Serger Class Prep — Janet Szabo

I spent most of yesterday running up projects on my serger. I’ve now got a nice stack of class samples and also a good grasp on what concepts I think will be most important for students to learn. The class isn’t for another month yet, but we need to get the information onto the website and make the supply list available for students.

I sewed with double gauze for the first time. That makes great lightweight summer baby blankets. I tried a couple of different beanie patterns with knit fabric. The one in the picture, above, is from Made for Mermaids and takes a grand total of 10 minutes, start to finish. Bernina also has a free beanie pattern with a knot top, but I wasn’t happy with my first iteration. I need to get more knit fabric and possibly change the settings on my serger.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I don’t like wooly nylon. I am trying to decide how to approach that in the class, because I think that people automatically assume “serger + wooly nylon,” and while it is widely used in the clothing industry, I have good reasons for avoiding it with newbies. Several of my class samples show both regular serger thread and wooly nylon so that students can see the difference.

[I try not to be dogmatic in my classes, but if I am going to recommend one practice or technique over another, I want to have valid reasons backing up that recommendation. And I always tell students they have the option to disagree with me and do what they think is best.]

Wooly nylon is a “thread” that isn’t spun like regular sewing thread, but is instead a lot of parallel stretchy fibers. It can be made out of either nylon or polyester. When it’s used in the loopers of a serger, it spreads out and covers the edges of the fabric. Because it’s not spun, per se, some people find it softer against the skin. Wooly nylon is used a lot in baby knits, lingerie, and for decorative serger edgings. When you’re just learning how to use a serger, though, I think it adds an unnecessary layer of complexity. It tends to get static-y and flyaway—which can be controlled with a thread net—and it requires much different tension settings. I’ve made tops for myself using just regular serger thread in needles and loopers and been very happy with the results.

I watched a lot of serger videos on YouTube while I worked, including an overview of the Bernina sergers, as those are what this store sells. I want to be familiar with the models that might show up in class. And I think I am going to borrow the Bernette serger, circa late 1980s model, that I found for my friend Marcie at a thrift store for $22, and take it to class with me. It is a fine little serger for all that it is 30 years old.

And of course, we’re going to run into the issue of fabric availability here in Kalispell. The quilt store has a couple of bolts of knit fabric and some double gauze, but the owner is, understandably, reluctant to lay in an inventory of those fabrics and then get stuck with them. (If I do my job, though, and get people excited about sewing with knits, she may start carrying more.) When we talked, she said she understood that students would probably bring Joanns fabric to the class. I looked at what was available at Joanns when I was there on Tuesday. The selection of polyester/spandex and rayon/spandex knits is good, but I wasn’t delighted with the cotton/spandex juvenile knits. That navy blue dinosaur fabric in the photo, above, was a Joann’s remnant (and nice to work with), but I couldn’t find any more of it at the store. I’m going to see about compiling a list of sources.

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The brake pad warning light went on in the BMW a few weeks ago. The husband ordered new front pads and sensors and is going to put those on this weekend. The brakes are not in danger of failing as the warning light goes on well in advance of catastrophic failure. I’ve been driving the police cruiser more than the station wagon, though. Driving the police cruiser is like riding around on a couch, but I miss the cargo capacity of the wagon when I need to haul something.

Today is our first Mennonite Women/sewing meeting at church in more than a year. We’ve got some catching up to do. Our pastor is back from his sabbatical, too.