Lucky estate sale purchase Saturday. Don't know what I'll do with it - I can't make drapes or slip covers. I'm dreading the learning curve but could not refuse the price with 10 rolls of thread. It was marked $ 50.00 and they sold it to me for $ 20.00 because there was no plug with it and I couldn't test it. I took a chance. My Wife went back to the sale the next day and found the plug with the foot petal - they didn't charge her. Only one time I made arm covers and just made a 1/4 inch hem on the edge and it worked fine so not sure how I can incorporate this into the arsenal.
Do many of you use this kind of machine and if so please tell me some goods points why I have this -
SA
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Have one? Yes
Use it? absolutely! There are so many thin fabrics today and they FRAY!
Comment: You have a 4-spool
Mine is a 3-spool Baby Loc and very well made.
Baby Loc now makes a 8 - spool with a long throat; Cost over $1600 because that is what the standard throat sold for. The 8 spool is used for very decorative requirements (example - fancy quilting).
You have what the typical upholster would ever need.
Doyle
by the way, that Singer is strong as iron. Years ago, it was the machine a lot of furniture used (the walking foot actually came out to meet auto and marine canvas workers).
There are many feet available for this machine. Japan made a console copy of the Singer and
I have it. There are fabrics that are too thin to run through a compound walking foot machine.
Lucky You!
Doyle
Serging is fun. Threading is really not that big of a deal.
Why do you have it? Only time will tell.
What brand of serger is it? I bought a Juki that I can actually do a 5 thread overlock with. Only stitch I can do involves 3 stitches and it worked well the couple of times I did it. I was supposed to work at our local "Buckle" for 6-8 weeks while their alteration spet was out for knee surgery. One day a week. Mostly hems but some actual alterations. At the Buckle you don't cut off the existing hem, you cut material off about 1/4 inch above the existing hem. serge the two pieces together, press and then narrowly top stitch. If done correctly, you can hardly see the top stitching. That's where I fell in love with serging as the knife clips off any unevenly cut fabric while serging. Fabulous!
One of my retirement goals is to become better friends with my Juki. I have a book with small projects you can make which is supposed to make you serger friendly.
I have 300 choir seats to do. I serged the bottom so I don't have to staple any kind of bottom cloth on the bottom of the seats.
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Sofa: nice idea. 300? That'll keep you busy for awhile.
I have two sergers.
One serger I use to serge the edge of thin, loose weave, or stretchy fabrics. I don't do this very often but it's great to have when you need it.
I will occasionally serge the edge of arm guards so I don't need to sew in a hem, if the serger thread looks great. I had a fully upholstered chair with cream colored fabric and a secondary green fabric used for the welt cord. Serging the arm guards with green thread really looked kool.
If I want to sew gathered fabric, I use the differential on my serger to serge the fabric. This is an awesome time saver. Instead of sewing on elastic banding, I can sometimes use the differential to gather the fabric.
One my second serger, I don't have any thread in it. I run all my welt cord through the serger to cut a perfect 1/2" lip. I know this is an extra step but this is how I was taught and I do it out of habit. I never have to worry about not having straight lines on my cushions.
gene
Oh Boy!
Now I'm going to have to look for a serger. I haven't used one in 30+ years but remember going next door and using the girls there for big pieces of fabric. All these other ideas sound cool also.
Mine is a Toyota Differential SL-1T. The last owner was using it with one needle and three spools just doing a rolled edge. I want to get it going with all the stops. Difficult to get parts - I was finally able to track down the Asian Co. and order a new thread stand that was cracked - from Aisin Seiki Co, here in the States. No where else on line was I able to find parts.
What is the differential adjustment - Gene you mentioned it briefly could you expand ? Doc your machine looks like the one I'd rather have - battleship ready - not too much plastic -
SA
Quote from: SteveA on April 29, 2018, 07:23:57 am
Mine is a Toyota Differential SL-1T. The last owner was using it with one needle and three spools just doing a rolled edge. I want to get it going with all the stops. Difficult to get parts - I was finally able to track down the Asian Co. and order a new thread stand that was cracked - from Aisin Seiki Co, here in the States. No where else on line was I able to find parts.
What is the differential adjustment - Gene you mentioned it briefly could you expand ? Doc your machine looks like the one I'd rather have - battleship ready - not too much plastic -
SA
I don't use the second needle in mine either. I did at first, but the "safety stitch" created by the second needle seemed to serve no purpose for me.
I really like the cutter (knife) doing its thing. I'm excited to finally (in a few months) have the time to learn how to use my serger. I also have a long arm that I've never gotten anywhere with. The gentleman who services my industrial machine said he would work with me on the long arm.
I use my domestic (Bernina) for sewing, embroidery and quilting. I purchased two different types of rulers/templates so I can do most of what you see on quilts entered into shows. I'm currently quilting a t-shirt quilt that I've made for my oldest brother. It measures 106 x 106 and it's doable on the Bernina but cumbersome. Would be much easier on the long arm if we were friendlier for each other.
Retirement fun ... I can hardly wait. 82 days and counting.
Virginia
We bought a new Juki serger last year from Toledo Bob. I used it once and then let Ingrid deal with it. All I know is it is a heavy duty 5 thread model that will sew several layers of acrylic and will sew with V92 thread. It sure as hell wasn't cheap.
Ingrid has been using sergers since she was a teenager doing alterations and dress making. What I know about serges you could fit into a thimble. It is essentially her machine. I stay clear of it. She knows sergers inside and out. I know enough to stay away from it.
Paul, if you want to stop by the shop and take it for a test run, help yourself.
Mojo
My main issue with sergers and clothing is that any more seams are serged rather than sewn with a conventional sewing machine. Serged seams, when they tear, generally lose the entire seam whereas a conventionally sewn seam will just pop 3 or 4 stitches. I can see using them for hemming drapes and so forth but any seam that is going to be torqued, like center seams in clothing, need to be sewn more securely.
So if anyone see a serger for cheap let me know please? I know nothing about them and don't know how much it would be used so I don't want to spend alot on one. Someone has one sitting and collecting dust in a give away kinda mood. :)
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Paul if you want this Toyota I'll send it to you. I will never use it enough to be worth keeping. It's the model SL-1T look on line if you think it will work in your shop. It needs a plastic platform thread stand (cracked) - parts are available from Seiki Co. including cutters etc. I have another light duty Singer that has a setting to stitch an edge in a pinch.
SA
That would be great Steve, Something to play with to see how it will work for us. Let me know costs and I'll send you a check.
Thank you very much.
Been reading up on this and it seems like it should do what I think it will do. This is great. I'll send my address in a private message Steve.
Nice little machine there. I wonder what is the difference with commercial vs home-type? My little brother is solid metal. I don't think a serger will work with the nylon type of parts found in home sewing machines.
Quote from: 65Buick on May 01, 2018, 08:13:57 am
Nice little machine there. I wonder what is the difference with commercial vs home-type? My little brother is solid metal. I don't think a serger will work with the nylon type of parts found in home sewing machines.
Some of the little home sergers will struggle with upholstery weight fabrics. My industrial Juki serger will handle any weight fabric. But it will only accept lightweight serger thread. I believe Mojo said that his will sew 92 thread. For my needs, I only need to secure raw edges, so lightweight serger thread is fine.
The great thing about serger thread, it's insanely cheap compared to upholstery thread. About $3 for a 3000 yd cone.
Paul can I use the email address on your web site.... is that your best contact so I can make arrangements to ship it to you ?
SA
Sure Steve. I did leave you a PM also. But the website email is good. Thanks
I have an 4 thread Elna. I was told it is a heavy domestic 😂 whatever that is. I use it on sunbrella cushion fabric & when I make up custom bedding.
This machine can do overlock & coverlock but I can't be arsed to change it over. So waste of money there..lol..
I did trial an industrial version once but found it to temperamental ( threads & needles breaking) and limited to one stitch style. The domestic is far more useful for what I do.
I also have domestic embroidery machine, just in case 😉
Suzi
Hey Steve,
I finally found some time at the shop to play around with the serger. Figured out how ti thread the thing for two threads. I pulled out the threads you had left in the thinking I want to figure out how to so I'll know. Won't do that again LOL. Anyway the third thread gave me issues I haven't figured out yet but I think two will suffice anyway. It worked great. It will be used for arm caps and head throws.
I did try the rolled enge with only two threads and it worked fine. Just had to move the trimmer out of the way but I don't know how to keep the seam allowance even doing that. I doubt I will have a use for the rolled edge thing anyway. I'm happy with the edge serging.
Thanks again. I owe you one.
All the best to you Paul - enjoy using it -
Steve
I saw on IG a very respectable designer/furniture maker in LA serges her edges before upholstering. I've thought of that before but I can't see why it's worth the time. Even for cushions.
Some fabrics just fray enough to test your patience -
I have a pinking shears that's good and sharp and does the job
SA