I am fairly new to sewing with a serger or overlock machine.I am going to sew fleece. Do you just let it just feed through, or do you pull a little tension? I don't want my seams to wave, I am trying to make Avery a fleece jacket.Maybe this sounds stupid

Most new models of sergers have a differential feed control to help with stretchy fabrics getting the "wave" when sewing the seams...usually the higher the number...the tighter the feed dog control is to help prevent the "wave"..If you have this feature...run some tests on two thicknesses of the fleece...just like you would be sewing a seam...and see which setting helps to prevent the "wave"....do not pull or stretch the fabric as it feeds through...pick up the end towards you and just let it glide on its own...

Congratulations on your serger!!! I love to do my seams for clothing, burp cloths, etc, so it doesnt' fray. Have fun with your new toy, I don't do a lot of things with my serger other than that but I've been told there are lots of projects you do with them.

I sew on fleece all the time. Have done hundreds of pairs of mittens. I know you want to use your serger, but I would suggest using your regular machine and then finish off the seams with your serger. As gramsbear said, on a serger it does have a tendency to stretch more on top than bottom. It is a very fun fabric and very forgiving........have fun with it!

I JUST FINISHED 2 PAIR OF JAMIE PANTS FOE A GUY WHO IS 6 FOOT 7 ....DONT PULL THE FLEES..YOU MIGHT BRAKE THE THREADS,,IF YOU DO GOOD LUCK TO RE THREAD...IT TOOK ME 2 DAYS TO TRY TO RE THREAD THE 4 THREAD KENMORE SURGER...YOU HAVE A LOT OF GOOD AVICE ..DO A TEST ON ANOTHER PICE OF FLEESE,RIPPING OUT A MISTAKE IS NOT FUN....I KNOW......LUCY

get the feel of sewing fleece before you start on your main project
cut off a length of the fleece if you can and practise sewing it
This way you will see how the machine responds and can then adjust if need be Do not pull or tug the fleece in any way but let it run through gently and easily Loosen the tension on the threads aa little so it does not pull tight and be sure to clean the machine before you start sewing that way no bits of fabric or thread is getting caught up
HAVE FUN AND BE BOLD .

fleece is thick, so you must adjust your cutter blade. Extend it to cut more fabric(usually the biggest number, for the thickest and smallest for the very fine fabrics) Then check your 'stitch length'. This can be a little bit longer for thick fabrics if it seems to sew better. Play a little, use your book instruction if you got one with your machine. And no, don't pull or stretch as you feed into machine. A good thing to try is to thread your machine with different colours which match your tension discs. Then you can see which one is not correct. But try altering the first two things, ie cutting width and stitch length before you get concerned with tension. Hope this helps.

I don't pull my threw, but I do keep materials tight with holding the end that is coming out. My overlook has a tendency to pull harder on the top than the bottom. I have used overlook in 2 different sewing factories and have had my own for at least 25 years. I love to overlook!!! Hugs, Judy

it does,nt sound stupid i,ve been useing an overlocker for 20 years and still have questions lol i just let fleece feed without pulling always comes out looking good.have fun making the jacket for avery show us when its finnished ...linda

2 comments

by toogie 24 Nov 2013

Oh,I hate to show you.It is sergering very well, I just don't like the color for her (black), it was what I had the most of.I wish I had taken the time to emb something but I was wanting to see how it fit b4 I put too much work into it. It is roomy for her, a little big on the shoulders, but will be easy to get on and off her, especially when she is so stiff.I just have to hem it and put the button and buttonholes,First find 3 buttons.Any suggestions to liven it up, now.I thought about going around the pocket edges,collar and cuffs with a decorative stitch on my reg machine, but I don't know,it probally will just sink in the fleece.What do you think?

by marron1 25 Nov 2013

i agree the decorative stitch would sink nice bright buttons would help and do the button hols in a bright colour might lift it a bit ...linda