1. What is a Serger?

2. A serger is a special-purpose machine that produces professionally finished seams, like those found on ready-to-wear garments. Instead of a bobbin and single needle, it has a cutting blade, loopers, and multiple needles. The serger does not replace a sewing machine. It’s primary function is to clean-finish a raw edge, giving the project a professional appearance.

3. What can you do with a serger? • Finish seams and edges • Hem garments and coverstitch • Reduce puckering and rippling on hard-to-sew fabric • Edge finish reversible items • Execute beautiful rolled hems • Sew stretch seams • Speed up construction time

4. How do sergers differ from sewing machines? • Sergers are faster and have a longer presser foot and feed dog to hold the fabric firmly. • They have two to eight spools of thread. • They do not have bobbins. • They have 2 sets of knives that trim the seam allowance. • Cannot backstitch.

5. How it Works • The fly-wheel raises and lowers the needle. • The loopers help form the stitch. • The presser foot holds the fabric in sewing position. The feed dog, needle plate, and presser foot work together to move the fabric. • The knives work like scissors to trim the fabric as it is being stitched.

6. Parts of a Serger