3 thread overlockdecorative stitch troubles ?

Aug 22, 2009 3 Replies

I am making kid size place mats by cutting large sized mats in two pieces and serging the cut edge. I double stay stitched the mats on both sides of cutting line, then cut and then serge over the stay stitching.



The mats are a heavy weave cloth with a big yarn looping back and forth and small colorful yarns/threads making the design.



After i overlock on the fine setting for a decorative edge finish some of the threads under the serging start to poke out and the edge starts to look like a bristle brush.



None of my serging books address this issue other than one that talks about putting some sort of tape over the edge before serging.



Is there a way to make the sered edges **look** better ? how to fix the bristling threads ?



thanks for any helpful replies



robb



.

They are usually called 'pokeys' coz they poke out!

I use wooly nylon, and have been known to go over the edges of things like this twice. Just set the stitch a bit wider for the second pass, and cut all the pokeys off before you send it through a second time.

You might also try shortening the stitch length.

Rats - the note about remembering to disengage the cutters for the second pass was supposed to be to this one, not the one on commercial machines!

mats

line,

[trim]

to

things

second pass,

time.

Thanks Kate,

and I did catch your other reply about the knife for second pass.

Thanks again for help, robb

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