Hi folks...
My wife has started making some T-shirts for me. But when I put them on, you can tell there's no stretch in the seams and if I stretched it just a little more, the cotton in the serged seams would break. She is stretching the material out as she sews, so it contracts again once it's serged, but it's still not stretching like a normal T-shirt.
Is that the right thing to do? If not, how to make the seams "stretchable"?
Allan.
Dear Allan,
Your wife should be used polyester thread to sew the seams. It comes on cones, specifically to be used on sergers. There is no need to stretch the seams as they are sewn; the seams should be sewn on the serger. The only part of the shirt that should be stretched is the neck band, when it is applied to the neck.
If she is sewing on the sewing machine first, then serging to finish the edges, this is the problem.
Teri
Hi Teri... I just checked - thread is 100% spun polyester. I didn't think she was using a straight stitch on a sewing machine, just the serger/overlocker - so I just asked her. Seems that's what she was doing alright. (Overlocking the edges, then straight stitching the hem!)
Thanks...
Allan.
G'day Allan
If a poly thread is being used, then you might need to check the tension. Don't stretch knit fabrics while being sewn, they don't always go back to their original shape.
Have you tried using woolly nylon?
H> Hi folks...
also, if needle thread on the serger is too tight, that will cause popping too.
I didn't see "HC's" message in my newsreader, so I'll answer it in this message as well as Penny...
Ok, thanks.
SHHH!!! She has enough material/buttons/cotton/overlockers now!
Which makes me think of another question... We have a serger that does cover stitch along with the overlock stitching. If my wife uses that to make T-shirts, will the cover stitch on that machine break like the straight stitch on the normal sewing machine is doing??
Allan.
(Just) Allan wrote:>
It shouldnt. Coverstitch is commonly used commercially to hem and seam knits.
I agree with the others that it's probably the tension set too high somewhere. If the serger manual is not helping, look for a serger book that includes coverstitch information. It should show how to adjust the tension. Try the library first, then book stores.
maer
My cousin is very short-waisted and not very tall. I have altered all her tee shirts & sweatshirts on a regular sewing machine with a twin needle, straight stitch using wooly nylon thread in the bobbin, for quite a number of years, and when her DM was alive, I did hers as well. Now that I have a serger with a coverlock stitch, I told her today, I was going to switch and use it in the future. She asked that I continue as I've always done. It seems another cousin has a coverlock serger and did a shirt for her recently. She said it did not hold up as well as the ones I do. I do not know what brand our other cousin has because we don't live in the same state. I always thought the cover stitch would be best, but to her, it is not. Go figure. OH, Happy New Year to all. Emily
G'day Allan
On the normal sewing machine, use a stretch stitch....OR...very fine zigzag as a straight stitch will break because it doesn't stretch with the knit fabric.
I made a dozen (or more) Tshirts last month and used my overlocker (4 threads) to do the side and shoulder seams, but used coverstitch (with woolly nylon in the loopers) to do the hems. It gives a more professional finish and I've had no thread breakages anywhere.
I still think the tension on your machines is too tight....back them off a little and see how they go? Test on scraps of similar fabric.
Bronwyn ;-)
(Just) Allan wrote:
"(Just) Allan"
IMHO a person can never have enough notions, fabric, sewing machines.............But don't ask what my husband says about that!
(Just poking fun LOL!)
I also agree with the wooly nylon and the thread tension being too tight possibly.
Michelle Giordano
DH keeps hinting darkly that my sewing loft may fall in, if I keep adding to my stash!
As far as T-shirts...I don't own a serger, but have made jillions of cotton knit baby garments and shirts with henley-style collars for golfing. I use the vari-overlock stitch for seams (4 short stitches or so on the seam line, then zig over the raw edges, 4 more short stitches, another zig, etc.) and do hems with the 4mm stretch double needle, regular thread. Never have had a problem with the thread popping.
Doreen in Alabama
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.