The Sewing Room

Mumof2_2

I wonder if I can ask your advice please. I bought an overlocker on a whim (yes, it was a whim) and now I have it I have no idea how to use it and it's just sat in a cupboard. I had a little go with it yesterday and it seems like a thread has come out somewhere and of course I don't know how to fix it! So now I've got to try and pluck up my courage to rethread it *gulp*.

For those of you who have an overlocker do you think it's worth persevering or do you think I should just sell it on? It's a brand new Janome overlocker from John Lewis. I have bought a tutorial video from Craftsy on how to use an overlocker but haven't got far with it yet.

Many thanks.

hmo

Mumof2 wrote: »

I wonder if I can ask your advice please. I bought an overlocker on a whim (yes, it was a whim) and now I have it I have no idea how to use it and it's just sat in a cupboard. I had a little go with it yesterday and it seems like a thread has come out somewhere and of course I don't know how to fix it! So now I've got to try and pluck up my courage to rethread it *gulp*.

For those of you who have an overlocker do you think it's worth persevering or do you think I should just sell it on? It's a brand new Janome overlocker from John Lewis. I have bought a tutorial video from Craftsy on how to use an overlocker but haven't got far with it yet.

Many thanks.

You have to thread them up in a specific order, just unthread it all and re thread take your time

Once it's all done hold all threads in one band pull back on each thread at the top to make sure all threads are in the tensions properly

I didn't use mine for ages but I use it all the time one for overlooking seams

hmo

pennib wrote: »

HMO Such lovely aprons, messy me would be frightened of getting stuff down them! Like the free standing lace, was that done freestyle on your machine?

This is another mouse. Monsieur Maurice Mouse. He is French and all ready to woo the Madamoiselles. He is sitting on his paper mache toadstool and holding a 'fresh' flower:)

Not freestyle it's done using the embroidery side of my new machine I bought a janome memorycraft 9900 in the summer it's a combined sewing and embroidery machine

hmo

winniepooh wrote: »

Pennib another fantastic make HMO love the aprons and the purple lace is really really nice, may I be cheeky and ask how its made

Hi yes I got the design off the net you have to make sure they are free standing lace you hoop up a water soluble stabiliser and stitch the design on it it's weird not having fabric in the hoop once it's all stitched you dump it in a bow, of water and the stabiliser dissolves and you are left with the lace design.

hmo

pennib wrote: »

HMO Such lovely aprons, messy me would be frightened of getting stuff down them! Like the free standing lace, was that done freestyle on your machine?

This is another mouse. Monsieur Maurice Mouse. He is French and all ready to woo the Madamoiselles. He is sitting on his paper mache toadstool and holding a 'fresh' flower:)

Your mouse looks lovely

Mumof2_2

hmo wrote: »

You have to thread them up in a specific order, just unthread it all and re thread take your time

Once it's all done hold all threads in one band pull back on each thread at the top to make sure all threads are in the tensions properly

I didn't use mine for ages but I use it all the time one for overlooking seams

Thank you. I actually got brave last night and cut the threads and thought right, this isn't going to beat me - re-threaded it (but got it wrong), cut the threads again and was re-threading it when DH came in and helped me cos I was stuck! DH is good at working stuff out - he sorted it and it works :T! Now he knows what it should be like he's going to show me how to do it so we should be OK.

Already just from the re-threading I feel I know the machine better so have decided to keep it and check out the Craftsy lessons I bought and some books! Not going to let an overlocker beat me!

Thanks again

Savvy_sewing

Mumof2 wrote: »

Thank you. I actually got brave last night and cut the threads and thought right, this isn't going to beat me - re-threaded it (but got it wrong), cut the threads again and was re-threading it when DH came in and helped me cos I was stuck! DH is good at working stuff out - he sorted it and it works :T! Now he knows what it should be like he's going to show me how to do it so we should be OK.

Already just from the re-threading I feel I know the machine better so have decided to keep it and check out the Craftsy lessons I bought and some books! Not going to let an overlocker beat me!

Thanks again

I love my over lockers. Yep greedy me I have two now. One is set up with white thread and one with black. As they are used on repairs a lot. And when making bags I can run them up so fast.

Mumof2_2

Thanks for the words of advice re overlocking.

As for sewing, finished my 2 cushion covers (will take photos later) - they're not the best I've ever seen but we've all got to start somewhere haven't we. Next I'm going to do an apron which, apparently, is going to teach me to do bias binding and patch pockets - hmmm, we'll see !

pennib

I've never used an overlocker sounds complicated! Well done perservering with it and for DH helping you.

hmo

Mumof2 wrote: »

Thank you. I actually got brave last night and cut the threads and thought right, this isn't going to beat me - re-threaded it (but got it wrong), cut the threads again and was re-threading it when DH came in and helped me cos I was stuck! DH is good at working stuff out - he sorted it and it works :T! Now he knows what it should be like he's going to show me how to do it so we should be OK.

Already just from the re-threading I feel I know the machine better so have decided to keep it and check out the Craftsy lessons I bought and some books! Not going to let an overlocker beat me!

Thanks again

Have a look on youtube before you spend money on crafty also I think I've got some Overlocker tips pinned on my sewing Pinterest board you should be able to get to it through my blog