Friday, March 23, 2012

Confession: I cannot thread my serger.

That's right, I cannot thread my serger. I bought a Husqvarna Huskylock s21 a few months ago and have attempted to thread it about 200X and I still cannot get it right. Luckily with the pricey purchase of this non-threadable serger came a free introductory class. I had hoped to learn the basic functions of the serger on my own and use the class to learn how to use the ruffler and the piping foot along with all the other fun accessories that I have for it. But that may not be the case. So I am determined to learn how to thread this beast by the end of this weekend and if I fail, I'm going to call and sign up for a threading lesson...bummer! I hate to admit defeat, but I rather admit defeat then never use it. Plus, I need to make our Easter dresses, I really do not want to zig-zag stitch three Easter dresses.
So tonight the hubby and I have a date with my serger. I'm hoping that my non-sewing hubby can figure it out, but I'm going to be mad if he gets it on the first try...just saying.



So please tell me I am not the only one that has had trouble threading a serger!



22 comments:

  1. Hilarious! My mom gage me a server TWO Christmases ago, and I have yet to even attempt to thread it. Because I think I'll fail. And be mad. And then I'll kick something and hurt my toe. But now you've inspired me; I need to give it a go!

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  2. When I first got mine years ago, I had a hard time threading it. Even once I learned, I dreaded it if the threads broke and I had to re-do it! I wasn't going to take the lessons class either, but then realized I might learn some other important things from it than just proper threading... glad I did because that was the case! Manuals do not always tell you every little thing... Also, consider buying Nancy Zieman's book about serging because you can learn to utilize it for many things and she has trouble shooting tips in it! Trudy

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  3. I'll try your serger if you try my Consew Industrial ;-) I have a date with mine because I cannot get it to run properly. And with no directions and what directions there are in Japanese, I'm at a loss. I may need a bowl of something chocolate to make it through the night! Good luck with your machine! Cindy

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  4. Blimey! Took me a ridiculously long time to thread my sewing machine properly, goodness know what would happen if I attempted one of these!
    I'm sure you already have, but have you looked on you-tube for a video on how to thread it?

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  5. oh goodness! I bought a cheap serger, and was able to figure it out rather easily. Yours looks much more complicated! Good luck, and have a glass of wine or beer. That always helps me play pool better - maybe it will help you with your serger :)

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  6. Have you tried YouTube? I can remember my mom FIGHTING and FIGHTING with hers, back in my 4-h years when I had to use it for different projects I was making! Good luck!

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  7. well, by the time you get it done i have a tip for you: if you need to change colors... cut the old and knot it to the new and then pull it trough the machine till the knot reaches the needle... than cut it and treadt the needles as you would normaly do..... just a hint someone once told me because i kept having troubles rethreading the darn thing myself.... i hope you find this helpfull

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  8. I found out that if you tie your new thread to the old thread before it runs out and run it through slowly, cutting it off just before it gets to the needles, all you will need to do is thread the needles.. Not that it helps if the machine is already unthreaded, but it may help for next time!

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  9. Good luck! I don't have a serger, but I do also have a non-sewing husband who has, on occasion, saved me from throwing my sewing machine out the window by helping me decipher sewing pattern instructions. It's actually pretty hilarious that he can figure it out right away every time. I hope you both get it worked out!

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  10. what they have already said is true. another thing is, thread the needles LAST. this is a must! thread the loopers, then the needles last, everytime. even if a looper has to be rethreaded, unthread the needles and do them LAST.

    Good Luck.
    Jeanie in MO

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  11. I'm scared! I'm just about ready to get my serger and this seems like the scariest part!

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  12. I know exactly what you are talking about. I have a serger and it did take me some time to learn to thread it. I don't know why sergers are so frightening in general. I would think someone would invent one that would thread itself or close to it. I wish you the best of luck this weekend and maybe if your husband looks at it, he might see something that you didn't see. Let us know how it goes.

    Smiles,
    Kelly

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  13. I can't thread my serger either. My non sewing husbeast does it for me lol

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  14. Tranquila, creo que a todas nos ha costado la primera vez. Poco a poco y ve siguiendo los colores, ya verĂ¡s que no es tan dificil como parece

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  15. I hope you were able to figure it out. I whole heartedly agree with once it is threaded, to snip off the thread just near the cone and tie the new thread onto it, loosen all your tensions and pull through. Saves me headaches. I just joined the American Sewing Guild in my area because they have a group of ladies that gets together once a month to practice with their sergers. I think it will be totally worth it!

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  16. thanks ladies, you are all so supportive! i actually figured it out a few minutes after posting this post:) all i had to do was actually read the directions while refering to the pictures instead of just looking at the pictures. that will teach me to just look at the pictures:)

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  17. Glad you figured it out. I have the exact same serger. Their website has a great video that shows the threading. I watched it and stopped it at each place I needed to thread.

    I thought all I would need to do is thread it once and bam! I'm done, but have found out differently. When I was doing the rolled hemming, the thread kept breaking. Turns out I needed to rethread because one of the loopers got messed up somewhere I couldn't see.

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  18. When I need mine threaded I take it to the sewing machine store and they do it for me

    One thing she told me the last time was to unthread them all and start fresh. I always tried just threading the one that broke and that never worked.

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  19. I can't thread mine either and I won't even tell you how long I've had it.

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  20. OMG I thought I was the only one with this problem. I've learned how to after numerous attempts you will too. Sometimes if it's been awhile I have to refer to the video.

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  21. No teasing from me! For a long time I couldnt thread my serger either, and I have the same one btw :) and the hubs had to do it for me. But I can do it now:) Go slow and use your tweezers lol! Good luck!

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  22. Oh can I relate to you SO much. First ~ Have you watched the threading guides online
    http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/19561.htm Click that and then click on your serger. Another window will open where you'll need to click your model again. Then at the bottom of the page you will see the red bar and words in that bar for the different techniques you can choose to do with the serger. Hover over one and then choose from the popup menu which you want to do and a 'video'(more like a slideshow) will start and you can watch how to thread for that specific thing.

    I wasn't sure if it would work but this is the 2nd window that opens so you can try using this link first too.
    http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/mediafiles/Huskylock_family_2009/Threading_guides/HV/index_en.html

    Also there is a Viking yahoo group for the Viking 936 which is the one I have (and there's a great story about how afraid I am of mine I can tell you ha) and in their files are threading guides that are awesome as they've supersized them closeup to help threading for almost any technique. I don't know how well those will work with the new serger however but it's a shot you can choose to check out if you want to. They may help.
    This is the link to the Viking 936 group. Diana Sedolia who is a well known Viking educator frequently helps in the group answering questions. She is awesome and knows sergers really well.
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Viking936users/

    I just searched yahoo groups and don't see one for the s21 but then I knew there were some great youtube videos so I searched. I did find one that might help although it's for the Huskylock H/Class 200 but I have looked at the newer ones and think they are fairly close in looks and probably threading other than the coverlock since they don't all have that I am sure. About 2:25 min into this she shows threading - not the best but that one door under the needle where you need to thread through for the lower looper might be where you are having a problem and she does show it but it goes kinda fast and she gets her head in the way but it still shows the general area and it might be enough to remind you of that one since the newer ones are color coded for the thread paths. Check that video here
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgBXpsuLziA

    As far as my Viking 936 serger which used to be the top of the line and many still say it is still top of the line even though they are not making them and came out with the new ones like yours. I've owned mine now for about 5 yrs, if not one or two more. I took all the classes to learn how to thread and do all the things which can be done as well as converting the serger over to the coverlock stitch. I did really well too in class. She showed us how to thread it and then we each did it. Then OMG she cut the threads and ripped them out forcing us to do it again .......and again...........and again. We really learned how to thread our sergers. LOL BUT, do you know I have NEVER used it outside of class? I am afraid of it and still have no hours on mine other than the class time. My husband teases me about it because now it's out of warranty and I've never even used this thing. I really should be shot but thankfully he loves me. I did tell myself that 2012 was the year I WOULD learn this thing. I have to get it in to be cleaned and oiled though just to satisfy my fear that it's all dried out and has dust and cat hair possibly inside from sitting so long. My Viking store manager told me I should just oil it and it should be fine but I'm not taking that chance.

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