Serger Questions

[dsf618]

Hi! A friend of mine is giving me a White (brand) serger. What do I use it for? Is it helpful in piecing? I would like to make a t shirtvquilt. If I use a serger do I still need the interfacing? Help!!

[auntjana]

I have a serger. But use mine more in garment sewing. I do use it too for rolled edges on napkins etc. I have seen El use a serger once for a quilt. I emphasize, once! If you piece with a serger, you don't really have anyway of a accurate seam allowance. Then there's the bulk of the thread where the pieces are joined. No I'm not a fan of piecing with my serger. I do use it quite often if I'm sewing dresses and clothes for my littles. I did doll clothes too. It's great to give you a clean finish edge for hemming pants. Oh, another draw back with a serger, is if you get a piece of fabric folded caught in your stitching, you can pick it out, but you have holes left from where the serger cuts the fabric! My BFF was altering a wedding gown for a customer and got part of the skirt of the gown caught and created a big hole! Guess where she added some appliques! So they are useful in some things and not others.

Yes, you need the interfacing on a t-shirt quilt. It stabizes the fabric, lessening the stretch of the knit. Sergers help in relieving raveling, and knit doesn't ravel. So there's really no need to serger edges, except for clean looks on the inside.

Jana

[purrfect-lady]

Deb, I would reiterate everything Jana just said - about a serger and also about using interfacing in T-shirt quilts. I use my serger for making flannel jammie pants, pillowcases, etc., but not for piecing. I will say though, that I had a White serger and liked it, but because I love my Bernina sewing machines my hubby thought I should "upgrade" to a Bernie serger. I gave my White away, bought a Bernie, and it was a big mistake. The White was a much better machine. I wish I had it back.

mary z