Serger Tension Troubleshooting

Learn how to adjust needle and looper tensions for a perfect finish on your serger. Blog post with close up photos for reference here mellysews.com/how-to-adjust-s...
Links to tools in video, commissions earned on these links
Brother 1034d serger I use in this video available at amzn.to/3eJWHsY (affiliate link)
Wearing in this video: Austin t-shirt, pattern available in my shop here blankslatepatterns.com/produc...
with sleeve hack as seen in this video: • T-shirt Hack - How to ...

[@lyrebird9749]

This was the best video on sergers/overlocker tension as you actually show what the correct and incorrect tension looks like. Thank you.

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lydiadaigle8011]

I wish you could write this in note form so we can print it off and keep it with our sergers.

[@Mellysews]

There is a blog post linked in the video description you could print.

[@carolyngethings]

Thank you so much Melissa! I finally understand what I'm looking at when I try to understand the diagrams showing good/bad tension in my overlocker manual. Using different colour threads was a genius idea and I even think they look really great as a finish!!!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nylirama]

Famous last words. In the process of threading my serger for the first time the thread got out of the left needle dial. As soon as you said it I looked at the machine and voila. Thanks!

[@Mellysews]

Glad you figured it out!

[@lindashort4016]

This was sooooo helpful! I avoid changing thread and always use same kinds of fabric just so I don't have issues with tension. Never understood the diagram in the book. Thank you so much for such a clear explanation!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pjacksreads536]

Great information! Thank you for the detailed explanation. I understand now!

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sweatpantgardener]

wow incredibly helpful video, exactly what I needed and then some. thanks.

[@Mellysews]

Glad it helped!

[@dawnlaverty3592]

Fantastic video! Thank you. I think I’ll be referring to it a lot…x

[@Mellysews]

Glad it's helpful!

[@markdandeneau2904]

When I pull the thread around the tensioner I tighten and loosen the dial. When I feel a good snug tension I use that as a starting point. If all four tension knobs are set like this only minor adjustments will be needed.

[@Mellysews]

👍

[@jephiner]

Thank you so much! Fantastic explanation- thumbs up and subscribing just because you saved my sanity - I’m sure I will dig you too but just so you know!

[@Mellysews]

Awesome, thank you!

[@SentiMoodi]

What if your tension becomes all screwed whilst you’re sewing? Like I was sewing something, with my tension set a bit looser than usual, and all of a sudden, my stitches become very tight and bunched together without my touching anything besides the fabric… Any idea or help why this happened?

[@Mellysews]

Try changing needles and cleaning and oiling your machine.

[@rickbrowder7161]

What if loop thread is wavy and not meeting at the top as it should be?

[@Mellysews]

Click through to the post linked in the video description to see some still photos of different tension issues.

[@carm9716]

How should I set the threads on the left side of the machine?

[@Mellysews]

I don't understand your question, but there are even more details in the blog post linked in the video description

[@carm9716]

@@Mellysews Sorry for the lack of clarity! I'm just having a really hard time threading the machine. The threads won't chain when I run the machine. I spent about an hour threading and rethreading to no avail. Then, one of the needles broke so I gave up. Lol, but thank you for responding!

[@Mellysews]

@@carm9716 Go back to your machine manual and also know that with many brands of sergers, the order in which you thread is very important. Some machines won't make the chain stitch if you thread out of order.

[@pattye9320]

This was great, but would be better if the fabric was white so you could see the threads better. Thank you for the information!

[@Mellysews]

If the fabric was white you couldn't see the right and wrong sides. If you need thread closeups, click through to the blog post linked in the video description.

[@lucylisle]

No help at all!! What’s high setting? 1 or 4? What is normal? This just really confused me

[@Mellysews]

Higher numbers are a higher setting.

[@bwduck47]

Thank you for the blog post as well as this video. I needed both! 🤦‍♀️🫠

[@Mellysews]

Glad it was helpful!