November 29, 2007

A REAL LIFE LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP

Yes, I'm having a "REAL LIFE LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP" - with who?...no with what! My serger! When I sewed before I had several excuses for not owning a serger. 1)I felt I couldn't afford it. 2)It looked too complicated to use. 3)I was afraid of it because of the knife. Well this time around I decided that I had had enough with finishing seams by zigzaging; although effective, it just took too much time. So I took the plunge this past summer and made the purchase.

I really love my serger but I just hate threading it. I did learn to the tie on method of changing the thread color so I don't actually have to thread it that often, but Lord if that lower looper happens to become unthreaded or the thread break for some reason I' in for it. That's where the hate part of the relationship comes from because there have been times where it took me an hour just to get that looper threaded. Something happened when I placed it in my travel bag for the return trip home from Thanksgiving with my DD and the lower looper thread broke. Egads!! @#)))((*&^@!*#^^^ Can you read that language? There have been times when I was tempted to serge something black with the white thread that was already on the machine so I wouldn't have to thread that looper. Had to forego that because I know it just wouldn't be right. But it was a thought.

Here's a picture of my current project - The Butterick Mock Wrap Dress that I cut out on Tuesday and started sewing it on Wednesday and did get the bodice started. I had to work late tonight so I didn't get to sew any. Wish I knew how to make my pictures lighter.I'm going to make a slight alteration where it wraps in the front. If I do the alteration now I won't have a big problem with the cleavage area gapping after the dress is finished. The dress has a biased facing on the front and neck edges. I hand basted the bodice side seams in order to check my fit and think I need to use a 1" seam allowance when actually stitched for a closer fit. Pattern instructions call for set in sleeves but I'd much rather put them in flat but just remembered that the dress will have a side zipper. I think I'll still be able to do the flat sleeve application even with the zipper. We will see.

10 comments:

  1. You might already know this, but it took me 8 years to discover it... when rethreading the machine, I just cut the threads the old spools, put on the new ones, tie tight, small knots to connect each of them, and pull each of the new threads through the machine one by one.

    Do you do that?

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  2. Baaaaaaaaabbbbbbyyyyyy I totally feel your pain! LOL!!!

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  3. I am on my second serger and eagerly anticipating buying a newer model with more features and I still have days when I want to kick it out the window when changing the threads, believe me you are not alone!

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  4. Anonymous11/30/2007

    What type of serger do you have that it would give you so much trouble threading? It took 5 trips (45 minutes each way) to the dealer to master threading mine after I had it for almost 6 months. I was glad when I had an "aha" moment. Now, it's a matter of habit. I never did master the tie-on method.

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  5. I have a singer 4 spool (3.4 overlock with differential feed). Could have bought it at Walmart for about $50 cheaper but opted for the Singer Store so I could get assistance with the machine. The lady at the store gave me 1 quick threading lesson, and I've taken it in on one other time for threading help and the woman looked at me like I was crazy for coming in.

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  6. You've only had the serger since this summer. Before you know it, you will have more "love" and less "hate" in your relationship. Yes, sometimes the last thing I want to do is rethread, but most times I hardly realize I'm doing it.

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  7. Yeah, I understand how you feel. I mastered the tie knots method and just run the machine 'very slowly', otherewise it's a big pain to thread those loopers too!

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  8. Sorry about the love hate problem! BUT I can say that fabric is GORGEOUS. I just bought some at hancock in the purple accent!

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  9. Anonymous12/04/2007

    I purchased my first serger about 10 yrs ago. A Bernina 2000DCE. I love it, it has always performed flawlessly. Some years ago, notice I said (years)! I was lucky and 4 huge/very huge..lol...spools of fine serger threads were on sale in a shop I frequent. They are beige coloured. I "installed" them on my serger and they have been there ever since. No one has ever asked me why my black pants are serged with beige thread...lol...
    When this colour is done, I'll install grey colours because I do sew darker shades mostly.
    I guess I just want to say, don't sweat the serger thingy. Choose a neutral coloured thread and forget about it.

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  10. Very impressive dress! Looks great.

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