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I got mine a year ago xmas! I got the Babylock Enlighten - I love it! So easy to thread! I took the class offered with the purchase, which was a getting to know your serger - most of the classmates had the imagine, one had the 8 thread (can't think of the name at the moment) and I was the only one with the Enlighten.
I am really enjoying my serger and so will you! I did have one, but not like this! My hubby saw a demo and said I NEEDED it!
So have fun discovering all it can do!
by dailylaundry
09 Apr 2014
I have waited a long time for this machine - but, they are offering $100.00 rebate during the month of April and I had my Christmas money!! I am looking forward to the class! Thanks, Laura*
38558I bought Serger Savvy by Jeanne Stauffer from Amazon.com used. It has wonderful projects.
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5271You are going to have so much fun!! the things they teach you in the class are going to set you on fire!! You have the basics from your years sewing, now the class will teach you some awesome tricks and how to make use of so many of the serger's functions .
1) Right off the top I would recommend purchasing a manual threader or 2 if you tend to misplace small thin pieces of wire. It is helpful if you are threading wooley nylon thread that is fluffy and can be nice as a decorative edge but does not always like to thread through the threading ports with the puff of air. If you can tie the new thread to the threads that are already threaded in your machine then you also do not need this step. Wire threaders are just a bit of thin twisted wire about 6" long with a loop on the end to help thread through the machine.
2) In a moment of frustration trying to get the wooley nylon to thread through I used a bit of air to try to help encourage it through that enclosed line and I totally blew the hose off the inner bulb which meant I then needed to hand thread all threads for quite a few months plus I also had to gerry rig a way to hold the knob switch down as duct tape did not hold very well or very long. Finally I was able to get it repaired correctly, so I do hope that those of you with this machine, please learn from my error, and never use canned air or any air compressors to blow air down those ports!
3) When serging you start off by serging several inches of thread then start feeding your material in and stop after an inch or so then pick up those beginning threads and bring them around on the right side and lay them next to or on top of where the next stitches will and when you start stitching again it will enclose those threads so you do not need to knot off the threads. Some people prefer to take care of the threads afterwards by threading the 2 to 4 threads through a needle and then thread them under those beginning stitches, but I like not having to take that much time or having to go back and tie a knot unless the situation requires it.
4) You can use the serger to serge off lengths of thread to create the side loops for threading ribbon
5)serge a length and then without cutting that long length then serge over the top to then gather the material.
6) Using the machine without thread through the needle, mark a cutting line, line up one line off so that you make the long lengths of bias already seamed together. I am sure you are going to learn many of the tricks prior to next weeks class because you have likely already been to you tube to see what others are suggesting. Have a blast it is your Christmas in April!
My "how I was taught to stitch" story-
I also learned to sew at an early age. My mother was a home economics sewing instructor and she is the one who taught me how to sew. By the time I was 5years old (1966), I was helping her and by 6 she had me making my first clothing a simple dress. She started with teaching me how to check if the material was straight with the grain of the material or if I needed to stretch areas to bring the grain back into square prior to laying and pinning the pattern pieces. I would Stretch the material then have her check, lay the pattern pieces, have her check, pin, just the grain line along the grain arrow, have her check again, then pin everywhere, check again, cut, then finally get to go to my machine but first we read the instructions together, I then had to explain to her what pieces I was using and how to tell fronts from back etc finally pin, check, baste, check again (until I had proven I could go straight to the straight stitch and not have to pick out wonky stitch lines the basting was quite a bit faster than picking out so I learned not to mind this extra step, she would check each step and if I failed to OK a step it inevitably meant a close relationship with my picking tool. The cute little dress had a front, back, short cap sleeves, front and back facings and loops for the ribbon tie, and a lap over back zipper. I was also always taught that the inside seams should be as pretty and neat as the outside of the garment which meant not just sewing the seams, but then also turning under and straight stitching each side of the seam allowance then ironing the seam open. So counting the basting run I sewed each seam a minimum of 4 times. Until I upgraded to a machine with zig zag or had a pair of pinking sheers to finish those inside seams in a faster method of finishing the seams. Now with a serger this whole little dress could be done in no time at all as it not only stitches the seam but finishes it all in one step.
*** I still have my little white portable Singer and my embroidery basket made from an antique Chinese tea basket that was just big enough for a 6" hoop and various embroidery threads. Both were perfect size for a little 6 year old to get started sewing. Now as an adult, with even nicer tools of the trade, I will still keep these others forever with very fond memories.
by pacmp
09 Apr 2014
#6 I failed to say after marking the lines then stitching the sides together creating a circle but lined up one line off so that it creates a long continuous line now put into the serger without thread and with the knife cutter still raised, serge down that marked line and the serger will cut the material for you quicker than hand cutting through the full lengths.
by dailylaundry
09 Apr 2014
Oh, what wonderful advice!! I will reread this a couple of times!!!! Your Mom sounded so sensible!!! You were lucky to have her!!! Thank you - thank you, Laura*
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253107314037Yippee! You bought the best brand of sergers ever! The class will be very helpful for you. Don't be intimidated. Babylock sergers are the easiest to thread and to use. Keep your manual and cheat sheet handy and you will be zipping along in no time.
by dailylaundry
09 Apr 2014
Karen, it sounds like you have one!! I am starting a list of questions for the class - I appreciate your suggestions - I did a lot of investigating before deciding on the Imagine. Everyone who has one seems to love it! PM me if you think of any other suggestions!!!! Thanks, Laura*
168905If you have any experience sewing, you will be totally fine with a lesson or first read the manual and go for it! I had a problem so I had to take mine to the guy, tip is to start your knots with the handwheel and start pressing the pedal until needles are moving and it making knots, then you can feed the fabric. Make sense?
by dailylaundry
08 Apr 2014
Thank you, Christine!! I have been sewing since I was 12 so I guess I am experienced in that respect - but, this is new stuff. I believe you are saying that I should always start the machine with the handwheel and then use the foot pedal? I appreciate you help! Hugs, Laura*
by anssmile
09 Apr 2014
Congratulations on your new gorgeous toy.
Who taught you sewing etc? My Grandmother looked after me when I was small (about 4 or 5), and she taught me sewing and embroidery to keep me out of her hair. She made wedding dresses. I "inherited" her old sewing machine when she upgraded to a nice new one with more functionality when I was about 8 nor 9. You never hear stories like this anymore. I never lost my love for needlework.
by dailylaundry
09 Apr 2014
That is such a sweet story!! I learned my sewing skills in my first Home Ec class - I made a dress and learned setting in sleeves, installing a zipper, doing facings, etc. I took off from there. We were very poor and when I got my first job - I saved money and bought a used sewing machine - I made most all my dresses during high school. Have been sewing ever since!!
by anssmile
12 Apr 2014
I also made my own clothes during high school. Unfortunate I was a perfectionist, and if one corner was not stitched perfectly, I would not wear that item. So every time my aunts came around, they asked to see what I had made and was not wearing (I reached my adult length early in high school). They always took it home with them to wear!
173580Congratulations! I'm happy for you! I had purchased a brother machine in a lower price point. I had bought a nancy zieman serger book called serge with confidence from amazon that was recommended, I think from sew forum? You might also check your local library to see what they have so you can review it before you decide what you want to purchase. I am still in the learning process too so haven't played with mine much. There are a lot of very knowledgeable ladies on this forum.
by dailylaundry
08 Apr 2014
Thank you - thank you, very good info!! I want to learn it all!!! I will check Sew Forum too! Thanks bunches! Laura*
23281Congratulations. Guess it was Christmas at your house.
by dailylaundry
08 Apr 2014
Actually, I used some Christmas money I had - I am thrilled!! Hugs, Laura*
66531Congratulations!
I would go to YouTube and watch any video they have about your serger or any like it.
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