Sew Accessories on a Serger
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Sew accessories on a Serger
Make scarves, bandanas, even eco-friendly hankies the quick and easy way with your new best friend - the overlocker/serger. Use fabric remnants as small as 25 x 25 cm and go wild with fabrics that are tricky to sew on an ordinary machine. It's easy to sew sheers and stretchy fabrics with a serger!
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Rolled hem
On the left is a normal 3 thread overlock stitch. On the right, the rolled hem we will be using is a neater, nicer looking finish.
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Set up your serger
Sergers differ, so the best way to set up a rolled hem is to consult your serger manual. Here's how I do it... Use 3 spools of thread and 1 needle (I remove the left needle and use the right needle)
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Adjust stitch width
On my serger, I flick a switch from S to R for rolled hems.
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Adjust stitch length
I shorten the stitch length to half way between F and 2.
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Adjust tension
I change the tension dials from the usual 3, 3, 3 to 2, 7, 3. Your manual will suggest settings to try.
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Snip and rip fabric
For the little hankie shown as an example, use a 25 cm square. Snip edges and rip across to keep fabric on straight grain.
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Hem first side
Run serger without fabric to make a 10 cm tail at start and finish of each side. Line up fabric so it trims about 5 mm as you stitch.
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Stitch all 4 sides
Repeat for all 4 sides. (Unlike ordinary sewing machines, there's no need to raise and lower the presser foot each time you stitch, just feed fabric under it.)
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Tie knots in corners
The serger will trim some tails as you sew, leaving 4 tails. Knot the tails, pushing the knot close to the corner. Trim tail. Add a drop of Fray Check glue to the knot if you like.
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Vary the size to make a bandana
Small hankies are around 25 cm square. Large hankies can go up to 40 cm square. A bandana size starts at about 50 cm square.
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Give some away!
A half metre of 150 cm wide fabric will give you three 50 cm square scarves. Give the spares away to friends!
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Triangular scarves
If you don't want the reverse side of the fabric to be seen, fold squares into a triangle (wrong sides together) and serge the 2 shorter sides together.
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Ride 'em cowboy bib
These triangular shapes make a fun cowboy style bandana bib for kids. Add jeans style press studs to make them easy to take off.
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Rectangular scarves
For rectangular scarves, try 30 cm x 150 cm as a starting size. For the super long (25cm x 2.3m) spotted scarf shown, cut two pieces of 50 cm x 115 cm. Join them (right sides together) to make one long 50 cm x 230 cm piece. Fold in half with wrong sides together (this hides the seam you just made) and serge all 4 sides as before.