Perfect Serged Rolled Edges...A Quick Tip !
This is a technique for facilitating a rolled edge using a serger.
First, set your serger up to do a rolled hem, according to your machine's owner's manual.
Next, as you feed the edge to be rolled...notice how I use my finger to hold the fabric edge taut while also bending the edge slightly so that it is already "persuaded" to roll. You will also notice that I keep my serger knife in the upward position when doing a rolled hem. I find that I get a better rolled edge if I start with the "cleanest" straight edge as it feeds into the machine. In this demonstration I used all four threads...my ultra-cheap serger just does a better rolled hem using 4 threads.
Here is the strip of medium weight cotton with it's rolled hem...look, no "Pokies" (loose whisker threads) !
This strip of fabric being roll-hemmed will be used to make a decorative "Euro-Ruffle" embellishment.
Coming soon....I'll show you my method for making "Euro" center-stitched and gathered ruffles like the one shown below, without having to pull threads to gather!
Labels: Tips / Techniques
12 Comments:
I can't believe it! I was just googling a tutorial on rolled hems. Thanks for the tips. I can't wait for the ruffles.
Nice, Pam! I have been using a lot of raw edges lately, but this might get me back on my serger!
I love rolled hemming on my serger and use it all the time on the kiddies clothes. I do 3 thread as haven't had the need for 2 thread yet and am interested in how you setup the left needle and thread to work with the rolled hem. Do you leave the tension at standard for the needle in addition to the normal rolled hem settings for everything else?
Can't wait for the ruffles tips too. I've made a bunch of ruffled cuff PJs for my girls and have had a guts full of pulling all those threads!
Many thanks Echo
Hello Echo,
I set up for a standard rolled hem. I just leave the left needle in, setting it at the same tension as the right.
I have a low-end serger, and it just won't do a nice dense rolled hem with 1 needle and the loopers ;)
Also, I like dense edges when I am making a strip of Euro-ruffles for embellishing garments like t-shirts, so I set the stitch length at 1.
Great tip!! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-perfect-rolled-hems-on-a-serger/2010/07/14/
--Anne
I'm not sure what you meant by keeping your knife in the "upward" position... do you mean you flip it up so that it does not cut the edge of the fabric? Also, the persuasion of the fabric to bend... is that down/under?
I just got my serger serviced and am looking forward to making some pretty napkins with the rolled edge.
Hi Kathie...what I mean about the knife, is that I keep it up so that it DOES trim (cut) the edge of the fabric.
Yes, I tried to show in the picture (kinda hard ;), that I am bending the fabric edge "down"...so that when it gets to the part of the serger that will completely turn it under, the fabric edge has had some "help" so that it will fold under easily.
Luv the tuts! Great pix and easy to follow instructions, thanks so much for posting!!
@Kathie and Pam -- depending on the age and model of serger, your knife may move out of the way either up or down. My old BabyLock knife rotates upward to the no-cutting position, but many more modern machines' knives are the opposite.
Thanks for the tip on tautness; my rolled hems are hit and miss!
I didn't know I could do a rolled hem with both of my needles in until this tutorial. Thanks! I really like the way it looks on the napkins I've made. Just took a serging class and my teacher never mentioned a two needle rolled hem! BTW, my serger is a lower priced model too but I really enjoy using it so far.
I have yet to roll hem with my serger but I just might have to try it after seeing how easy it is. I normally use me sewing machine and a rolled hem foot. My does cramp up though from 'guiding' the rolling when I do long length of double sided strips or say, rules like yours. Thanks for sharing.
I love the Euro ruffles and am
looking forward to using them
on both my granddaughters dresses.
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