SERGING IS THE RAGE for decorative sewing and stitching. Now the average sewer can turn an ordinary project into an original, creative design. Even students in Family & Consumer Sciences sewing labs can be seen today using serger sewing machines. Great accessories and new capabilities can be found on serger machine models. Sewers use serger accessories to attach beads, lace and braids, to insert elastic or wires, or to sew decorative hems. What follows is a combination of new and familiar accessories that are worth incorporating in your instructional lessons.
Beading Foot
The Beading Foot applies pearls, braids and cords. Set the serger for a three-thread overlock stitch with the needle in the left position. A flatlock stitch will serge the beads so they appear to "float" on the fabric.
Projects: Prom gowns, party dresses and blouses.
Practice Project. Use monofilament nylon thread, broadcloth fabric and 4mm string of pearls. Fold up hem on fabric. Place pearls in groove of foot. Serge pearls along edge of fabric.
Blindstitch Foot
The Blindstitch Foot creates quick hems on knit fabrics. Its built-in adjustable guide keeps the fabric folded and enables the needle to catch the edge of the fold. Set the serger for a threethread overlock stitch with the needle in the right position.
Projects. T-shirts, knit boxers, shorts and pants.
Practice Project: Use polyester thread and knit fabric. Attach blindstitch foot. Fold hem to wrong side of fabric, go to right side with 6mm beyond fold. Stitch on extended hem edge allowing needle to barely catch edge of fold.
Cording Foot
The Cording Foot is used to apply decorative piping. Set the serger for the four-thread mock safety stitch. Insert the piping into the fabric and place the groove that is on the underside of the foot on top of the piping. Serge, and the piping is applied to the fabric in one step with no basting! Students can also create their own decorative piping using purchased cord and can then insert it into their project or attach it to an edge.
Practice Project. Use two pieces of broadcloth fabric and corded piping notion. Place fabric right sides together. Insert corded piping between and position it in groove of foot. Serge along edge.
Elastic Tape Sewing Foot
The Elastic Tape Sewing Foot makes inserting elastic easy. Use the four-thread mock safety stitch. Place 3/8" elastic in the foot and close the latch. Tighten the screw to provide tension to the elastic. Quarter mark the garment and the elastic and stretch the elastic to fit as it is serged into place. The elastic foot will hold and guide the elastic to ensure an easy application.
Projects. Pants, shorts, boxer shorts or sleeping clothes.
Practice Project. Use polyester thread, spandex fabric and elastic fabric. Pass elastic through foot and adjust screw before attaching foot to machine. Sew 2-3 stitches while pulling elastic tape lightly to rear of machine.
Lace Foot
The Lace Foot is used to apply lace. Use a narrow flat hem to attach lace to the edge of fabric. Place lace into groove in the Lace Foot and place fabric under the foot. This accessory also guides the fabric to create perfect pintucks.
Projects. Dresses, pillows, skirts and blouses.
Practice Project. Use polyester and woolly nylon thread, batiste fabric and piece of lace. Place fabric under foot. Place lace into the groove of foot. Serge, trimming slightly.
Shirring Foot
The Shirring Foot quickly creates beautiful gathers. Set the differential feed to maximum gathering (2.0) and use a stitch appropriate for the fabric. Th gather a ruffle to a skirt edge, simply cut the ruffle a bit longer than a 2:1 ratio. Place the ruffle fabric under the presser foot and insert the skirt edge into the groove in the foot.
As you serge, the ruffle piece, which is against the feed dogs, will gather. The skirt piece, which is in the groove of the foot, will remain flat and the two pieces will be joined together. You can also create yards of ruffles and then serge them to the project later.
Use this method to make ruffled edges for pillows. The gathering foot can be used to gather skirts and apply them to yokes in one step. It can also be used to ease a sleeve into the armscye.
Practice Project: Use polyester thread and two pieces of batiste fabric. Place the piece of fabric to be gathered under foot. Serge, allowing lower fabric to gather.
Yarn Foot
The Yarn Foot inserts fishline and wires to create flexible edges.
Choose a light-weight fishline found at the hardware store. Feed wire or fishline into the groove in the foot and set serger for a narrow rolled hem. As the fabric edge is serged, the wire will be inserted.
Projects. Wire-edged roses, wireedged ribbon, purses and hats. Practice Project. Use polyester
or woolly nylon thread and batiste fabric. Thread fishline into hole in foot, through channel at bottom and out back of the foot. Serge a few stitches to anchor fishline. Serge along edge of the ruffle, trimming slightly.
With the popularity of decorative embellishments, there is no doubt that serger accessories will find a place in your Family & Consumer Sciences courses. Enhance the everyday sewing project with decorative lace, cords, hems, elastic and wires. With today's serger accessories and capabilities, students will be even more excited to work on these fun projects.
Mary Griffin reports on the sewing industry and co-authored the book, Serger Secrets, Rodale Press 1998.
Copyright North American Publishing Company Jan/Feb 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
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