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Member since 9/16/04
Posts: 96
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Posted on: 7/23/08 6:18 PM ET
Hello,

I tried, well, I did do it, but I am not particularly happy with the result of my lettuce edge hem on an onionskin dress. I was able to get the stitch okay, but it is the ending of the stitch that gave me fits! When I would approach the end of the serged hem (which is where I started) on the dress and move the fabric out of the way of the knife, the fabric would also move away from the needle. This left a hole, or blank space between the beginning and the end of the skirt hem. I tried several times, much to the shortening of my dress, to figure out how to end at the same point I began, but to no avail. Finally, when I would approach the end, I would stop with my needle down in the fabric, open the serger door and raise the knife so it would no longer cut the fabric, then resume sewing on the edge until I overlapped the hem. Due to the lettuce edge, the hem looks fairly even and affords me some grace.

I am not sure what the problem is: The knife blade is at 1 for cutting width, so is it because I have very little room to shift the fabric out of the way? Or, is it because the fabric is so thin and light that it needs more width to stay under the needle?

Is there a better way to do this? I have looked in all my serger books, and found nothing on how to stop and start a lettuce edge in a circle.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.
  
Member since 1/22/06
Posts: 1183
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Posted on: 7/23/08 6:46 PM ET
I'm not sure how wide the stitching is on your particular machine at that setting, but when I do a lettuce edge I drop the knife and stitch past the beggining of the stiching, then raise the needle and pull the threads to the back. To tuck the "tail", I thread a darning needle and run the ends under the hem on the backside of the garment. Add a little dab of Fray Check and nip the threads.
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Formerly sew*itch
  
Member since 9/16/04
Posts: 96
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Posted on: 7/23/08 7:48 PM ET
In reply to Big Dog
THanks so much for your advice. When you say "drop the knife" does this mean disengage it? in other words, not cutting the fabric? On my Bernina, I raise the knife, but it sounds like the point is to NOT cut anymore once you get back to the beginning. ANd thanks for the tip on tucking the tail.
  
Member since 6/6/05
Posts: 2626
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Posted on: 7/23/08 7:55 PM ET
In reply to Terri Smith
Terri - I was reading a Singer sewing book last night and was intrigued by a method for finishing off serging that they recommend.

It involves releasing the stitches from the stitch finger and to do this they bring the needle up, release the tension, pull the thread above the last needle guide so there's a bit of slack and then pull back on threads on the stitch finger so that they come off.

You can them turn your piece over, pull the thread to the front right under the foot, and serge back over the end thread and what you've already done to end.

I haven't done this but it looked good. I can't recall if they said to put the knife out of the way or not, but probably would be good.

You could try it on a sample to see if it worked. I'm going to because it seemed like a fantastic idea. I usually use the needle method though.
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Maree - Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 1/22/06
Posts: 1183
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Posted on: 7/24/08 9:01 AM ET
In reply to Terri Smith
Quote: Terri Smith
THanks so much for your advice. When you say "drop the knife" does this mean disengage it? in other words, not cutting the fabric? On my Bernina, I raise the knife, but it sounds like the point is to NOT cut anymore once you get back to the beginning. ANd thanks for the tip on tucking the tail.

Yes, to disengage mine it drops below the bed. I just stitch until I'm very close to the starting point, leave the needle in the fabric, disengage the knife then stitch a bit past the starting point, raise the needle and pull toward the back of the machine, then bury the thread tails.
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Formerly sew*itch
  
Member since 9/16/04
Posts: 96
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Posted on: 7/24/08 1:12 PM ET
In reply to MareeAlison
Maree,

Thank you for the tip, but I am afraid I would need to see this before I would try it. I am somewhat of a visual learner and while I think I understand what you are saying, I usually don't get the drift until I see it.

Thanks again, Terri
  
Member since 4/17/06
Posts: 1724
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Posted on: 7/25/08 12:16 PM ET
In reply to MareeAlison
Which book was this in?
  
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