a seam and finish the edges. They can create decorative flat lock stitches that you can use to embellish your project. Flatlock seams lay flat with no seam allowance, adding a colorful decorative seam to you project. Some sergers (those with 5 threads) can create cover stitches as well, so you can hem your knits quickly and professionally.
Number 6
It’s easy to finish a hem of delicate fabrics by using a serger rolled hem. You’ve seen these hems on scarves, organza, and swim wear fabrics. Ever tried to make a narrow hem on your sewing machine on these types of fabrics? It’s tough! A serger does this task in a matter of minutes and all you have to do is set the machine for rolled edges and run the edge of the fabric along the seam guide.
You can make napkins in minutes with a rolled edge and if you add woolly nylon to the loopers, the threads fill in any gaps between stitches creating a beautiful, store-bought-looking edge.
Number 5
Sergers make your home-made garments more durable by using 4 or 5 threads to make a seam. Should one give way (unlikely), the seam will likely still hold.
Number 4
Differential feed helps knit seams lay flat. Sergers with differential feed have two sets of feed dogs --one toward the front and one toward the back. The speed ratio of these feed dogs can be adjusted for fabrics that stretch or pucker.
You can also use differential feed to quickly gather lightweight fabric by adjusting the stitch length, tension and setting a high differential. You’ll think it’s magic as gathers appear in your fabric behind the presser foot.
Number 3
You can easily thread a serger by tying off the outgoing thread with the new one and then just running your serger until the new threads are incorporated. You do have to re-thread the needle(s) though, as the knot you made to tie the ends together won’t go through the needle’s eye. This tie off technique though saves much time and the occasional frustration associated with threading the serger’s loopers.
Number 2
You can get different feet for the serger – ones that will help sew welting, elastic, lace, pearls, cording, blind hems. Of course, the availability of different feet varies by machine manufacturer.
And the Number 1 reason to own a serger:
She who dies with the most machines wins!
So, if you think you might need/want a serger come by Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum and test drive one of the models we have on hand. We carry a variety of manufacturers and models. In addition, RMSV offers free machine use classes at each of our locations, so once you buy that serger you are not left to figure it out on your own.
Come by and see us today at any of our four locations:
5458 S. Parker Rd
Aurora,CO 80015
720-870-2711
7330 W 88th Ave Unit J
Arvada,CO 80021
303-404-0370
5611 N Academy Blvd
Colorado Springs,CO 80918
719-597-8888
8601 W Cross Dr Unit P1
Littleton,CO 80123
303-979-2334
Number 10
Sergers are fast! Most sergers sew at least 1000 stitches per minute (spm) and many go as fast as 1600 spm. In addition, a serger sews and finishes the seam at the same time, cutting down sewing time considerably.
Number 9
Sergers give a professional finish to seams. A serger trims the seam to an even width then covers the edges of the seam with beautiful stitches. Not only does this look great, it also keeps your fabrics from fraying, something that could result in failure of the seam.
Number 8
We all know it’s important to stretch and sergers create a seam that will not break when stretched. Seams made by sergers are not only prettier than those made with the stretch stitch on a “regular” sewing machine, they hold up much better to the strains of stretching.
Number 7
Sergers do more than just sew a seam and finish the edges. They can create decorative flat lock stitches that you can use to embellish your project. Flatlock seams lay flat with no seam allowance, adding a colorful decorative seam to you project. Some sergers (those with 5 threads) can create cover stitches as well, so you can hem your knits quickly and professionally.
Number 6
It’s easy to finish a hem of delicate fabrics by using a serger rolled hem. You’ve seen these hems on scarves, organza, and swim wear fabrics. Ever tried to make a narrow hem on your sewing machine on these types of fabrics? It’s tough! A serger does this task in a matter of minutes and all you have to do is set the machine for rolled edges and run the edge of the fabric along the seam guide.
You can make napkins in minutes with a rolled edge and if you add woolly nylon to the loopers, the threads fill in any gaps between stitches creating a beautiful, store-bought-looking edge.
Number 5
Sergers make your home-made garments more durable by using 4 or 5 threads to make a seam. Should one give way (unlikely), the seam will likely still hold.
Number 4
Differential feed helps knit seams lay flat. Sergers with differential feed have two sets of feed dogs --one toward the front and one toward the back. The speed ratio of these feed dogs can be adjusted for fabrics that stretch or pucker.
You can also use differential feed to quickly gather lightweight fabric by adjusting the stitch length, tension and setting a high differential. You’ll think it’s magic as gathers appear in your fabric behind the presser foot.
Number 3
You can easily thread a serger by tying off the outgoing thread with the new one and then just running your serger until the new threads are incorporated. You do have to re-thread the needle(s) though, as the knot you made to tie the ends together won’t go through the needle’s eye. This tie off technique though saves much time and the occasional frustration associated with threading the serger’s loopers.
Number 2
You can get different feet for the serger – ones that will help sew welting, elastic, lace, pearls, cording, blind hems. Of course, the availability of different feet varies by machine manufacturer.
And the Number 1 reason to own a serger:
She who dies with the most machines wins!
So, if you think you might need/want a serger come by Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum and test drive one of the models we have on hand. We carry a variety of manufacturers and models. In addition, RMSV offers free machine use classes at each of our locations, so once you buy that serger you are not left to figure it out on your own.
Come by and see us today at any of our four locations:
5458 S. Parker Rd
Aurora,CO 80015
720-870-2711
7330 W 88th Ave Unit J
Arvada,CO 80021
303-404-0370
5611 N Academy Blvd
Colorado Springs,CO 80918
719-597-8888
8601 W Cross Dr Unit P1
Littleton,CO 80123
303-979-2334