How to Serge with a Singer Sewing Machine? Sewinglogs
Serging is the technique of closing the seams on your fabrics with locking movements that will trim the seam and make it neat. Yes, you can always close the seams on the fabric by just sewing one line or two lines on it, but serging will give you even better results. The locking technique in serging allows the seams to get closed in such a way that will prevent it from getting ripped apart. By serging the seams, you can lock them and keep them intact, which can help strengthen the durability of whatever fashion item you are creating.
There are various Serger machines you can buy from various brands today. These machines look like regular sewing machines. However, their specialty is to perform serging movements. The serging movements might vary depending on your preferences. You can use 2-4 thread serging movements, or you can even use 5-thread serging movements. The more threads you use, the more durable and better the result will be. But can you just perform serging movements using the regular sewing machine? In this guide, you will learn how to perform the serging operations with a Singer sewing machine.
The Benefits of Serging Compared to Regular Sewing
There are two ways you can close the seam allowance in the fabric you are working on. The first method is to close it with regular sewing movements, meaning using one or two lines to close the edge of the fabric. The second method is to use the serging movements, which allow you to close the edge of the fabrics in such a way that it will lock the seams together with no possibility for them to get ripped when you take them apart. Here are the benefits of serging compared to regular sewing:
It locks the seams with firm locks. First, serging means you can lock the seams with firm locks that enclose the edges of the fabric. It’s the best way to close the seams together.
You can adjust the strength for the serging operations. There are serging variations you can choose, which will depend on your Serger or sewing machine model. You can choose to use only 2 threads, or you can even choose to use 5 threads to close the seams with serging.
It makes the fabric look neat. With serging, you will make the fabric look neat after enclosing the seams together. It will be useful when you make blankets, clothes, jackets, and other fashion items.
It makes the seam enclosure more durable. Also, with serging, the seam enclosure will become even more durable than when you use only the regular sewing movements. It’s a great way to close the seams on stretchy fabrics, so you don’t rip them apart when you stretch them.
You can avoid ripping the threads. By using the regular sewing movements, ripping the threads in the seam enclosure will be quite easy. With a simple stretch, you can rip the threads and damage the fashion item. But with serging, you can avoid ripping the threads even when you stretch the fabrics, as the seam enclosures are very durable and firm.
Aside from its various benefits, serging also has disadvantages you need to pay attention to. For beginners, serging can be difficult to do, and you might need to make quite a lot of mistakes in your earlier attempts to serge the fabric. However, after some time, you will get the hang of it, and you will also master it. Here are the disadvantages of serging:
It needs plenty of threads to do. Serging will use plenty of threads when compared to regular You can perform 5-thread serging operations in most serging machines, so you will use 5 threads at the same time. This way, you might run out of threads in no time.
You might get confused at first if you are still learning. Serging can also confuse beginners who are still learning about it. Learning to perform the serging operations, even when using a dedicated serging machine, can take some time. You might get confused about how to deal with the serging operation at first.
Not all sewing machines support serging. The best way to serge any fabric is by using a dedicated serging machine. However, some regular sewing machines might support serging operations, although it might not support various serging types. Please note that not all sewing machines will support serging.
It can be very noisy. Serging is a noisy activity, so you will need to ensure that you don’t disturb the people around your environment while doing so. Using up to 5 threads at the same time will make a lot of noise on the machine.
It can lead to frustrations if you mess up. Serging is a good way to create a firm enclosure for your fabric edges. However, it can lead to frustrations if you mess up in the middle. The threads can get entangled and it will be difficult to remove without damaging the stitches.
Serging with a Singer Sewing Machine – Step-by-Step Guide
First, before you can perform the serging operations with a Singer sewing machine, be sure to consult the user manual of your Singer sewing machine to determine if the sewing machine supports serging operations. The manual or the official website should let you know whether your sewing machine model is suitable for serging. Make sure that you are using only a Singer sewing machine with serging capabilities. Here’s the step-by-step guide to serge with a Singer sewing machine:
Change the presser foot. You need to change the regular presser foot attached to your Singer sewing machine with the overcast foot. Be sure to follow the instruction manual on how you can replace the regular presser foot with another presser foot type.
Use the suitable overcast stitch. For the serging operation, you will need to use the overcast stitch type suitable for serging. For serging, the overcast stitch type should be the overlock and zigzag stitch types.
Prepare the fabric position. Now, serging with a Singer sewing machine will require a certain skill that you need to master. So, be sure to do this with careful movements. You need to prepare the fabric position and align the edges of the fabric with the needlepoint position on your sewing machine.
Performing zigzag stitches. The next step would be to perform the zigzag stitches on the edge of your fabric to serge it. Do it in slow movements, as you need to be meticulous about it. Keep on creating the zigzag stitches to close the seams of your fabric until you leave no seam gap.
Wrapping up. You need to stop for a while after completing the zigzag stitches throughout the fabric edges. Move the fabric backward with gentle movements to avoid damaging the stitches. Now, you have done the serging process for the fabric.
Please note that another way to make it easier for you to perform the serging operations with a Singer sewing machine is by using the attachment called Lock Cutter Machine Attachment, which is available for Singer sewing machine products. You just need to use this attachment (first you need to purchase it) and follow the directions in the manual to start the serging process. This attachment allows you to turn your sewing machine into a more fitting serging machine.
Can you Serge on a sewing machine? Yes, as explained before, you can perform serging operations on a regular sewing machine. You just need to replace the regular presser foot with the presser foot you can use for serging. You can also serge with a Singer sewing machine if you use the attachment called Lock Cutter Machine Attachment.
Does a Singer sewing machine have a Serger? Many Singer sewing machines support serging, but not all of them have a Serger. Unless you buy a Singer Serger sewing machine, you will need to use a different presser foot or a different attachment to turn your sewing machine into a Serger. So, be sure to consult the instruction manual of your Singer sewing machine model to find out whether you can use it for serging.
What does it mean to Serge in sewing? To serge in sewing means to create a firm enclosure for the seams in your fabric. With serging, you will lock the seams and create a firm and tidy enclosure for the seams, so you can make it sturdier and difficult to rip. It is a technique to close the fabric edges better than using the regular one or two stitching lines.
Can you Serge on a Singer heavy-duty sewing machine? You can use a Singer heavy-duty sewing machine to work on large sewing projects without having to worry about giving the sewing machine too much load. Yes, you can often perform serging operations with a Singer heavy-duty sewing machine. Be sure to check the instruction manual that comes with your model to understand how to do it and also find out other features of the product.
Conclusion
Now, you’ve learned how to perform serging operations with a Singer sewing machine. For most Singer sewing machine models, serging is possible if you use the right attachment tool or the right presser foot suitable for serging. However, often, there’s a limit to what you can do during the serging operations.
It’s always best to use a dedicated Serger sewing machine for serging, as it will give you plenty of serging features you might not find in the regular sewing machine.
