Do you have to have a serger to sew knits?
This could be attributed to the misguided notion that sewing knits requires a serger. This is absolutely false! Though a serger makes the assembly of knit garments much faster, they are a costly addition to your sewing arsenal and are not imperative.
Can you sew knits with a regular sewing machine?
Learn to Sew Jersey on a Regular Sewing Machine While overlockers or sergers are great for handling stretch fabrics and creating a professional-looking finish (I love mine), you don’t necessarily need one to sew with knits. If you’ve got zigzag stitch on your regular sewing machine, you can use that instead.
What stitch should I use for stretchy material?
zigzag stitch
We recommend using the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine as it allows the fabric to stretch and retract with the thread. The twin needle will do two rows of zigzag stitching, offering a more secure stitch with a professional finish.
Can you sew stretch fabric without a serger?
A serger makes assembling knit garments really fast, but you can totally sew knits on your regular sewing machine. If your knit has a lot of spandex or lycra, try using a stretch needle instead of a ballpoint needle. Stretch needles are specially designed to move through elastic without skipping stitches.
What can you use if you don’t have a serger?
Finish Seams Without a Serger
- Pinked Seams. One of the simplest ways to prevent unraveling and finish seams would be to use pinking shears*.
- ZigZag Seams. So you don’t own a pair of pinking shears and you still want finished seams.
- Turn & Stitch.
- Machine Overcast.
- Hong Kong or Bound Seams.
- French Seams.
What stitch should I use for knits?
A zigzag stitch is your #1 of best stitches for knits. There’s very few situations where you won’t get good results with a zigzag. It has a little give to it, so when you wear it, those stitches don’t get stressed as the fabric stretches on your body.
Is there a sewing machine that can sew and Serge?
A serger is a specialty sewing machine that can sew and finish seams at the same time. Here are some photos so you can see the beautiful edges a serger can create:
Do you use a serger for any quilting?
Yes! A serger is a wonderful machine for piecing a quilt. Whether using a four-thread, three-thread or chain stitch, piecing on a serger is easy and fast. It does take some time getting used to simply because a serger is different from a sewing machine.
How can I sew knits without them stretching?
One way to keep your knit fabric from growing while you’re sewing is to use a Walking Foot. A while back I did a post on the Walking Foot. While not essential, it has an amazing effect on the way your knit fabrics sew. Basically, it keeps the fabric from stretching while you sew.
How does a serger actually work?
A serger uses three, four, or five threads to sew a seam, trim the raw edges, and finish the edges all at the same time. Most sergers will allow you to turn off the blade function if you have a project that you don’t want cut as you go along. As with most machines like this, the more money you spend, the more options for functions you will have.