Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse

More Serging!

Ok, let's really get those sergers out and get going.  I made a lot of these zipper bags on my serger in minutes.  I swear it took longer to pick the fabric out and cut it than it did to insert the zipper and serge up the seams.  Yes, I put the zipper in on the serger.  I actually find it easier on the serger with a cording foot than on my sewing machine as the zipper teeth ride right inside the channel of the foot.  This pattern came from the book "Ready, Set, Serge".  It has lots of easy projects to make on your serger like a lined Christmas stocking, gift bag and pillowcase.  Each projects comes with an easy way to make it and a fancier way to make it.  I always make the easy one first then move on to the more advanced one just to make it easier on myself.

On the inside of some of the bags I made, I used P.U.L. fabric.  That's the very soft polysomethingorother like they use for wetsuits.  Don't buy the brand that JoAnn Fabrics carries.  Make the effort to go to your local quilting/fabric store to get it as it has a much better and softer feel to it and goes through your serger or sewing machine much nicer than the JoAnn Fabrics' brand.  If you don't care about waterproofing the inside,  just pick another cotton fabric to coordinate with the main fabric.  I used the P.U.L. in some as I thought as makeup bags, it would be nicer to have the ability to wipe the inside off with a damp cloth.  With cotton as both the outside and inside, you could just throw the bag in the washer!

Happy sewing,
loreen

Serger Projects

I've added a new photo album of some of pictures of serger projects I have taught over the last 2 years.  It reminds me that I haven't been using my serger as much as I should and I do enjoy using it.  Since it's a Babylock and has the self-threading, I have no excuse not to get a project going. 

Here's a picture of a fancy pillowcase I made last year.  Doing heirloom sewing on the serger is pretty easy, sometimes easier than own my regular sewing machine.  There's puffing and cording on the cuff edge of the pillowcase that I did with the serger.  I added some ruching that I did on my sewing machine.  It's okay to use your serger and sewing machine to make a project.  Sometimes we think that we should use one or the other or the serger is just useful for nicely finished seams.  The serger gathers nicely by just adjusting the differentials......the feeding of the fabric as you serge.  So get your serger out, dust it off and try a small project.  You'll have fun!

Happy sewing,
loreen

Lots of Snow

We finally made it to New Hampshire.  Of course, it was right after a snow storm and some of the coldest temperatures of the season!!  What a jolt from Florida weather just days before!  Haven't been able to do any sewing as all of my sewing belongings are being shipped up and haven't arrived yet. 

I'm off tomorrow to check out a few of the local sewing machine and fabrics stores in this area.  It's always fun to see different fabrics from those we have in some of the Florida shops.

Happy New Year to All!
loreen