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Home » SPIN the PINS – Serger/Overlocker Tension?

SPIN the PINS – Serger/Overlocker Tension?

June 17, 2013 by Nanny 11 Comments

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I had my first overlocker/serger many years ago so when my grand children came along I thought I should have another. When I am unable to sew, I am able to sit and look at the computer screen so when I decided to treat myself to a ‘current’ information search, I happened across a Utube presentation by Susan Nixon called ‘The Secret to Taming Your Serger’  and I pinned it for later.

So our’ SPIN the PINS’ for  today is thanks to Susan Nixon and her ‘The Secret to Taming Your Serger“. It is sure to solve our Serger/overlocker Tension! During her presentation, Susan gives very clear instructions and I will be following them here:

1. I had to thread my machine using cotton colours to match the tension dials.
 (Now rethreading is always good practice so I didn’t tie the threads to pull them through!!)

 
 
 
 2. I grabbed a fat 1/4 of homespun and cut it into four 5″ strips. 
 
 3. I ruled lines across the strip at 2″ from the end, then 1.5″ intervals.



 4. I then labelled the strips, starting at the 2″ end with the name of the dial: Lower Looper; Upper Looper; Right Needle; Left Needle and then in each of the 1.5″ areas number from 1 – 9 (like on the tension dials of my machine)




 5. I took each of the strips and starting at the 2″ end – I folded the strip in half  so I now had a long strip that was doubled (like sewing two fabrics together) and I turned the matching tension dial to 0.

6.  I started sewing and when I reached each line I turned the tension dial to match the number and so on to the end.



7.  I then looked at the stitching, concentrating just on the colour being tested, and decided where it was best and marked it with an asterisk



These are the results for my machine:
Lower Looper  2
Upper Looper  8
Left needle  7
Right Needle  5

I now have a record to keep.  If my tension goes crazy, I will just have to look along the samples to find a stitching match and change the appropriate tension.  (great for the Mums with little helpers!!)

I would recommend you take some time to complete this exercise as either a refresher or as an introduction to each of the threads and their tension.  It is a simple exercise with easy to follow instructions and it just may prove invaluable in getting the best from your overlocker/serger.

I hope you found this of value and look forward to our next SPIN the PINS!!

Until next time
Nanny xx

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Filed Under: SPIN THE PINS, TIPS/TOOLS, TUTORIALS

Comments

  1. Mrs. Lucky says

    June 17, 2013 at 5:52 am

    No overlocker/serger here but I just wanted to say that I found this tutorial/reminder/record quite clever.

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 17, 2013 at 6:01 am

      Thanks Mrs Lucky! Susan did a great job with this one! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mel@Mellywood's Mansion says

    June 17, 2013 at 9:26 am

    That’s a great idea I will have to try it.

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 17, 2013 at 10:43 am

      It’s easy and quick to do Mel! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Pam @Threading My Way says

    June 17, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    I can never get the tension correct on my old overlocker. Definitely going to try this. Pinning…

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      June 17, 2013 at 11:26 pm

      Problems solved Pam – good luck (it doesn’t take long to do either!) 🙂

      Reply
  4. lauren says

    November 2, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    What settings were the rest of the tension thread dials on?

    Reply
  5. lauren says

    November 2, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    What settings were the rest of the tension thread dials on?

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      November 3, 2013 at 8:35 am

      Hi Lauren! It really doesn’t matter because you are only looking at how the one you are testing changes. When you have tested all, and set them at the ‘best’ spot, they will all work together! I hope that makes sense! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Beth Green says

    August 10, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Nanny@nannynotes2u…
    i’ve just about given up using my serger altogether! tension…unthreading…etc. this might help me. thanks for posting. i’ve thought of trading it in but maybe i need to buckle down and use it again.

    Reply
    • Nanny@nannynotes2u says

      August 11, 2014 at 12:58 am

      Good on you Beth – I hope it helps! Please let me know how you get on! 🙂

      Reply

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