When selecting a serger, it can be difficult to know what features are necessary or even to identify what type of fabric you will be using.
There is a lot of confusion with what features are necessary and what is only a feature for the manufacturer of the machine.
There are several features that are standard and essential for any serger to have and some that are much more desirable.
Sewing machines differ from other appliances in that they will not advance fabric if you are not holding the button.
It is important to keep the machine in a vertical position with the needle down.
There may be a release button on the front or back of the machine, which is used as a safety feature. If you are using a foot pedal, be sure it is in the up position.
Sewing machine not feeding thick fabric
An easy way to feed thick fabric is to pre-cut the fabric for a straight stitch.
For a zigzag stitch, take the fabric and fold it in half. Place the needle through the folded fabric. Lift the presser foot and feed the fabric with the machine.
To use the machine correctly, you need to use thicker fabrics. Remember that the longer the suspender lock is open, the thicker the material needs to be.
Check that your needle is sharp
New sewing machines are released all the time, and if you need a new one, you need to make sure that one is sharp.
Sharp needles will let you sew faster, will make the fabric you’re working on lay more smoothly, and will reduce the amount of frustration you feel as you make a mistake.
If you start with a dull needle, you may get frustrated and lose your focus. You will want to do that!
To check that your needle is sharp, use the needle and thread tester that comes with your sewing supplies.
Use the needle tester, a small device that simulates the pull of a needle through thread to check your thread for blunt tips.
Check that your bobbin is threaded
Your bobbin is the round spool that holds the thread you sew with. If your bobbin is threaded properly, it will unwind easily when you pull the thread through it.
This is how you know that your bobbin is not too loose or too tight. A loose bobbin will spin freely, which is not helpful as it will not feed the thread through your sewing machine.
A tight bobbin will be harder to pull the thread through and can cause thread breakage.
The key to having a threaded bobbin is to have a sharp needle that does not pull the bobbin through and to push the bobbin through the eye of the needle to make sure the thread is threaded properly.
Check that your tension is set correctly
It’s possible that you’ve never even thought about your sewing machine tension before.
It’s more likely you’ve just figured you should know what it is, but you’re not sure where to start. If that’s you, we’re here to help.
To check tension, you can use the Stitch Checkers by using your sewing machine’s tension control. If you need to use a thicker thread, you can alter the tension on your machine.
