Serger Thread Question

You should only use serger thread in your serger. You can use serger thread in your regular sewing machine, but do not use regular sewing thread in your serger, and never ever use embroidery thread for anything but embroidery.

Serger thread is made to withstand the higher speeds that sergers operate at. Regular sewing thread is not, and will break.. Embroidery thread is generally 2 ply, smaller diameter, and is not as strong as regular sewing thread, and therefore should only be used for embroidery.

me

As another response stated, no one should not use normal sewing thread with a serger. The high speed operation of the machine will cause you nothing but problems, and you'll have enough on your plate just getting started with your new toy! *LOL*

Woolly nylon serger thread is quite strong and resilient, while 100% long staple polyester is a good all-purpose choice and always gets my vote. Cotton and cotton/poly blends can break at higher tensions/speeds and tend to be quite linty, but can give good results. The following threads can also be used for special projects/decorative effects, read your owner's manual however to see if they will work with your machine: decorative rayon, silk, metallic, narrow ribbon, buttonhole twist, pearl cotton and lightweight yarn.

Depending upon how easy it is for you to thread your serger, you may find it easier to settle on one type of good thread, in a neutral colour that works well with your machine and most fabrics. Guterman or Maxi-lock are some popular brands. This way all you will have to fuss with when starting a new project is perhaps adjusting the tension. Threading a serger is not as simple as threading your sewing machine (well not to most anyway *LOL*), and it is something most users tend to avoid having to do often. One neat trick to learn is how to cut off the end of a current thread, and tie on a new spool, then slowly bring it through the machine, thus avoiding having to totally rethread the unit from scratch.

Best of luck!

Candide (who has a "new" Bernina 335DS on the way)

I just finished taking classes for my new Huskylock 936 serger, and the instructors told us we can indeed use regular thread in it. The serger comes with special spool caps to be used for this purpose, in fact. The trick, they said, is to set the serger at a slower speed.=20

Wooly nylon is nice and stretchy, and used in the upper and lower loopers for rolled hems and edges. It is nice, stretchy thread for seams on active wear, swimwear, lingerie, knits, children's clothing or a nice finish for napkins, table cloths, etc.

You can use indeed use embroidery threads for a decorative finish, such as in the upper looper.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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I see woolly a lot, what is this? I am assuming embroiderery

Wooly nylon is a fuzzy specialty thread that is used in the loopers when seaming activewear fabrics.

I would not personally take the advice to use the cheapest thread you can buy. I have found that cheap is cheap, and is only good if you want seams popping and thread breakage on a regular basis.

Penny S

I agree with Penny 100%! I have tried to save pennies before buying cheap serger thread. Never ever again. There were slubs in the thread big enough to spit it out of the tension disks. It popped all over the place. Messiest seams I ever finished were with cheap serger thread. Finally gave those cones to my DD for her to mess with. (She did wonderful things with it and some big cheapy plastic beads when she was about 8! lol)

I've been very happy with Maxi-Lock. That's about all I will use.

You can usually find it at Hancock's. If you need to order online:

NAYY HTH

Sharon

Will have to amend my previous statement about not using regular sewing thread in a serger. My "new" Bernina owner's manual gives directions for threading with serger thread, industrial cones and regular spool thread. Machine came with several little disks one uses to fit over spool thread for even feeding. Manual also suggests one can use darning cotton (which one has tons of), but not sure if they mean the three ply stuff in my stash.

Cheap thread is just that, and cannot see any benefit of choosing the right fabric, pattern and so forth only to run something up with any old cheap tat. Thing is bound to end in tears or at least someone ready to commit murder. Now finding top shelf thread like Maxi-Lock, Mettler, or some such at a "cheap" price is quite another matter.

Atlanta Thread is wonderful! Almost one stop shopping with great service and an excellent selection.

Candide "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper." Quentin Crisp 1908 - 1999 _+_+_+_+_+_+__+_+_+_+_

I must endorse this heartily! I don't use cheap thread. I *DO* use bargain thread, but that means factory hop bought cones from the mill! My personal preference is for Empress Mills thread here in the UK> They have a great selection of colours and you can buy it in both cones and cops. It also works well in the ordinary sewing machine.

or with a rolled seam, use wooly nylon to give the rolled edge some body and the threads pack up close

duh i think i know what a cone is ? but what are cops?

Smaller, straight sided tubes onto which 1000m or so of thread is cross-wound as it is on the cones. They are useful if you only need a small amount of thread in an unusual colour. I usually buy 5 of one colour for specific projects: 4 for the serger and one for the machine. Empress do all their colours in both polycore (polyester core with a cotton wrap) in at least two weights and 120's poly (standard weight poly serger thread).

See here for their different threads (NAYY, just a happy customer for many years):>