Sergers Are Easier to Use Than You Think!

No arguments here, a sewing machine can be one of the most useful tools in a home; sewing machines can also be one of the most difficult tools to learn how to use or feel confident with. If you're one of the millions of people throughout recent history that have conquered the queasy, lost feeling when you approach a sewing machine, congratulations! It no doubt involved learning how to load a bobbin and how not to put the needle in the machine backwards (been there, done that - as has every other sewer I know). If you've come this far already and use your sewing machine to create things, you are ready for the next step: The Serger.

Wait, come back! It isn't even out of the box yet, and you're running for the door? Take a deep breath and tell yourself that humans built machines, not vice versa; and that it stands to reason that you can figure out how to use a serger if you are just willing to try. I have two good bits of news for you, to help lure you back into the room: sergers don't have bobbins, and it is a LOT harder to sew through your finger with one. I would have said "impossible" but . . . well anyway.

Sergers, also called overlock machines, are not intended to replace your regular sewing machine - which has a boggling number of uses. No, sergers should be a wildly welcomed addition to your family of sewing tools, as they save you time and really polish up the look of your finished products. How? Imagine for a moment that you could sew a straight line (or two), cut your excess seam allowance off in a perfectly straight line, and find a way to sew an overlocking stitch (or two) that kept your fabric from fraying - all at the same time? How many machines and hands and needles would you imagine you'd need, if you didn't have a handy dandy serger to do it for you!