Friday, November 10, 2006

My Serger

Stuff I'm making for the baby

So I found a serger for sale on Craigslist for $75 and decided to get it. I had been trying to make some baby diaper wipes and burp rags but a regular sewing machine just doesn't cut it. (Hee hee, I didn't mean to do that) It supposedly came with the manual but it wasn't really the manual it was a workbook.




The Serger I got is a Kenmore Overlock 3/4D Model 385.1664190 aka 16641. So I searched the internet to see if I could find the manual. Finally I found that at Sears.com if you go to customer service and parts and put in the complete model number (385.1664190) then you can get any part that goes to the serger or sewing machine and it has all sorts of schematics and pictures and stuff. Unfortunately the manual was labeled as Instruction Book so I had to go through about 15 links before I found the manual. But it was only $8 plus $7 shipping. (The shiping always gets you.)



Anyways the serger is great and my diaper wipes and burp rags look so professional! The best part is that I don't have to measure and cut the fabric perfectly. I can just use my scissors and cut out the area I want and then trace the shape I want using a sewing pencil and then just run my serger along the lines and it cuts it all for me! Also it doesn't jam like my sewing machine does. You think it would with all those threads, but once you get the tension set correctly things just go smoothly. I went to the library and got the book, "The Complete Serger Handbook" by Chris James. This taught me some serging techniques, plus it helped me figure out how to thread the machine before the manual arrived.

3 comments:

Amy L. said...

Hey mama :) I am about to adopt the same serger from a family member...can it tell me if it performs well for thick layers like dipes. I am getting to sew dipes for my son & appreciate the feedback. Thanks & love your blog!

golfrchic at msn dot com

Unknown said...

I have been searching for info on this serger. I found a local woman selling it for $50. Now you can find PDFs of manuals online. I have found 2 variations of one. I am hoping one is correct. How well is it working?

Laura said...

I ended up selling it after a few years. I was sewing diapers at the time and the knives started getting dull and had a hard time cutting. For $50 it is definitely worth it.