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ordered serger, have ordered maxilock thread... (Moderated by Sharon1952, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 1/5/06 12:21 PM ET
i just ordered a 5-thread serger (juki mo-655), in full awareness that it will involve a considerable spike in my thread outlay, and have just bought some in preparation for the machine's arrival. (btw, joann.com has maxilock in a *bunch* of colors on sale for $3.99/cone, and free shipping on orders of $25 or more -- until about 11 jan 2006.)
3000 yards of thread x 5 sounds like a lot, but i have *no* feel for how much *more* thread a serger puts into a seam than a normal sewing machine. have any of you done the math? if not, what does your gut tell you?
i mean, just more or less, realizing that sometimes one uses 4 threads, sometimes 5, and there's variation in thread-sucking depending on the stitch being used.
thanks for any insight!
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3000 yards of thread x 5 sounds like a lot, but i have *no* feel for how much *more* thread a serger puts into a seam than a normal sewing machine. have any of you done the math? if not, what does your gut tell you?
i mean, just more or less, realizing that sometimes one uses 4 threads, sometimes 5, and there's variation in thread-sucking depending on the stitch being used.
thanks for any insight!
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zzz...
Posted on: 1/5/06 12:29 PM ET
Obilot, I have a 4 thread serger, and the 2 needle positions run along similar to a sewing machine in terms of thread usage. I often use a spool of regular "sewing machine" thread in the serger needle positions. The loopers take up 3 or 4 times as much thread in my unscientific educated guess. These are the threads that wrap around the edge of the fabric for a regular overlock stitch. If I have 4 cones of the same color I will rotate them on my serger so that they run out at about the same time. Still, they last a loooong time for me. Enjoy your new serger!
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Kris
Posted on: 1/5/06 12:36 PM ET
In reply to shard
The loopers use much more thread than the needles - something like a 4:1 ratio. I rotate the cones to keep them going down at more or less the same rate.
But you really don't necessarily need an entire stable of colors - you can always use the basics (black, white, red, yellow, green or whatever fabric colors you tend to use) in the loopers and then thread match just for the needles on special projects.
If you really use your new serger a lot (and you'll get a sense of this pretty fast) then you're best off buying thread in bulk from a place such as Atlanta Thread & Supply - you'll get much better prices than you would in a retail store like Jo-Ann's.
Phyllis
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But you really don't necessarily need an entire stable of colors - you can always use the basics (black, white, red, yellow, green or whatever fabric colors you tend to use) in the loopers and then thread match just for the needles on special projects.
If you really use your new serger a lot (and you'll get a sense of this pretty fast) then you're best off buying thread in bulk from a place such as Atlanta Thread & Supply - you'll get much better prices than you would in a retail store like Jo-Ann's.
Phyllis
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Sewing = Fashion
http://coudremode.com/
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
http://coudremode.com/
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Posted on: 1/5/06 12:55 PM ET
*thank you* kris & phyllis!!!
i had been hoping that a part of the 'thread on cones' rationale might be to reduce the frequency of re-loading and re-threading. sounds like that's the case.
also, phyllis, thank you so much for the tip on atlanta thread & supply!
i do hope i'll use my serger a lot. the purchase was a somewhat emotional decision. but my time constraints are such that i really do need to speed things along. from what i hear, a serger will probably be better than just hurrying, once i'm over the learning curve. (i have the 3 of the pr most-recommended serger books on order @ amazon.) :)
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i had been hoping that a part of the 'thread on cones' rationale might be to reduce the frequency of re-loading and re-threading. sounds like that's the case.
also, phyllis, thank you so much for the tip on atlanta thread & supply!
i do hope i'll use my serger a lot. the purchase was a somewhat emotional decision. but my time constraints are such that i really do need to speed things along. from what i hear, a serger will probably be better than just hurrying, once i'm over the learning curve. (i have the 3 of the pr most-recommended serger books on order @ amazon.) :)
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zzz...
Posted on: 1/5/06 1:11 PM ET
I am now buying 10 cones of any given color - 5 for my coverstitch, 4 for the serger and one for the blindstitch. What I've been doing lately is hitting JoAnn's when they have thread 50% off. That makes the Maxilock cheaper than you can buy it anywhere else. They always think I'm crazy. The last cashier asked "are you really going to use all of this?" - I assured her I would!
Posted on: 1/5/06 1:16 PM ET
I must be lucky because my local J's *always* have Maxilock for $2.99/cone.
But I don't usually buy 4 (or 10!) of a color unless it's a basic (white/gray/black/beige/etc.). As long as my loopers blend, I'm OK. I'm the only one who sees the inside and if it's neat and coordinated, I'm good with it.
As for my CS, I usually use regular spools in the needles because I want a particular color and well, they're needles and don't use thread at the same rate.
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But I don't usually buy 4 (or 10!) of a color unless it's a basic (white/gray/black/beige/etc.). As long as my loopers blend, I'm OK. I'm the only one who sees the inside and if it's neat and coordinated, I'm good with it.
As for my CS, I usually use regular spools in the needles because I want a particular color and well, they're needles and don't use thread at the same rate.
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--
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
Posted on: 1/5/06 1:22 PM ET
gigi, that's intense! and yet, not insane!
atlanta thread & supply appears to have 3000-yd cones on sale for $1.99. not sure whether that means all colors, but the price looks really good to me. (wish i'd seen it before ordering from joann.com...)
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atlanta thread & supply appears to have 3000-yd cones on sale for $1.99. not sure whether that means all colors, but the price looks really good to me. (wish i'd seen it before ordering from joann.com...)
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zzz...
Posted on: 1/6/06 2:41 PM ET
Obilot: I'm considering the same serger - the Juki MO 655. This will be my first serger. Hancocks recently had Maxilock serger thread on sale for $1.77 per 3000 yd. cone. I purchased almost twenty cones-three or four of the same color.
Off topic, but where can you find Organ needles? One of the on-line vendors I'm probably going to buy from said ordinary sewing machine needles would work, but he recommended Organ needles.
Thanks. Cynthia
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Off topic, but where can you find Organ needles? One of the on-line vendors I'm probably going to buy from said ordinary sewing machine needles would work, but he recommended Organ needles.
Thanks. Cynthia
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Cynthia
Posted on: 1/6/06 3:56 PM ET
In reply to Runrover
all of this thread information is extremely useful. i'm fond of my 'neighborhood' hancock fabrics, so i'll keep an eye peeled for thread on sale whenever i stop by.
re. organ needles: curses! i just saw some on a site yesterday or the day before, but to save my life i can't remember which. but i also have *no idea* what one would consider to be a good price for them, either.
so. organ needles are recommended for the juki mo-655? that's good to know. i ordered some random needles from my online dealer, just to have some to start with, but will watch this thread for the answer to your question.
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re. organ needles: curses! i just saw some on a site yesterday or the day before, but to save my life i can't remember which. but i also have *no idea* what one would consider to be a good price for them, either.
so. organ needles are recommended for the juki mo-655? that's good to know. i ordered some random needles from my online dealer, just to have some to start with, but will watch this thread for the answer to your question.
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zzz...
Posted on: 1/6/06 5:54 PM ET
Obilot,
If you've never used a serger before I recommend you take a lesson or two. Although an exerienced sew-er I found it extremely frustrating trying to thread my serger when I first got it. There are also some nice tricks which make the whole experience better. I must admit I am one of those 'short attention span' people who learn best by watching/doing and am terrible at following written directions. Oh, I keep my serger 'diapered' because my cat has a thing about eating the thread.
My diaper is a triangle of sheer fabric draped and tied over the top to keep his greedy lips off my thread. I hope you love your serger like I love mine.
If you've never used a serger before I recommend you take a lesson or two. Although an exerienced sew-er I found it extremely frustrating trying to thread my serger when I first got it. There are also some nice tricks which make the whole experience better. I must admit I am one of those 'short attention span' people who learn best by watching/doing and am terrible at following written directions. Oh, I keep my serger 'diapered' because my cat has a thing about eating the thread.
My diaper is a triangle of sheer fabric draped and tied over the top to keep his greedy lips off my thread. I hope you love your serger like I love mine.
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