Sewing Gadgets Raves & Rants

[dawn27]

Sadly I am still doing my ruffles by hand because the ruffle attachment my mother had will not fit my machine. I am wondering if it would be worth it to spend the money for a better one for mine. It runs $52+ How difficult would it be to figure it out. Since the last one didn't go so well.

Does anyone have a ruffle attachment who can show the different ruffles you can do using it ?

There may have been a thread on ruffles but I didn't see one so if someone has a link to it that would be great.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by DBlain

I am assuming your machine does not have a computer, LOL one thing I just recently found out is that magnets are not to be near computers, my machine has a computer in it.


I hate my pins, guess I need to spend more money on them since they do not push in good and tend to ben easily.

Do you like and still use your seam guide, my biggest challenge is to make even curves when sewing around the neck and the armholes, I am thinking a seam guide might be helpful for that,

Hi, I just saw this thread...I love sewing, sold machines for many years and taught machine embroidery classes and heiroom classes and of course, my passion, quilting.

Since you were talking about needing pins, I wanted to suggest the 'glass head pins' I just love them. They are long and narrow, so they aren't for heavy fabrics. I like how easily they go in and hold in place so well, getting that perfect line up we all want.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Tessa327

On that note I noticed some surgers hold 4 while others hold 5 threads. What's the difference?

I'm afraid to start sewing, I've seen lots of needles break while growing up.

I have a babylock that has 8 threads.

You don't need that many threads to get a good stitch, just a four thread is fine for the basic. When you go to the 5 you get a cover stitch which is the one on the bottom of your t-shirts. The more threads after that is more for decorative work.

If you are going to invest in a serger I highly recommend getting one with the automatic looper threader. Man I can't believe how great that is. Another plus in only having to change only the thread you have broken instead of all of them.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Ldyrev1

As for sergers... some do additional things but all are designed to provide the sewist the opportunity to finnish seems professionally. Some can make decorative seems as well. I believe all offer settings for wide or narrow serged seems and most require the sewist to manually thread the different ports/threads (3, 4, 5, - 8) and needles. This is my basic knowledge of sergers in general. Maybe someone who knows more about them can step up and provide additional info.

I have a Babylock Evolve serger and my machine is one of the more expensive models available but it allows me to do regular seem binding, rolled hem, and a variety of other possible seems as well as decorative wave seems. I love my machine and I'm sure I have shared about it in previous threads. I can thread and rethread my serger in less than three minutes and for me, that's worth the price itself.

When first looking for a serger, I was interested in purchasing from a dealer who was willing to teach me how to use everything my serger had to offer. I feel the availability of free training outweighs the cost of the machine, but that's just me.

I know others who have purchased lesser expensive sergers and have had difficulty threading and rethreading their machines almost every time they want to use them. I'm sure there are probably just as many who have no problems with their machines but I can only speak for the people I know and the brand I use. I wouldn't have anything but a Babylock at this point because of the ease of threading, the free training available, anytime I want it, and the professional look it gives my work.

Ok, that's my spiel and I'm sticking to it. LOL Hope this helps!

I am loving this thread!!

I have the Babylock Evolution. I think Babylock has the best. My first serger was a babylock then I got a Bernina with cover stitch, bad decision. I ended up just using my old one until I purchased this one.

Yes, buying from a dealer is so important. If someone ever tells you no free lessons at any time... don't go to them. You need a place that is always there for you.