Replies

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 05, 2009 06:30pm | #1

   My serger blind hem foot has a screw that you can adjust for this.  Does yours?  I use a SL of 4-5 and SW 5-5.5 for average fabrics.  Hope this helps.  Mary

1. 
   kapnoel | Jul 05, 2009 07:51pm | #2

   Thanks, dear Mary. Yes, actually my blind hem foot has a screw, but there are no instructions on how to adjust it. How do you adjust yours?
   Thanks in advance for your answer!
   Best regards
   Elissavet

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 06, 2009 08:14am | #3

   First thing that comes to mind is are you using a 3 thread overlock with the right needle?  Not the left.   This might work best for you.

   I'll try to explain, wish I had a photo.  (ok, lefty loosey/righty tighty).  There should be a groove in the right side of the foot to prevent your knife from cutting the fold of the fabric.  You should be able to loosen the screw by turning it to the left.  The little bar with the groove should kind of glide side to side.  It sounds like maybe you are letting too much of the folded fabric go into that groove.  Adjust this bar and then tighten the screw by turning it to the right.  You want the needle to barely catch the fold of the fabric.  Then you adjust the stitch width according to how much fabric is in that fold.  I hope this makes sense. 

   The raw fabric edge goes under the foot and trims it, the loopers overcast just the raw seam edge. 

   I'd use the invisible polyester thread in the needle (nylon will melt when you iron it often) and regular serger thread in the loopers.

   If you can adjust the speed, practice on a slower speed first.

   Hope this works for you.  Sorry it took so long to answer, we've been so busy with the 4th of July celebrations and several birthdays here.  Mary 

    

1. 
   kapnoel | Jul 06, 2009 09:43am | #4

   Dear May,Thank you so much. I understand what you say, I will try it and tell you the results. Unfortunately, I cannot try it before Friday, but I'll tell you then.Best regards
   Elissavet

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 06, 2009 04:36pm | #5

   Good luck! I hope it works for you.  Mary

2. 
   Betakin | Jul 09, 2009 09:38am | #6

   Some sergers do a better blind hem than others. The Elna coverlock that I now use makes the best blind hem ever. I used to have a serger that did not make such a good blind hem and the foot was completely different than the adjustable blind hem foot that I use now. I use this foot for other purposes too. It helps to give very accurate stitching and I have even used it for serging tiny piping.

   The narrow 3 thread blind hem that Mary suggested is what I would try first but if you still have problems you could also try doing a narrow or even wide 2 thread flatlock and even use this stitch for a decorative hem.

3. 
   kapnoel | Jul 14, 2009 12:29pm | #10

   Dear Betakin,

    

   You are right, two thread flatlock works better.

   Thanks for this tip.

    

   Best regards

   Elissavet

4. 
   kapnoel | Jul 14, 2009 12:28pm | #9

   Dear Mary,

   Here is the result I promised:

   -Two threads serging works better than three threads serging;

   -Thicker fabrics work better than thin ones (ex: polyester with cotton and wool with elastan gave a far better result than cool wool);

   -I used the following settings on a Janome serger: Stitch length 4,5-5, tensions at 5, differencial feed at 1 (neutral). Is this OK?

   -Is there any marking on your foot where the folded fabric should be placed? I let 0,5 cm of fabric feed between the end of the metalic part of the foot and the plastic protector for not cutting the fabric and the result I get is not very good: sometimes the needle does not catch the fabric at all and sometimes it catches it so that I can see the  threads from the right side of the fabric. I was thinking perhaps there is a marking I need to respect, how do you do it?

   -All in all, the result I get is not as good as hand stitching and I was wondering what kind of machine industry uses!

    

   Thanks again for your help!

   Best regards

    

   Elissavet

5. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 16, 2009 07:29am | #11

   On mine, I put the fabric to the edge of the protector (which is all one piece and metal), and adjust the stitch width dial.  Hope this helps. 

6. 
   kapnoel | Jul 16, 2009 11:20am | #12

   Thanks, dear Mary, I will try this!

   Best regards

   Elissavet

7. 
   MaryinColorado | Jul 16, 2009 07:09pm | #13

   Did you check online and see if they have a tutorial for your serger and the blind hem foot? 

8. 
   kapnoel | Jul 17, 2009 12:35am | #14

   Yes, dear Mary, I did and unfortunately they don't. Thanks for the tip anyway!
   Best regards
   Elissavet

2. 
   jjgg | Jul 13, 2009 04:54am | #7

   all the time and effort and frustration with doing this, you could put the hem up by hand, it would be invisible!!  You can never really get a good iinvisible hem by machine

1. 
   kapnoel | Jul 14, 2009 12:19pm | #8

   Dear jjgg,

    

   I get your point, so far I have not been a 100% successful, but I hope I can get there with the help of you all!

   I must say that if I had only a small amount of trousers to hem, I would do it by hand, but I hem for the whole family (five persons) and since I bought the foot I might as well try to get it to work properly.

    

   Best regards

    

   Elissavet