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Sewing knits without a serger. (Moderated by Sharon1952, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 6/3/10 10:31 AM ET
I have a project going where I just need to sew a few small seams and decided to just whip them up on the sewing machine instead of rethreading the serger. Ack!!!
What a pain. I ended up trying two different machines, changing needles, ripping out the most crazy seams I've ever sewed and just driving myself nuts. I was about to change machines and get out the walking foot, but realized it would be ever so much easier to just rethread the serger even for a tiny job that had already taken about half an hour....
Not really asking for advice, but it made me understand why I used to be so frustrated sewing knits and why it is sooooo nice to have my serger!
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What a pain. I ended up trying two different machines, changing needles, ripping out the most crazy seams I've ever sewed and just driving myself nuts. I was about to change machines and get out the walking foot, but realized it would be ever so much easier to just rethread the serger even for a tiny job that had already taken about half an hour....Not really asking for advice, but it made me understand why I used to be so frustrated sewing knits and why it is sooooo nice to have my serger!
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 6/3/10 10:39 AM ET
In reply to tourist
I sewed knits on my sewing machine for years by doing two rows of a narrow zigzag and trimming close to the outside zigzag. Used a ballpoint needle of course.
What particular problem are you having?
What particular problem are you having?
Posted on: 6/3/10 11:16 AM ET
I've pretty much quit using my serger on knits and only use my sewing machine. I use a universal needle in my Pfaff 2140 and a narrow zz stitch length2 width1.5.
I even use this stitch on a turned over edge and hems.
Wendy in NM
I even use this stitch on a turned over edge and hems.
Wendy in NM
Posted on: 6/3/10 11:20 AM ET
In reply to tourist
I still sew knits on my sewing machines once in awhile, not often as I do prefer my serger, but when I do use the SM, I go with a straight stitch, straight-stitch foot, small hole needleplate and the IDT on the Pfaffs or Viking interchangeable walking foot on the Espire.
But with the BL serger it's faster to rethread and use it than to set up a sewing machine. I heart my serger.
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But with the BL serger it's faster to rethread and use it than to set up a sewing machine. I heart my serger.

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I heart Woo (HimmyCat). Until we meet again, my beautiful little boy. I love you.
Posted on: 6/3/10 11:39 AM ET
Thread jams, bunching fabric, skipped stitches, one machine sewing zig zag but the stitches coming out straight! Urg....
Ballpoint needle eventually and that didn't help much. It was a 4 way stretch lycra. I have since successfully sewn it on to a piece of stretch lace, which you would think would be the harder fabric to deal with.
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Ballpoint needle eventually and that didn't help much. It was a 4 way stretch lycra. I have since successfully sewn it on to a piece of stretch lace, which you would think would be the harder fabric to deal with.

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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 6/3/10 12:59 PM ET
In reply to tourist
I usually use my serger but ocasionally will sew a knit on my sewing machine.
I use a universal needle, .5 width x 3.0 length zigzag. The narrow width does look like a straight stitch and the length allows for stretch and recovery.
4 way lycra is tricky because it has so much stretch. Sometimes I've resorted to placing a strip of solvy between the fabric and feed dogs, which helps tame it somewhat.
Oh yeah, almost forgot...I sometimes use a bit of Solvy at the beginning of the seam to prevent it from being sucked into the bobbin area.
-- Edited on 6/3/10 1:00 PM --
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I use a universal needle, .5 width x 3.0 length zigzag. The narrow width does look like a straight stitch and the length allows for stretch and recovery.
4 way lycra is tricky because it has so much stretch. Sometimes I've resorted to placing a strip of solvy between the fabric and feed dogs, which helps tame it somewhat.
Oh yeah, almost forgot...I sometimes use a bit of Solvy at the beginning of the seam to prevent it from being sucked into the bobbin area.
-- Edited on 6/3/10 1:00 PM --
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Now blogging at http://sewwest.blogspot.com
Posted on: 6/3/10 1:08 PM ET
In reply to tourist
Add to all of this that some sewing machines just don't like knits.
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Oops, forgot what I was going to put here.
Posted on: 6/3/10 3:08 PM ET
In reply to tourist
I generally use my serger for knits but recently I needed to make a couple of tops in a big hurry and didn't have the enough thread for the serger so I just sewing on my industrial single needle.
It was so quick and easy to do BUT it did not look nearly as nice on the inside as when I use my serger. I always try to make the interiors just as pretty as the exteriour so I'm not 100 percent thrilled about.
I've actually done this more often that I care to admit to and I noticed that the tops are holding up very well even with out been overlocked.
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It was so quick and easy to do BUT it did not look nearly as nice on the inside as when I use my serger. I always try to make the interiors just as pretty as the exteriour so I'm not 100 percent thrilled about.
I've actually done this more often that I care to admit to and I noticed that the tops are holding up very well even with out been overlocked.
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"I am still learning" ~ Michelangelo
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I finally have a blog!
You can visit it at
www.zigzagthesewingrag.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finally have a blog!
You can visit it at
www.zigzagthesewingrag.blogspot.com
Posted on: 6/3/10 9:13 PM ET
In reply to tourist
I always sew knits with a sewing machine as I don't have a serger. Nor do I want one. I use a small multi-zigzag stitch, with a stitch length of about 4 (if your dial goes up to 5) and the width of the zigzag on the narrow side. (This is when I'm using my old Singer. On my other machines, I have a stretch stitch)
Thread jams, bunching fabric--sounds like it's your machine that doesn't like knits. Could it be a Janome? As my Janome gives me problems like this. It's the box feed feed dogs. The older machines don't have this; they go up and down and not in a box motion like the newer ones. If I'm sewing a knit on my Janome, I hold onto the threads coming ouf of the back of the machine when I start to sew (oooh! such a bother!). This is the only way to keep the problem from happening.
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Thread jams, bunching fabric--sounds like it's your machine that doesn't like knits. Could it be a Janome? As my Janome gives me problems like this. It's the box feed feed dogs. The older machines don't have this; they go up and down and not in a box motion like the newer ones. If I'm sewing a knit on my Janome, I hold onto the threads coming ouf of the back of the machine when I start to sew (oooh! such a bother!). This is the only way to keep the problem from happening.
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"Play the cards you are dealt, but choose who is sitting at the table"..AARP magazine
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My blog: http://auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com/
Posted on: 6/3/10 11:03 PM ET
In reply to Miss Fairchild
One was a vintage machine and one was a newish entry level Janome. The Janome is fine with the walking foot, but this was one of those quickie things - a 6 inch seam - that I just wanted to knock out and move on. A single hole needle plate would undoubtedly help, but the vintage machine has zig zag.
I'm going to blame the fabric this time, I think!
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I'm going to blame the fabric this time, I think!

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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
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