Darlene’s Thread: Serger Tips that Will Make Your Life Sew Much Easier
Multi-Texture Extravaganza
What happens when you combine silk screen, applique, embroidery, metallic thread and iron-on crystals? One -of- a- kind designer t-shirts! And you don’t have to be a sewing expert to transform your plain, inexpensive tees into a “sewsational masterpiece”!
1) Choose a theme. In this case, I chose shopping. No surprise there!
2) First layer is silk screen. I used the Yudu Personal Screen Printer Item: 504-401, or you may want to use fabric paints and a brush. Either way, this will get you into your artist groove.
3) Add applique. The shoppers left me large space near the bottom, so I filled it with the boot/handbag embroidery applique.
4) Embroider sayings, lettering, themed reflections. Use variegated or metallic thread.
5) Place and press heat activated crystals. I used Glamour Gems.
SHARE your project with the HSN Community, so we can all celebrate the artist in you! Upload it HERE.
My multi-textured sewsational new t-shirt!
Love this applique embroidery!
Says and crystals added.
Knit Picking Serger Tip
You’ve probably figured out by now that clipping the end of a serged seam at the end of a sleeve or neckline is a serger DON’T! You can put away the goopy fray check. Clip the thread tail 2″-3″ beyond the end of the seam and pull it back through the seam using a “knit picker”. Here’s how:
Knit picker going through serged seam
Slipping the tail back through the seam
1) Slip the head of the knit picker through the serged seam and open the hinged claw.
2) Place the thread tail in the claw slip the knit picker out pulling it back through. This cleans up the ends for a no-fray, no-unravel finish that can’t be beat!
TIP: You can find a knit picker on your fabric store’s notion wall. It’s on my “must have” list of handy dandy tools!
Serger Threading Tip
Your dental floss loops are moving from medicine cabinet to sewing basket! It’s easy to change thread on a serger when we’re talking about the upper and lower loopers. You clip at the spool, knot on the new thread and pull through, but in the event that the knot breaks as it tries to go through the looper eye, that’s where your dental floss loops can come in handy.
Dental floss loopers
Step 1: Insert floss in looper eye
Step 2: Pull floss through opening
Step 3: Lower looper thread OVER threaded upper looper
1) Insert the long straight end into the looper eye (front to back) and place the thread through the loop
2) Pull the straight end from the back of the needle through and you’re done! You can see the loop pulling the thread out towards the back.
TIP: Be sure that the upper looper is threaded FIRST and that the lower looper thread is OVER the threaded upper looper!
When-to-Watch Show Times:
July 9 @ 11am, 4pm ET for Singer sewing
July 10 @ 4am, 10am, 6pm ET for Singer Sewing
July 11 @ 8am & 12pm ET for Smart Cover and a NEW! Singer Iron
July 12 @ 9am for Singer ironing
See You on air!
Darlene
More Sewing with Darlene Cahill:
» Top 10 Sewing Tips to Always Remember
» Choosing the Right Scissors to Make the Cut
» More sewing projects and ideas
More Sewing and Crafts from HSN.com:
» Shop sewing new arrivals
» Stay steady and organized with a great sewing table
» Shop all crafts and sewing supplies
does the Futura Quartet 4 in 1 do a cover stitch. I want to repair a couple of shirt sleeves with my new singer, but I can’t find how to do it. I am new to all this and need a little help.
Hey Darlene,haven’t talked to you in a little while,but I’ve been sewing up a storm. I’ve been doing some embroidery for my church,we’re making T-shirts with the church logo. I’ve been making some patches for church as well. I recently embarked on doing some coach cushion covers for my God-sister. Wow what a job!!!!! lol.I started off using the heavey duty but the stitches were to loose,I tried everything to tighten it but nothing worked. So I finished it on my 9960,awsome machine.
Darlene, it was the differential feed that I needed to adjust on the singer five thread serger. Thank you. It made all the difference and my undershirt hems are nice and stretchy. thank you so much again. Can’t wait to watch you this month of July.
Yes Darlene, 1 serger blade is pretty amazing, considering I used the snot out of it over the years (LoL!) I made bird cage covers out of corduroy, it darkens the cages so everyone can sleep in!! I want to do a quilt, and you showed putting the pieces together with a serger…holds up better in wash I bet! I’ve made 3 of the lamp shades you did with the tule and I have 3 more in the making…great, cute idea!! Really enjoy watching ya and the ideas you have brought over the years…thank you!!
I bought the Singer 9960. Love the machine. On one of the programs last fall you showed a cover that was made for this machine. It had a slot in the cover for the manual. I have not been able to find this anywhere, customer service at HSN didn’t know anything about it, called Singer they didn’t know about it either. I am not talking about the universal singer cover. Can you please let me know where I can purchase this?
Hi malm1611,
So happy for you that you picked up the 9960. Thank you for purchasing it from HSN! The black fabric cover that you’re referring to actually goes with the Singer L-500. We often show three machines in a sewing hour and it may be that you thought the cover went with the 9960 when it was shown with another machine either before or after the 9960. It’s hard to keep track of all the different accessory packages. Hoping this solves the mystery! Hope you Enjoy your machine!
Darlene, love the tip about the knit picker. Thanks! Do you know of any plans for a Brother sewing show in the near future? I’m still looking at the Quantum Stylist if it comes back, but I’d love to see a Brother show, too.
Hi Juliemo,
We just had a few Brother shows in mid May. Sorry you missed the presentations. They may be back in the fall, we’ll just have to wait and see what the planners have in store:) It’s no secret that the The Quantum Stylist is one of my all-time favorites. Great Choice. I hope you’re able to get one!
Hope you’ll tune in to our July 9 & 10 shows.
Happy sewing~
Darlene p.s. to my last comment to you. I was using the cover lock hem. thanks again
Hi Doodle52,
It sounds as though your seams are pulling with the regular stretching of wear. You may need to make a slight adjustment to the differential feed. That would give more built-in stretch and eliminate the thread pulling.
Give that a try. Happy Serging~~
Darlene, I like to wear undersirts vs. a bra when I can get by with it. I usually wear men’s fruit of loom and just hemmed some with my five thread singer serger. LOVE IT anyway, when I put the shirt on, I could feel the thread pull at the hem and I know it would be my fault. Should I change tensions for that kind of material? p.s. I’m going to try to make some more feminine ones . Thank you. Looking forward to watching your next shows.
Hey Darlene cont..The serger I use for making curtains and putting everything together, I’ved had to get a new blade for it at local sew shop, I’ve only broke a thread once…hairy threading,but I got it! The manual helped! I’ve also made those lamp shades with the tulle and silk flowers and added trim and beads!! Thanks for the ideas!I have 10 machines. My aunt who passed away taught me to sew at 9yrs old, she helped me with many projects..I have the things she made & she used singers!memories!
Hey Darlene! I wanted to tell you that you sold me my first serger(my only serger) a singer ultra lock with differental feed that is a real workhorse about 14 yrs ago, still going strong! Also my second sewing machine a Singer model 5040 with about 36 stitches with cams!!! I was frustrated with the sewing machine (bird nesting) and didn’t use it for many years…but watching your presentations esp with singer (green, heavy duty) which is similar! I became confidant and now can use it no problem!
JazzieJoanie,
So very glad to hear that your confidence boost enhanced your machine’s performance!!! Thank you for continuing to check in with our shows after all these years. Sounds as though you get a lot of enjoyment and productivity out of your sewing machines. ONE new serger blade in 14 years is really something! You are a living testament to sewing’s longevity and usefulness throughout a lifetime. Wishing you many more years of sewing satisfaction!