Category: Basic site info

First Sewing For Babies/Gorgeous Fabric/Three Thread Overlock

I know, the title is too long but depending on where your interests lie…

And yes, the babies are boys but this was my best photo…

Treadle has two soft Japanese double layer pique knits, one pink, one blue. A bit spendy and only 32″ wide but in my mind that said, “Baby Layette Blanket”. All I had to do was finish the edges and since we have had quite a few serger classes lately and we often got the question, “What do you use the 3 thread overlock for?” I thought I might share what I did.

Blue is 3 thread, pink is 4 thread

For the blue three thread I used off white Jeans Stitch cotton thread in the upper looper along with a heavier poly/cotton Gutermann denim thread that I had picked up at the Expo in the lower looper.

For the four thread I used Pearl Crown Rayon in the upper looper and Heavy XP Coats and Clark in the lower looper-serger thread in needles.

Square up the fabric-selvedge says “peaceful cooing” so I left it on

Serge around all four sides leaving a tail

Using a blunt tipped needle, go back under stitches

Pull through and clip

I didn’t prewash the fabric as I didn’t want the layers to separate before sewing. The fabric did shrink 4 inches both ways but it also got thicker and the pique showed more.

I tried to take photos of turning corners without cutting threads but my camera didn’t have high enough resolution. We teach this method in our Beyond Basic Sergery (Treadle) or Advanced Serger (Make It Sew) classes. Practice makes perfect.

Here is the written version from the Babylock website, check out a serger book and you will find it too.
“Outside Corners: Stitch to the end of the corner edge, but not beyond. Stop with the needles up and raise the presser foot. With tweezers pull approximately 1/4″ of slack thread above the needles. The slack will allow the fabric to be pulled slightly to the back, clearing stitches from the stitch fingers. Turn the fabric, aligning the new edge with the edge of the needle plate. Remove any slack from the needle threads. Lower the foot and continue sewing.”

I was only trimming the tiniest edge off the fabric but if you trim more you will need to trim by hand for about 2″ at the beginning of each corner. You’ll see what I mean if you try it-the blade won’t get a chance to cut right at the very beginning and that will make everything gum up.

Can’t wait to wrap up babies in these blankets!

PayPal Option Added

We’re approaching cruising altitude as we’ve incorporated PayPal as an option for paying for classes and Fashion Sewing Club online. We hope this takes the place of handling (and paying for) a credit card merchant account. Who will be the brave first soul to try it out? Maybe there’s even a reward for the first person to use PayPal. You read it here!

Oh, there will probably be some rough air yet but getting this piece of the business put in place is a big step towards convenience for our customers (you) and hopefully great record keeping for us. We hope it works for you. If not, there’s still the option to pay in person or send a check. You’ll find your options spelled out wherever there’s an option to register/pay. If you find problems, let us know.