Im working on a couple of Jayme dresses. I made one last night and had a rough time getting the serger to do its thing over the binding areas.

It would serge through the binding but then it seemed like it would push the fabric away from the needles and almost miss the fabric just after the binding. I tried three times for a clean side seam before I just gave up and reinforced with the sewing machine. Any hints on this?

I thought perhaps I should serge to finish the edges of the sides and then just use the sewing machine to attach the side seams. Id much rather just be able to serge the whole thing.

One last question:

When you end/start on the binding, how do you secure the threads? Ive never had much luck pulling through, so do you do a little zig-zag over it or something? I made a tank for Luke last summer and just use fray check, but it started coming undone. Im trying to avoid that again :)

Thanks for whatever you can offer.

I've never used Jayme's pattern, but of course have done similar things. I'm assuming that because of your question, you're putting the binding on the front and back first and then attaching them? Why not attach the front peice and the back peice together first and then do your binding in a big "U". This is what I do. KWIM?

I've had some success with snipping the beginning area to be serged where the blade would be cutting. Basically just a head start of cutting where the blade would've been cutting anyway. That way I can push the front edge of the thick fabric right up to the needle and make sure that the edge of the fabric is in the proper place. Does that make sense? Also, I serge a bit, then stop and push the fabric back toward the needles when it starts pulling away.

On boy shorts I zigzag the serger tail to the seam allowance to avoid unraveling. For clothing, I generally separate the threads, tie them three times, then for added security thread the tail back through the serging.

For some reason I feel like I'm speaking greek today, let me know if that didn't make sense and I'll try again or maybe take some pics to demonstrate. :)

I have done similar patterns the same way meagan posted above. but if you to do it he way you are maybe you need to adjust the presser foot pressure for it to be heavier. That's what I do when I have issues with it wanting to pull away like you describe either with many layers or just heavy fabric.

I pretrim the area, then I shove the fabric as close to the needles as possible. Once the needles grab it, I press down on the front of the presser foot so that the presser foot is level and the fabric gets good grips with the feed dogs. Sometimes I move up the differential feed higher than normal.

You ladies rock!!! :heart:

I never would have thought to pretrim, what a great tip! I use the "shove it under the presser foot harder, with your fingers right where they should NEVER be" method :lol:

When you end/start on the binding, how do you secure the threads?


Start with a 3 inch or so tail of serger thread (on the serger).

Match ends together and stitch 2-3 stitches (you may want to keep the needles in the fabric to hold everything in place).

Lift pressure foot, grasp thread tail and swing it around to the front, so that it will get serged off. Check and make sure everything is still laying flat. Serge. This may take a bit of practice, but it well worth it once you get the hang of it. Many factories hem sleeves first and then lock stitch the side seams.

Let me know if you need a sew and show for it. :) It may take a day or so.

I realized a few minutes ago that the pattern you're using has straps. I was totally thinking "ties". Obviously my method doesn't work in that case. :o LOL

I realized a few minutes ago that the pattern you're using has straps. I was totally thinking "ties". Obviously my method doesn't work in that case. :o LOL

;oops: so was I... lol

You can do it the way Meagan suggested- sew up the side seams, and then sew the binding strip for the strap with the sewing machine. Press the seam open, then iron the binding so that you only have to sew it on, sew circularly. That may have made no sense though, lol, I am bad at explanations. But, it will come out clean, you won't have to worry about securing your serging since it will be enclosed in the binding.