Re: Handy Hints

Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

I took a look at the book and it has one of those options that let you get a random glance at a topic. I happened to see part of a section on benefits of using a serger for doing patchwork. I've seen this elsewhere (some TV program?), so I am supposing that it is not uncommon to use a serger instead of a regular sewing machine for this purpose.

I do not have a serger, so I'm totally unfamiliar with them. I do have some questions:

- Do very many people use sergers to do patchwork?

- Would a serger only be useful for doing larger, less intricate patterns?

- Has anyone seen a quilt that was sewn with a serger win a competition?

Thanks, Bev in TX

Bev, I have done some quick piecing with my serger, very simple stuff. Don't' know about prize winners with a serger though. Remember, when you use a serger you are putting a lot of thread into that seam. That means that it is bulkier. And you can't easily "pop" the seam allowances to allow you to press the seams in the same direction around an intersection, so one corner will always be very bulky, and the diagonally opposite corner will be very non-bulky. This can lead to uneven wear. If you look at your clothes that are made with serged seams you will notice that there is wear along the seam both at the stitching line and at the edge of the seam allowance. This will really show on a quilt. Another aspect to consider is that a serger is not as accurate as a regular sewing machine. It is more difficult to get an accurate quarter inch seam.

That said, a serger does sew a lot faster than most home sew> I took a look at the book and it has one of those options that let you

I don't know about piecing, but I have seen tops where they went around the edges with one after being pieced on a regular machine. They were store displays and so I image that the serging was to keep the seams from being pulled and the edges from fraying while on display. Not a bad idea for tops that aren't going to be quilted right away I guess.

I have wondered about using one to sew the binding on, and if that would make it lay nice and be easier to turn to the back - anyone??

DS made his queen size quilt with the serger when he was in the 8th Grade (now 31 yrs old). Had it Pro quilted. He's used it daily since and hasn't had to repair any seams or had any break thrus. Haven't looked that closely for wear on edges. His Sis admitted hers is falling apart once again with daily use......made on the normal SM....both kidlets are busy sleepers so I'd say usage is about the same.

HTH Butterfly (no, they didn't enter them in any contests)

I sometimes go round a quilt with the serger when quilting before binding as then you don't have batting hanging out to catch and I hate the feel of polyester batting on my hands, for the same reason I sometimes bind before quilting.

Marion in Newtongrange

I do like to trim the edges of my quilts before binding with the serger. But don't think I would like to actually attach the binding with the serger. Again, not precise enough to miter the corners nicely. YMMV, I was just this afternoon "accused" of being too much of a perfectionist with my own work.

Pati, > I don't know about piecing, but I have seen tops where they went around the

Years ago I saw an Eleanor Burns quilting show on which she used a serger to piece. At that time I thought that was really fast but now that I own a serger I don't think I could accurately sew small quilt pieces together with it. EB certainly doesn't recommend it now--at least any show that I've seen her on lately . Mary in VT

SNIPPED: > I took a look at the book and it has one of those options that let you

Well, it was just an idea I had. I don't have a serger, and have never used one, so I have no idea how well they handle various situations. I just thought that if they trimmed the edges for you and attached the binding all in one it would make things faster and having everything sewn together may make turning the binding easier. I guess it would depend on what you were going for quick, easy, done and ready for heavy use or something that looks nice. Thanks for the input on using them for bindings.

If that is all you were wondering about Charlotte, I would say that using an oversewing stitch on your ordinary machine - even plain zig-zag

- would work OK, and you could be much more accurate about its width. . In message , Charlotte Hippen writes

Thanks Patti. I think I'll just stick to what I've been doing. Just didn't know if that would work well as another use for those quilters who happen to have the machine already or not.