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Member since 10/7/08
Posts: 150
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Posted on: 1/21/11 8:00 PM ET
I have a brother 1034D. I know it is a popular serger on these boards. Do any of you have tips on how to make ruffles using this serger?

What settings do you use? Do you use the ruffler foot? For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to make ruffles.

Is it easier to just make the ruffles by sewing a basting stitch on a sewing machine and pulling the threads?

Please help.
  
Member since 7/3/09
Posts: 69
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Posted on: 1/21/11 10:37 PM ET
I don't have your machine but since you don't have any other answers yet:
I raise my needle tension to the highest number, same with the Differential feed. I leave my stitch length at medium. See if that gives you the results you want. I THINK that changing the stitch length gave me tighter gathers but honestly don't remember. And I don't have a special foot.
Hope that gives you a start while waiting for another reply. Good luck!
  
Member since 1/16/08
Posts: 216
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Posted on: 1/21/11 11:52 PM ET
Just got my serger at Christmas and haven't done any ruffles with it yet. But this question got me thinking -- Is it possible to gather the center of a say 1" strip (ruffles on both sides)?
  
Member since 6/28/09
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Posted on: 1/22/11 3:52 PM ET
I just raise the tension on the left needle to max. You can try shortening the stitch length if it's not gathering enough for you. You can also stitch a second time to make more gathers. If you have too many gathers, you can just pull the ruffle ends and make it a little wider.

I gathered with my serger on my last project and found that I prefer just using my sewing machine. I think the gathers can be made a little neater and are easier to control with the basting stitch method. I was doing a hem for a toddler jumper, so the ruffle strip was in a circle, and I found it was hard to get the gathers to loosen up since there weren't really any "ends". Every time I tried to pull the ruffle wider, the gathers just shifted to another section. If I pulled harder, I risked the threads snapping. Maybe I just need more practice.

Here's a link that mentions the one-step ruffle (just tightening the needle tension):
One step serger ruffling
------
angie
http://danikate-designs.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 8/29/06
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Posted on: 1/22/11 5:47 PM ET
In reply to kcstarr49
Since you also mentioned using a basting stitch on a sewing machine and pulling the threads...just a FYI...remember to set the tension within the 2 to zero range so that the bobbin thread can be easily pulled. This is an old well known...but often forgotten technique. To completely remove the stitches pull the bobbin thread all the way out and the top thread will lift off...no picking with a seam ripper.
  
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