How to Clean a Serger

Brother Serger

Cleaning your serger will be easier if you remove the thread, but threading a serger can be a challenge, so I'm going to give you a tutorial that lets you clean around the thread. It takes a little extra patience and a steady hand, but it is possible. If you start to get frustrated when following this tutorial on how to clean a serger, take a short break and then come back refreshed to finish cleaning your serger.

What You'll Need:

• A fine tipped artist's paintbrush
• A bowl of water with a drop of dish detergent in it
• Paper towels or a soft cloth
• Sewing machine oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Clean the outer case of the serger first.
2. Dip the paintbrush in the water and rub the wet brush against the most heavily soiled areaas on the machine. Slide the brush under the threads as needed, without lifting up or moving the threads.
3. Let the water soak into the soiled areas for about three minutes, then fold a paper towel and wipe the moisture and grime away. Slide the point of the paper towel under the threads the same way you did the paintbrush.
4. Clean the entire outer case first, then open the cover to expose the serger's  loopers.
5. Dry the paintbrush before touching the loopers.
6. Gently brush and flick loose thread and fabric fibers out of the looper area of the machine.
7. If you get any water on the shiny metal loopers, apply a drop of sewing machine oil and use the brush to spread it around so it covers the metal that got wet. This is to prevent the wet spot from causing your loopers to rust.
8. Check the threading to make sure nothing came loose, then replace the lower looper cover.

Tip: If you have access to an air compressor or a can of that compressed air that computer techs use to clean computers, you can blast the fibers out of the looper area instead of brushing them out. Either way will work, but blasting it with air is more likely to pop threads out of the loopers tan gentle brushing is.

I Forgot to Add Serger Looper Adjustment How-to and Serger Cleaning How-to Articles

I will try to get on here tomorrow and add at least one of these how-to's, and the other by the next day. If I forget and you need the info, drop me an email at LaureJ@consultant.com to remind me to get it in gear and get them on here.

These are my planned titles:

• How to Clean a Serger
• How to Adjust the Loopers on a Serger

I might also add a couple of things specific to a Singer MerrittLock Serger; like the other, drop me  a note if you need the info before I get it posted.

How to Avoid the Threat of injury When Operating an Industrial Sewing Machine

Powerful industrial sewing machines can sew through heavy material other machines cannot touch, but they can be dangerous if you do not use them right.

 

Industrial Sewing Machine Safety

Driven by a powerful 1/2 to 3/4 horse motor, the needle on an industrial sewing machine can slam down with a hammer-like force up to 5,000 times per minute. High-speed powerful impacts mean operators need to be careful when sewing or maintaining the machines in order to prevent injury. Wearing personal protective equipment, or PPE, and paying attention to the rules for safely operating these high-speed sewing machines can help keep you injury-free.

Industrial Sewing Machine Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Industrial sewing machine operators should wear two main types of personal protective gear: eye protection and hearing protection. When an industrial sewing machine is running full-speed, the needle gets hot from the friction created by rapidly piercing the fabric. Wearing eye protection can save an operator's eye-sight. If the hot needle hits a thick spot in the material, the needle can shatter, sending potentially blinding metal shards flying toward the operator.

If only one industrial sewing machine is running in a room, hearing protection is usually optional. If several industrial sewing machines are running at the same time, as in a factory setting, the volume can damage a machine operator's hearing. Wearing a comfortable pair of foam ear plugs or head-set ear protection is less costly than the loss of your hearing.

Safe Industrial Sewing Machine Operation

Some rules for operating an industrial sewing machine also apply to household sewing machines, such as: do not leave the power on when the machine is not in use, and do not let small children or animals play around the machine when the power is on. If the power is on, and the treadle accidentally gets pushed down, the best you can hope for is a jammed machine and the worst is someone getting seriously injured.

The next rule, possibly the most obvious but also the most important, is watch where you are sewing and do not sew your fingers. If the machine has finger guards in front of the needle, do not remove them, even if they are inconvenient to work around. If the machine does not have finger guards, see about getting them installed. They are less expensive than the medical bills involved with an injury caused by an industrial sewing machine.

Industrial Sewing Machine Safety Tips

As an industrial sewing machine operator, you have the responsibility to keep yourself safe. If you do not wear the necessary protective gear, you are the one who will feel the pain when something goes wrong. If you work for someone else and they do not provide eye or hearing protection, you should either ask them for the needed PPE, or pick it up yourself as soon as possible.

If you leave the power on when working on the machine, or you let your fingers get under a moving needle assembly, you will be the one hurt. Watch ahead when you are sewing and slow down before you hit thick seams or material. Keep yourself and others safe by turning the machine off at the switch or unplugging it when it is not in use.

Copyright Laure Justice. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. Originally published on Suite101.

Transform Old Pants into a Shoe Tote Bag

If reuse, recycle, restyle is your mantra, you can transform an old pair of pants into a shoe bag with compartments.

Make a Shoe Tote Bag to Protect Your Shoe Investment

The legs of an old pair of pants can be restyled into a compartmented shoe bag, saving the expense of buying a new tote bag for shoes. Reusing the fabric also keeps a little bit of excess garbage out of the landfill.

Make sure the shoes slide inside the pants leg before cutting the pants. You will get the best result from pant legs made of lightweight fabric, but you can use pant legs made of thicker materials, such as denim, if desired. If you use pant legs made of heavy fabric, you will need a heavy duty sewing machine.

What You'll Need to Make a Compartmented Shoe Bag

• 1 old pair of pants
• Straight pins
• Shoes
• Ruler or yardstick
• Fabric marking pencil or tailor's chalk
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• 4 grommets and grommet tool
• 1 yard drawstring (estimate)

How to Make a Shoe Tote Bag

1. Turn the pants right side out. Line up the side and inner seams so you are looking at a side view of the pants. Make sure the hems are straight.
2. Fold the center front and center back of the hem 1 inch inward. You can just tuck or push the fabric in with your fingertip. The fold will allow a little bit of extra ease, or space, when you put your shoes in the bag.
3. Pin the pants legs closed and the folds together, right on or just above the hems.
4. Place one of the shoes on top of the pants, 3 inches from the pinned, hemmed end.
5. Measure 6 inches past the heel of the shoe and make a mark, using the fabric marking pen. Then place the yardstick or ruler horizontally across the pant legs and draw a straight line. For most pants, you will only need to mark the top layer of fabric. Set the shoe aside.
6. Cut the pants legs off, using the scissors and following the drawn line.
7. Sew the folded hems together, through all of the layers of fabric. If the material is too thick to go through your machine, sew just above the hem where the material is thinner. Remove the pins.
8. Set the sewing machine to make a finishing stitch, then sew around each cut leg opening. Fold the edges under 1/2 inch. Set the machine back on a straight stitch. Sew around the leg openings again, stitching right on top of the finishing stitches.
9. Fold the center front and center back folds the rest of the way up the legs, until you reach the top edge. Pin the inner folds of fabric on each side together.
10. Sew the center front 1/4 inch from the folded, pinned edges, starting 3 inches from the closed-off hemline. Do not sew through the outer folded layers that are not pinned. Repeat on the center back.
11. Position a grommet on each outer section of fabric just below the top, finished edge. Center the grommets in the outer parts of the fabric. Use the grommet tool to set the grommets.
12. Feed the drawstring through the grommets, and tie the ends together in a tight knot.

More than four grommets can be used for a tightly closed bag, but four is the minimum you can use without the shoes falling out. Fewer grommets will leave a droopy, uneven opening.

Copyright Laure Justice. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. Originally Published on Suite101.

Tips for Starting an Eco-Friendly Tote Bag Business with Low Start Up Costs

If you are dreaming of turning your sewing hobby into a business but don't have  tons of cash to invest, you can still make your dreams a reality with a bit of extra ingenuity. You can reduce the start-up cost of an eco-friendly tote bag business by using unconventional material sources.

 

If the environment is an important issue for you and the weak economy is making it hard to find a job, consider starting your own green tote bag business. Starting your own earth-friendly business is a way to be kind to the planet while earning money. Taking advantage of unconventional fabric sources lets you get started without investing a large amount of money.

Low Material Costs With Unconventional Fabric Sources

Let's start by considering ways to save money on materials. One way is to buy fabric wholesale, in bulk quantities, but when getting started, you might not want to invest in buying rolls of wholesale material. Also, using unconventional fabric sources is more eco-friendly than buying new materials at wholesale prices.

With the current popularity of recycling and up-cycling, you can cut your material costs by scouring thrift shops, auctions, and garage sales. Look for garments and other textile items that are in good condition. If you opt for garments as your fabric source, look for large and plus-sized clothes, but don't rule out smaller sizes. Smaller garments can provide unique fabrics to use for trim pieces, such as straps and pockets.

How to Prepare the Fabric

Since you are making your eco-friendly shopping totes to sell, you will need to spend a little extra time making sure the fabric is in pristine condition. Stains and weak spots in the fabric will leave you with a bad reputation and unhappy customers. Check the garment's care tag and launder according to the directions provided.

Cut the fabric right along the seam lines. Also, snip the threads holding buttons and zippers in place, unless you want to leave them for decorations. You can save the buttons and zippers for other projects, or sell them in bulk to other seamstresses. While traditional shopping totes do not have buttons or zippers, you can add them as design features as desired.

Make Some Sample Bags

Now that you have some inexpensive fabric ready to make your totes, it's time to get creative. You can buy a pattern to use for making your tote bags, but copyright laws limit your use of purchased patterns. Your best option, if you want to get started without spending a lot of money, is to design your own tote bag or enlist the help of a skilled sewing friend.

When you make up your first few tote bags, take notes on how long it takes to make each bag. Also, note any problems you run into, regarding your pattern's design and how you solved the problem. The notes will help you perfect your design and steam-line your manufacturing process. It will also help with employee training when you get ready to hire a helper.

Marketing and Selling Your Shopping Totes

You have a lot of options when you get ready to sell your bags. One option is to visit local businesses, show them your samples, and ask if they are willing to carry your tote bags for their customers. Be prepared to answer questions about:

• How much you charge per bag
• Discounts for large orders
• The number of bags you are able to deliver in a given time period
• Your willingness to sell the bags on consignment

The Internet also offers a number of selling options. Auction sites, such as eBay, online selling sites such as Etsy and eCrater, and setting up your own blog or website to showcase your work are all viable web options.

Disclose Fabric Sources

No matter how you market and sell your totes, be very clear with potential customers about your fabric source. If you are not specific, customers will assume you are using new fabric unless you tell them otherwise, and they will feel deceived to find out the material is recycled or up-cycled after they have purchased from you.

Describe your fabric sourcing choices in a manner that stresses the eco-friendly value. You are keeping these textiles out of landfills. Water is not being wasted to grow cotton to make new material. Petroleum is not being wasted to manufacture synthetics or to ship the materials. Finally stress that recycling materials keeps your costs as a manufacturer down, and that the savings are passed along to the customer.

Using unconventional fabric sources to make green shopping totes is a win-win-win situation. You win because you can operate your business with low overhead costs. Your customers win because they get unique tote bags they can feel great about using. Finally, the earth wins because waste is practically eliminated when unconventional fabric sources are employed.

Copyright Laure Justice. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. Originally Published on Suite101.