While sergers are a bit more complicated than regular sewing machines, they are famous for producing high quality stitches. Few things are more important when serging than the quality of the stitch.
Seaming, overedging, and trimming with a bunch of threads at high speeds is what serging is all about.
Professional looking stitches with vast varieties of applications, make sergers a prized sewing device, although you still need a conventional sewing machine.
In a good stitch, all the threads are where they are suppose to be with tensions correctly balanced. Good stitches are void of irregularities, puckers, and loops.
Problems with stitch quality are a major irritation for serger users. They must be eliminated in order to produce consistent high quality seams and overedge finishes. Stitch problems may include faulty tension balances, irregular stitches, set up issues, and thread breakage. These and other stitch challenges can be overcome, but they require a little common sense, serger care, and basic technique.
To fix tension problems, first fix thread issues. Rethread. Make sure the individual tensions are working on each thread. Use distinctive colors of thread and adjust each thread for balance one at a time.
Hiccups happen. Sometimes stitches just mess up. When they do, check threading, tensions, needles, and snags.
Threading, tensions, and snags are the most common problem sources. So rethread, balance tensions, and eliminate snags. Use good quality threads. Adjust stitch length or width as appropriate.
Faulty stitches often result from faulty set up. This can occur when converting from one setting to another, when threading the machine, or when adjusting the tensions. Be sure to follow your users manual precisely when setting up specific stitches and when converting from one stitch set up to another. If the result does not look right, go back and reset the serger. Rethreading will often correct threading issues. Balance tensions by making certain the threads are properly seated in their tension assemblies and adjusted one thread at a time beginning with the loopers.
To prevent thread breakage, it is essential that you eliminate the causes of the breakage. The common causes include needle issues, tension issues, and burrs. Replace needles. Rethread and adjust tension balance. Eliminate burrs.
Often thread break because it is bad thread. Rethread the machine with special attention to detail. Make sure stitch fingers are clear and threads are drawn under the presser foot behind the needles. Double check tensions.
Generally, when the stitch quality is less than acceptable there are some basic things to check every time. These include needles, thread and threading, tensions, loopers, snag causes, settings, and balance. Replacing needles properly, rethreading properly, and adjusting tension balance are the three basic approaches to solve stitch problems.
Learn more about do it yourself sewing machine repair from Dr. David Trumbles blogs, articles, book s, and sewing machine repair book. Download a copy of your free beginner\’s book .