A most wise and learned man once said "you can't change what you don't acknowledge". So in the spirit of this advice, I have decided to come clean.
My overlocker scares the (satin-backed) crepe out of me.
Yes. There, said it (if perhaps a little uncouthly. Ahem, sorry.). But now I have got that off my chest I feel a little better.
Maybe there is someone else out there afflicted so, too? You know: you'd be the type who felt a little bilious should the old tying-the-new-thread-to-the-old-and-pulling-it-though-the-needles-and-loopers trick goes pear-shaped. You know, thinking that you might actually have to thread that confounded contraption up. Yourself. Manually. Quick pass a paper bag for breathing into ... and, while you're at it, a brandy wouldn't go astray, either.
Anyway I digress. I think I was talking about change. So change it is. I've decided to overcome my fear of my overlocker (which is similar to my children's fear of the dark, but they cry less). I am going to enter uncharted territory. I've heard that overlockers can do more than finish seams; grand tales of decoration and embellishment.
So my journey begins with flatlocking. This 3-thread technique involves serging two pieces of fabric together ...
... then opening it out flat, so it has this lovely stitching on one side ...
... or this fabulous ladder effect on the other.
You can even curl hem allowance into a little S -shape and then serge the edge ...
... to create this wonderful effect on the hem. Ahhh .... I'm smitten. Just think of the wonderful possibilities. Especially if you used beautiful decorative thread.
But of course, that might involve threading the machine ....
You put that very couthly. I should join you in your experiment. But I'm just going to cheer from the sidelines. Not because I'm afraid of the machine, exactly, more because I'm afraid if I change it from 3 thread finishing as set, I will be unable to change it back. And the shop is in Edinburgh. So yay for feeling the fear and doing it anyway!
ReplyDeletehttp://phobialist.com/ sergephobia isn't listed. Hmm, maybe it's under thredupthescarymchineonyorownaphobia.
I love the flatlock. I recently just learned how to do it and had to do some experimenting on my machine to get the effect because my machine doesn't have a manual. I used it on a dress I made for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteI share your threading phobia! And Marilyn's lack of manual, although I did pick up a good book on serging in general called "Creative Serging" that has been helping me figure out the tensioning, at least.
ReplyDeleteLast year, a friend gave me her overlocker that she had practically never used. I'm yet to take it out of the box. Too scared!!!!
ReplyDeleteI too thought I was scared of the overlocker, until I met Mr Rimoldi......he makes me pee my pants at the thought of a jam, broken thread, or worst of all, an empty spindle! His speed alone is enough to make me go weak at the knees.
ReplyDeleteI've booked a date with my overlocker (and sewjourn) in may. I love that look of flatlocking...
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing quite like an overlocker to make a grown woman cry, and scream and throw things across the room! I took out my 4th neddle 10 years ago to do a rolled hem....I have never managed to put it back!
ReplyDeleteOh no, I'm way too scared to go from 4 thread to 3 thread. That would mean actually trying to read the instructions, and then one day putting the fourth needle back in and trying to re-thread the damn thing!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd need therapy first.
You make me laugh Liesl you really do. Loved the line about the kids crying less than you do about their own phobias. Thanks for the chuckle.
ReplyDeleteI bought an overlocker at Christmas...have used it twice since, it scares me.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand...I have no fear of the industrial overlockers at RMIT, they are the BOMB but are already threaded ;)
I'm hearing you on the overlocker. Scary things aren't they? I have tried the flat hem thingy once but that S manouver is pretty cool. I may have to try it. (It may not help you to know that I frequently rethread while changing colours and it takes me a dozen attempts each time until the damn thing works properly again. So your fears are justified....Sorry)
ReplyDeleteYou're inspiring me to take the overlocker out of the bottom cupboard. Which means it will be handled for the first time in 4 years. Hmmm, yes maybe I *should* learn to use it! lol
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing you. I watched the DVD that came with my machine and I'm in awe of what it can do. So far I've mastered the rolled hem, I've nearly done it to death, its time for me to learn something else, but like you I'm scared.....
ReplyDeleteI love the different effects you can get - very clever (and brave)...according to my sewing teacher I have the worst overlocker in the history of overlockers! Just Great!
ReplyDeleteHeh. I've managed to rethread mine a million times, adjust stitch width, and mess with tension. Too scared to attempt any other options. :p
ReplyDelete