My wife sews, a lot, and recently bought a used Serger. This is her first time using it, and she's running into a STRANGE problem. With four spools threaded through the needles, she runs it for a while... and when she stops the thread is no longer through the eye of the needles. The thread didn't break (she had to cut it), but all four threads are no longer through the needle.
Any idea what is happening, here?
First, before your question can be answered we need to know the make and model of the serger. Non of them all thread alike and you definitely have a threading problem, as in "it isn't threaded properly". Did you get user manual with the serger? Many of the manuals can be found on the internet and printed out. If you bought the used serger from a dealer you should take it back there and sit down with the dealer and get a threading demo. If you didn't buy it from a dealer, and there is a dealer of that brand of serger near you, take it in and get a demo.
You are not threading it properly, that much I can tell you, HOW to thread it properly I doubt anyone can tell you without knowing what kind of serger you have.
Val
It's a lot easier to tell you with the make and model number, but for basics, try this:
Firstly, the two right hand threads go through the loopers, which wrap the thread round the fabric, and the two left hand ones go through the needles.
Remove all threads. Check you threading diagram: find out which looper to thread first, and thread the loopers in the correct order. Sergers often have this diagram printed on then inside the front flap that covers the loopers. They are frequently colour coded. For learning, try threading the machine with threads that match the colour coding. If the diagram doesn't tell you which to thread first, start with the LOWER looper - the one that passes the thread under the cloth (you can tell them apart if you wind the machine slowly by hand, using the 'handwheel' on the right hand end: the lower looper stays under the stitch plate that the needles go through and the upper looper pops up above it. Remember always to wind that knob towards you - there's usually a directional arrow on or near it). Once you have the loopers threaded, thread the needles, right then left. Try the machine S L O W L Y: if you get a problem, unthread completely and try threading the other looper first.
Things to check:
Did you release the tension before threading? Some machines need to be dialled back to zero, some have tension release when you lift the presser foot. The thread needs to be properly in the tension disks. Thread it through and give it a tug to make sure. Then dial up the tension again to where it was before.
Did you thread all the guides? Some are easier to miss than others!
Did the needle thread catch in the take-up lever properly? This lever goes up and down, pulling the needle threads like a standard sewing machine.
Is the machine full of wicked gremlins? Unthread completely, turn it off, and go and have a cup of tea. When you get back, they will have gone. ;)
I am now the proud owner of my FOURTH serger since 1996. I've had two Toyotas (a 3 thread and a 4 thread, both pre-loved, and both now with other users), a Huskylock (which I wore out!), and now a Brother: I'm about to buy a fifth, a Bernina. I've also used* a Frister & Rossman, a Bernette, and a Janome, and tried others on and off over the years. They are all slightly different, but like ordinary machines, they all have a lot in common, and that thread/needle problem is one of them. If you trace the thread through the chain off the back, you'll see it HAS broken somewhere, and the loose end got caught in the chain, giving the impression that some magic is at work and the unthreading demon has got to it! It occasionally happens with loopers as well. It also happens to all of us! The only solution is to unthread and start again from scratch.
A lot of folk are overwhelmed by the threading. Just keep doing it. It now takes me about two minutes to rethread my new Brother, and I've only had it a week! I was down to 30 seconds on a good day with the Huskylock before it went belly up and will now only accept two or three threads and rattles like a Gatling gun!
*Used: made more than one garment on them.
She's not leaving a long enough chain when she's finished serging. Serger thread is cheap: might as well do another 3-4" of chain and avoid the rethread.
Kay
I forgot to say that! I leave about six to nine inches, sometimes more. Oh, and cheap fuzzy thread tends to do this more than decent stuff.
Okay, sorry. The machine is a Singer Ultralock with differential overfeed, number 14SH654. She has the manual, and says she followed the threading directions closely while making several attempts.
I don't understand, though, how a thread that is through the eye of the needle can suddenly be outside the needle if the thread or the needle didn't break. Stage magicians make pretty good livings on tricks like this one...
What kind of serger is it? If we know the brand we can probably give here more help. Does she have a manual. It sounds like it's threaded wrong and she needs to study the manual before threading. She should only be threading 2 needles and also 2 loopers. It's best to practice threading with 4 different colors first. Then she can find the problem faster. Has she any books on serging? The give lots of good suggestions as well. Unlike a sewing machine you have a lot of new areas to learn about. Juno
One more thing, sergers have minds of their own. They are beyond reasoning. That happens to mine when the needle is not seated all the up in the slot. Sharon Hayes recommended a needle inserter that can be bought through Nancy's Notions. Best thing ever. It's a bright orange so it's hard to lose and it gets the needle up into the proper position. Juno
Actually if you follow the thread back you will find it was cut and just tucked back in to the seam. It happens and can be anything from user error, the most likely problem to dull knives, looper adjustments, etc. I recommend you let it sit overnight then come back fresh and thread it very carefully again all it takes is one tiny thing off in the threading and it will not sew properly
I looked through the other replies really quickly (and without coffee as it's not done brewing yet....) so I may have missed this but I didn't see where anyone else said it.
I have had this happen from time to time on my serger. When it usually happens is after I've been using the same needle(s) for a while. I normally change the needle(s) in my serger after every project (same as I do with my sewing machine) however there have been times I've forgotten or it's a really big project and needs a new needles in the middle of it. I'm not sure exactly what's going on in there, but I've seen what you're describing. The thread isn't cut. The needle isn't obviously broken. My best guess is the needle gets dull enough that it's bending the eye (which may also have a tiny crack in the side) enough to allow the thread to pass out of it. A new needle always fixes this for me. So try changing the needle (both if she's using two) and see if that helps you out.
HTH
Sharon
Try this link. It's called a 2 needle installer. It may come in other colors sometimes, but this page shows it in orange.
Why not get your wife to join us Matthew? We won't eat her! Sometimes things get twisted in translation when going through multiple parties - a bit like chinese whispers!
If she's got all 4 threads through 1 or 2 needles it's definatley threaded wrong! ;-) I suspect you mean to say she has all 4 threads through the 2 needles and 2 loopers. I've seen it happen on my machine - it's a pain in the $&*!¬! The other interesting similar problem is finding that the thread is coming out the front of the needle rather than the back!
The others have all made excellent suggestions to help your wife, so I won't repeat. I hope she gets it sorted. Sergers have a bigger learning curve than sewing machines.
Sarah
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