Chris's Serger Tips: Flatlock Stitching

[@kandiceshepherd3534]

Great Tips! Thank you

[@lindabridges445]

Thank you

[@heididavis8520]

Please show us how you hemmed the garment. Did you actually have 3 layers of fabric be stitched together?

[@babylocksewing]

Thanks for your patience. We can provide a blind hem foot info sheet via email! Chris says: The instruction sheet (mentioned above) talks about creating a blind hem using the Blind hem foot. I use either that foot(for lightweight fabrics) or the Lace Applicator foot (for medium to heavy fabrics) when using the Flatlock Stitch for a hem. The decorative thread will need to be place in the needle and overlock thread in the lower looper. The instruction sheet will help with how to create the hem and how to adjust the foot. The same type of adjustment will be needed for the Lace Applicator. The goal is to catch a small portion of the fold. When I set-up the fabric prior to stitching I aligned the fold with the raw edge (this edge would typically sit past the fold, like it shows in the instruction sheet). Everything was even. The video should cover alignment and creating a Flatlock stitch. This technique can be done in the round or flat (one seam stitched and the other open, make sure to press the stitch seam open) and the final seam stitched after the hem is created. Where I used the open hem method - anything that was small, like a sleeve and in-the round was done on a wide pant leg or skirt or dress hem. My only suggestion is to practice this! When I first started using this stitch for hemming I practiced and made a number of errors until I got the steps and alignment down that worked for me.

[@annecrawford6957]

PLEASE explain the actual threading are you using two threads I don't understand where the actual needle is being threaded from; it looks like the the Lower looper thread is used as normal but NO upper looper thread is that correct; can someone please explain. I have been wanting to use this technique for so long. THANK YOU

[@KarenQuilts4Fun]

You are correct that you only use a lower looper thread-by engaging the subsidiary looper you are bypassing the upper looper proper-that is why you need to thread the needle through the upper looper tension guide prior to threading the needle-the needle thread is being “used” as the upper looper thread

[@annecrawford6957]

@@KarenQuilts4Fun Karen I really appreciate your response however I'm a visual learner and therefore still struggling with this process. My understanding is that I am threading both the upper and lower looper threads as Normal BUT the upper lower has a further step of being threaded through my left needle and the lower lower has to have the spreader engaged. Is this correct. Sorry to bother you again. Anne

[@KarenQuilts4Fun]

@@annecrawford6957 The O1 needle thread goes thru the upper looper (UL) tension instead of the O1 tension (i.e. is started to be threaded as the UL)--it is then moved leftward through the needle thread guides and threaded into the O1 needle. It is NOT threaded into the looper. By engaging the "subsidiary looper", the O1 needle thread takes the place of the UL thread. The Lower looper thread is threaded normally.--I hope this helps--I can't post an image here

[@marthadismukes8983]

Overlock

[@marthadismukes8983]

Overlock video