For many sewers, working with a serger can be intimidating and challenging at first. Stacy Grissom gives us some tips on getting our seam allowances to be even while using a serger. Watch as Stacy demonstrates these tricks, and learn how to get the best seam allowance possible for your next sewing project.
New to working with a serger? Check out this video to learn the basics!
Stephanie Ohnmacht shows you the best way to sew corners when sewing your fabrics. With a little help from these step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn how to trim, turn, and eliminate bulk to create a strong, structured corner! Once you’ve mastered this technique, learn how to sew box corners! This is another useful skill for sewing…
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Beth Bradley teaches you about the various types of woven and nonwoven interfacing that can be fusible or non-fusible, and shows how to make the point of interfacing invisible. She also demonstrates how to cut the grain of the interfacing to match the fabric.
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Jessica Giardino and Ashley Hough present helpful techniques to prevent any aches or pains that may arise when sewing. Learn how to establish a safe and comfortable sewing environment. Also, witness different sewing tools designed to reduce any muscle strains caused by hours of sewing. Use these sewing techniques for years to come.
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There are many benefits to using pattern weights when making clothes. This demonstration shows several different pattern weights you can use as well as tips on how to best use them. Learn which pattern weights work best with specific fabrics and use these tips to assist your sewing at home.
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When you either draw in your seam line or baste it, wouldn’t you line that up with the left needle rather than the cutting blade? By lining it up with the cutting blade you wouldn’t you actually be increasing the seam allowance, making your garment smaller?
Hi Carole. Yes, you are correct. I believe the misunderstanding here is that this instructor is referring to the seam allowance as the amount that is cut off, rather than the amount that is cut off plus the amount of fabric “used up” in the width of the stitch.
Ashley
National Sewing Circle
That’s true with all of your methods. Your needle one position is when your seam is.
I’m so glad I clicked over to check the Discussion– this video’s math just didn’t make any sense to me and I thought it was my fault for misunderstanding! I can’t believe it’s still up after almost five years since the initial feedback about misleading content.
i agree with all of the posted comments. i kept shaking my head while watching this video. i have found many of their videos to be misleading. when i have sent an email addressing my concerns or asking for clarification i just get boiler plate response as posted below and then never hear back. i am still waiting for a response from a purchased dvd inquiry i sent. they are very quick to tell you the difference between premium and regular membership pricing but not acknowledging any problems or concerns by their readers. it is frustrating and disappointing. you can take my advice with a grain of salt…but always test their tutorials before executing them on your garments or projects.
Hello Jec!
I want to first and foremost apologize for any misunderstandings regarding our content that we offer. I will be forwarding this to our development team as well. I also would like to know what your question was regarding the DVD set and where we can offer clarification on it. Feel free to reply to this comment, call us at 1-855-208-7187, chat with us here on our website, or send us an email at: nationalsewingcircle@program-director.net.
Thank you and we look forward to working with you!
-Jessica
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
Aside from the misleading wording, she doesn’t seem to mention the large red printing on the body of the serger noting 1/2″ guide. Marking a guideline with a pen and a ruler? Maybe the start of the seam, but a guideline with tape on the body after that is so much more efficient. We should pay for this type of video???
Why is this video still being promoted? It was on todays email from The National Sewing Circle – a year after the previous feedback was acknowledged!
As previous commentators have stated, it is completely wrong. The seam allowance is from the stitch to the original edge of the fabric. Not from the blade to the edge of the fabric.
This video should either be deleted or be re-done to clarify that you are cutting off 1/4 inch, not making a 1/4 inch seem allowance. This is very misleading for newbies or novice sewists. A 1/4 inch mistake can, on a garment, make a difference of 1″ if there are 4 seams!
Hello Faye, We appreciate your feedback and it has been forwarded to the proper department. Your comments are important to us and help with the development of new programs and offers. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction. Thank you, Hallie NSC Video Membership
I use a strip of blue painter’s tape (like Washi tape but less expensive) to mark the seam allowance on the front of my serger. It’s a very good guide, and the tape is adjustable. The tape doesn’t leave a mark. I also agree that the video is misleading. You must measure from the needle to the edge of the fabric, not from the blade, to get the correct seam allowance.
How much is the annual premium as well as the monthly premium?
Hi Linda, our annual Premium membership is $45/year while the monthly Premium membership is $7/month. You can check out the differences in membership benefits and prices here: https://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/pricing/ Please let us know if you have any other questions about our community!
Thank you, Hallie NSC Video Membership
i don’t understand why the instructor keeps saying she is making a 1/4 inch or 1/2 seam allowance. She is not. She is marking the amount she is cutting off. To that amount in order to cut an accurate seam allowance you have to add the width of the serger stitch to the amount you cut off. If a pattern calls for a 1/2 inch seam allowance and you follow her instructions your project will not be the correct size. In order for her instructions to work you have to line up her markings with the needle that is furthest to the left. Also I have found, for me, the best way to serge accurate seam allowances is to measure out from the left most needle and make a card and attach the card with different seam allowances to the bed of the serger in front of the presser foot. Then you can feed the fabric, using a guide just like your sewing machine. Babylock sells a card like this for their top of line serger but I’m not aware of one available for any other serger.
Agree 100%
but if you cut off the entire seam allowance, then your serging is in from that cut and the final project/garment will end up slightly smaller. That is, if you have a quarter in seam allowance, and cut off a quarter inch and the serger sewing is about a quarter inch wide, you really have a half inch seam allowance.
I totally agree. This video was very misleading to novice serger users. You must take into consideration how wide your serger stitch is, etc.