When you serge with knits, do you use ball point needles your serger?

:)

I should but I usually serge with universals.

Nope, never. I've been told over and over again that you don't need them with a serger. Something about the lack of bobbin thread or something like that. Don't quiz me too close because I don't have a good grasp on what the difference is.

I do when I remember to change to ball points. I have some finicky knits that run if I use normal needles.
-Jill

I'm feeling like I should! I've been working with some solid ribknits for pants for rubes and they have tiny holes at the seam.

yup! I do serge knits with universals sometimes though.

I always sew with ballpoint needles on my serger when using knits now. I don't know if I'm the only one who has had this problem but a several years back I just used what needles came with the machine and made a bunch of PJ's using PRR and a couple of others knits as well. I noticed all around the bindings and the areas where I serged had little tiny holes, kind of looked like perforations around those areas. These came through several months after I made them. Apparently, I found out the needle broke the fibers rather than going around the fibers (this is what the ballpoint is supposed to do). Now that I switched and started using the ballpoint needles I've never had a problem since. It just killed me to see so many of my PJ's ruined. I guess the lighter jersey are more vulnerable to this or at least in my experience it has.

:ditto: what Pam said... i always use BP's since the orange ribknit fiasco. :wah:

I use what is in my serger at the time.

ditto to Pam only my issue was with some disgruntled interlock.

I actually only own ballpoint needles for my serger- I use it on wovens and even used it on my starched rayon dress last week with no problems. Knits are the only thing so far that has compained to me about what needle is in there, so ballpoints only it is!

Sarah

thanks for adding that about wovens sarah - I'm switching when I pull my machines out into their new room some day.

I use ballpoints on with knits and thin wovens. On twills and denims I use universal. Mostly because I'm afraid the ballpoints will make the machine work harder on those.

I've had the holes in the serged seams thing from universals also, which is why I always use ballpoints.

I do the same with knits and light wovens and use Jeans needle for the heavy terry's/Deco fabrics especially when there is some thicker seamed spots. My ballpoint needles break on the heavy duty stuff, I ruined my stitch plate a couple weeks back and had to replace it, my serger gets a good work out :)

A useful thing I've been doing lately:
I've been using a small (1"x2") post it note on my serger and sewing machine to tell me which needles are in my serger. I switch all the time and forget what's in there and my eyes can't see those microscopic numbers. It's help a bunch and keeps me from throwing away so many needles :)

Pam

I use ballpoints on with knits and thin wovens. On twills and denims I use universal. Mostly because I'm afraid the ballpoints will make the machine work harder on those.

I've had the holes in the serged seams thing from universals also, which is why I always use ballpoints.