Beginning Sewer...um...Sew-er....

Do I need both a serger and a sewing machine to make quality patchy garments?

 

nah.

You can either line it, zig-zag/overcast seams, or you can learn the french seam (which is quite easy.).

Just use the ole sewin machine to start.

 

cool. I want a PARTICULAR style of hat in PARTICULAR colers with...go ahead hazzard a guess,... PARTICULAR fabrics...so I have decided to make my own. A certain someone wont make my pants for me either so I fgure I will try that too. Does no one make all black corduroy cargo pants?

 

Since I'm old school I have to say I have never had a serger. My method is to flatten out my seams and zigzag over them. I have a quilt I made out of blue jean squares and cotton squares. The denim is now so worn they're just long threads but I refuse to throw it away since it's a testament of strength and is 25 yrs. old. If you don't want to top stitch in zigzag and want it hidden you can use a really close zigzag instead of serging to reinforce your seams. One thing I find that makes a big difference is the quality of thread you use. You pay more for good thread but if you get those 2 for a buck spools the thread seems to wear out no matter what you do. Not to knock anyone with sergers but the expense just isn't worth it to me. And having a trimmed close seam that should break or the fabric get loose from it gives you nothing to repair like an old fashioned half inch reinforced seam. Not to mention if you use the single thread method where one loose thread unravels the whole seam. If I had my choice and could afford it tho I'd love to have an embroidery machine with cams for doing applique instead of a serger. But in my opinion, quality doesn't have to be serger only!

 

Ah.

 

Some people will insist that you have to have one, and others... nah. There are lots of stitches that mimic a serger and work perfectly fine without having to pay $400 or more for a dang serger

 

sergers are great if you do a lot of sewing, especially with stretchy fabrics and trying to finish the edges. But they aren't necessary...

if you're doing quilting or patching, you probably wont' be using fabrics with much stretch to 'em, so just use zigzag. Don't forget to practice on some scrap fabric first though, just to make sure you don't utterly screw up your first attempt on the real fabric

 

Yeah I think sergers are pretty unecessary, but a nice convenience. I just use a sewing machine (so does my mother and my grandmother).

 

Quality clothes comes from practice. It sucks but its the truth!

... and I absolutely hate sewing with anything that stretches. Ever time I do sew with stretch material and even tug it a little bit, the seams rip open.

 

A serger is better to use on knits. I just used a zigzag stitch for a long time. The problem is on knits zigzags are rough against your skin. I know knits don't ravel, but it's extra assurance incase a seam comes loose. A serged seam lays a lot flatter.

I'd say to start out no you don't need anything fancy. Once you get sewing though you may want to get a better machine, a serger, etc.

 

oh, I took that as a given. But I was just wondering. I once purchased a pair of very cool shorts that all the patchy started to pull apart. According to mom, that was because of poor serger technique. Another time I think I read Cre say say she serged and sewed to avoid similar problems. I was pricing and got to feeling very cheap, but didnt want to totally sacrifice quality for economy. I mean I mainly am motivated to make stuff for me.

 

i personally love my serger and think its great if you want to sell finished looking clothing that will last. if its just for yourself i wouldn't worry as much