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Member since 10/20/14
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Posted on: 10/18/17 8:36 AM ET
I am making a top with bamboo. I would like to do the whole thing on my serger. I feel i need a stabilizer in the shoulder and would like to use clear elastic. Problem is my serger doesn't seem to want to grab it. It pushes it away. I did manage to get some to go through after an inch or so. How do i get it to grab it right away? I just have the foot that came with the serger. Any help is appreciated. I would like to do more with my serger than just finish seems.
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Posted on: 10/18/17 9:23 AM ET
Mark the start and end points of the seamline on the elastic starting an inch or two in from the end of the elastic so you've got something to hold onto behind the foot on the serger. Line the beginning mark up with the edge of the shoulder seam and serge the seam with the end mark landing at the end of the seam line. If you need to stop serging mid seam be sure your needles are down holding everything in place. Often I'll sew the seam with a narrow (.3 to .5) zigzag stitch on my sewing machine and then go back over the seam with the serger and elastic.

The elastic is also a good way to stabilize crotch seams in knit pants.

There's also a way to feed things including elastic through the serger foot to keep it in line but I've never bothered with that.

You can also stabilize shoulder seams with either strips of iron on interfacing or iron on tape that comes in a roll for stabilizing seams. that's easier to handle but doesn't have the give of the elastic.
-- Edited on 10/18/17 at 9:24 AM --
  
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Posted on: 10/18/17 10:26 AM ET
In reply to m/m
Thanks for the tip! I wanted to avoid using fusible stay tape on the bamboo because even with my iron on a lower setting and press cloth it tends to leave a scorch mark on the fabric. I will try what you suggested. I may have to sew it first before serging.
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Baby Lock Soprano
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Posted on: 10/18/17 11:43 AM ET
In reply to maggs.n
Good luck. It's fiddlie but gets better with practice.
  
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Posted on: 10/18/17 12:16 PM ET
Depending on my mood I might:
- Start serging on the elastic first, then put the seam in and finish serging. This makes sure the elastic doesn't get pushed away.
- Sew the elastic on before or after serging.
  
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Posted on: 10/18/17 12:39 PM ET
Line your three layers up with edges together leaving a couple inches or so of elastic at the start to hold onto behind the foot if you need a guide. Pin if necessary. Put the "seam sandwich layers ' in under the foot from the SIDE of the foot, with the start of the seam just in front of the needle. Take a stitch or two with the hand wheel to get started. Remove any pins and go!
-- Edited on 10/18/17 at 12:41 PM --
  
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Posted on: 10/18/17 1:22 PM ET
In reply to chickenne
The SIDE of the foot - genius!!! You have just made my day, I've been struggling with this for at least 3 years.
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Posted on: 10/18/17 2:03 PM ET
In reply to Pinkytoo
Thanks! Figured that out while fiddling with the cursed low presser foot on the Ovation. And if you can remember , I usually don't, to rotate the wheel so that the feed dogs are down , your seam slides in easily without bunching up on bottom.
  
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Posted on: 10/18/17 3:38 PM ET
In reply to maggs.n
I always feed the elastic in first once it is feeding add the seam.
Turn the diff off
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Posted on: 10/18/17 3:40 PM ET
In reply to chickenne
Thank you very much! Simple, logical and enlightening! This is what makes sewing a pleasure.
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Baby Lock Soprano
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