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My Fun and Festive Gather Together Serger Apron

Posted on December 23, 2021December 23, 2021 by jghuiz

Every year my fellow employees and I sew up holiday aprons to display in the store. For my 2021 holiday apron I made the Gather Together Serger Apron by Baby Lock.

The Gather Together Serger Apron pattern was based on a sewing pattern by Pat Bravo of Art Gallery Fabrics, which was adapted for serger construction. See links to both apron patterns in the Resources section of this post.

How I Used My Serger

I serged the entire apron using only my Baby Lock Evolution serger. It’s a great apron pattern to try making with your serger. You can use your serger to make as little or as much of the apron as you like.

Edge Finishes

I used a variety of edge finishes to complete this apron, which utilized different stitches and/or attachments.

Overlock stitch to keep raw edges from unravelling
Rolled hem stitch for ruffles
Wave stitch for fabric flower
Hem sides of apron with ¼” plain hemmer attachment and chain stitch
Encase edges of bodice and make neck straps with a double fold bias binder and chain stitch

Gathering and Ruffles

I gathered the ruffles using two different techniques.

Four thread overlock technique which makes adjustable gathers, similar to a double row of basting stitches using a sewing machine. This technique is perfect for gathering fabric where you need to adjust the gathers to fit.
Narrow cover stitch technique which makes permanent gathers. The gathers created by the cover stitch are much fuller than those created by an overlock stitch. However, they can not be adjusted.
Long stitch lengths and differential feed are used in both gathering techniques.

Seams and Construction

I serged all seams using a chain stitch.

Feet and Attachments

I used the following feet and attachments to construct the Gather Together Serger Apron:

Double fold bias binder 36mm
Plain hemmer ¼”
Cover/chain stitch foot
Clear foot. The pattern did not call for this foot, but I like it’s visibilty. I thought the visibility of the foot made it easier for me to attach the double fold bias binding to the apron bodice.
Standard foot

Photo Overview of my Gather Together Serger Apron

Wave Stitch

I used the wave stitch to finish the edges of the fabric flower. Metallic thread in both loopers gave the edges a bit of holiday sparkle. If your serger isn’t capable of the wave stitch you could substitute a rolled hem or three thread overlock stitch.

Three Thread Rolled Hem

I used a three thread rolled hem to finish the edges of the ruffles, with metallic thread in the upper looper.

Gathering The Bodice

The bodice of the apron was gathered using a four thread overlock stitch. After gathering with my serger, the bodice still needed a bit more gathering. Gathers created with the four thread overlock are adjustable. So I slid the fabrics along the needle threads adjusting the bodice edges to the proper dimensions. See link about gathering in the Resources section of this post.

Hem Sides of Skirt with ¼” Plain Hemmer Attachment

I love to try new things with my serger. Using the serger plain hemmer was a new experience for me. I hemmed the side edges of the apron’s skirt using the ¼” plain hemmer, a chain stitch and a standard presser foot. My practice piece turned out perfectly. It must have been beginner’s luck because the first hem on the actual project took me three tries to get it right. I figured out that I needed to generously turn/roll the edge of the fabric in advance and keep it turned as I fed it into the attachment. Then the plain hemmer worked really well. The second side hem of the apron looked beautiful on the first try! See the link in the Resources section for tips for using a serger ¼” plain hemmer.

The plain hemmer rolls the hem to the top side as it is serged. So you feed your fabric into the attachment with the wrong side up. The needle thread will be seen on the back side of your finished project. The chain looper thread will be seen on the right side of your project.

Finish Edges of Bodice and Create Straps Using a Double Fold Bias Binder Attachment

I followed the video class/instructions to make the apron. However, instead of making the top edge and neck straps all one piece, I bound the top edge first. Then I bound the side edges of the bodice and continued the binding from the sides to make the neck straps.

Gathering Ruffles Using a Narrow Cover Stitch

I used a narrow cover stitch along with the cover stitch foot to gather the narrow ruffle strip, bottom ruffle skirt and flower. The narrow cover stitch gathers fabric much more tightly than gathering with an overlock stitch. But the cover stitch gathers are not adjustable like the gathers made by serger overlock stitching.

Construct Seams

I used the chain stitch to serge the seams of the bodice, skirt and waistband/ties. Serging with a chain stitch is very similar to using a sewing machine straight stitch.

I attached the narrow ruffle and bottom ruffle to the skirt of the apron using a chain stitch too.

Gather Together Serger Apron

I hope you enjoyed learning about how I serged my Gather Together Serger Apron.

Resources

Using a Serger Plain Hemmer Attachment https://overtheedge.blog/tutorials/serger-plain-hemmer-attachment/

Tips for Using a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder Attachment https://overtheedge.blog/tutorials/serger-double-fold-bias-binder-tutorial/

Gathering Fabric Using a Serger Overlock Stitch https://overtheedge.blog/tutorials/how-to-gather-fabric-using-a-serger-overlock-stitch/

Links to apron patterns:

Find the serger version – Gather Together Serger Apron by Pam Mahshie of Baby Lock at www.sewedclasses.com

Find the free sewing version of the pattern at: http://www.patbravo.com/freeprojects/sewing/Spiceitup-1.pdf

Holiday Serging with Jen

Posted on December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 by jghuiz

As I started pulling together ideas for this blog post, I realized I did quite a few holiday serging projects this year. I thought it would be fun to share my projects with you. Hopefully, Holiday Serging with Jen, will inspire you to try some future holiday serging of your own.

If you’ve been following my blog you’ve probably noticed that I always find ways to incorporate the use of my serger into my projects. For the holidays this year I made stockings, a tree skirt, gift wrap, an apron, some potholders, ornaments and a quilt, all using my serger. Some of these projects were made with only a serger, while others utilized a serger and maybe a sewing machine or some hand sewing.

Christmas Tree Skirt

Does this tree skirt look familiar to you? In case you didn’t recognize it, it’s also my watermelon patio table topper I made with my serger that I blogged about this past summer. It fits around the umbrella post on my patio table.

We purchased an artificial Christmas tree this year, and I didn’t have a tree skirt to fit it. Since my table topper is basically a tree skirt in disguise, why not use it as my Christmas tree skirt too? It was actually my husband’s idea. It’s the perfect size for my new tree and the red and green fabrics I used in the tree skirt are from a Patrick Lose’s Christmas collection.

The watermelon design was my own, but I followed the basic tree skirt assembly instructions from the free pattern that came with my wedge ruler. I have a Ten Degree Wedge Ruler from Phillips Fiber Arts. This company has several patterns available that utilize the wedge rulers. See the resources section at bottom of this post for a link to the website.

I used a serger four thread overlock stitch to piece together the topper and I used a serger double fold bias binder to bind the circular edges. Here is a link to my tutorial if you would like more information on how to bind the edge of a quilt with a serger double fold bias binder.

Bind a Quilt with a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder

Stockings

When I pulled my old stockings out of storage, I realized how tattered they looked. It was time to retire them. For the new stockings I chose mostly bright red and green fabrics that coordinate with my watermelon tree skirt. The serger technique I used to make my stockings came from the book, Ready Set Serge, by Georgie Melot. I didn’t use Georgie’s pattern for the stocking shape because I already had a favorite stocking shape. I used the stocking shape from the pattern, Stocking Sweet Stocking, by Bean Counter Quilts.

Many years ago a customer brought in some beautiful quilted stockings to the store where I work. I loved the shape of her stockings, so I asked her what pattern she used. It was the Stocking Sweet Stocking pattern. I’ve never made the quilted twister stocking, but I’ve made many serger stockings using that pattern for the shape.

I used a four thread overlock to construct most of the stocking. Using a sewing machine, I top stitched the hanging loop and basted the layers together before serging around the stocking. Georgie Melot doesn’t use batting or tell you to baste the layers before serging, but I found the fabrics shifted less as I serged if I first basted the layers. If layers shift when you baste, no big deal. You simply take out the stitches and try again. If they shift while you are serging (and cutting) it’s much harder to fix. Plus, I like how the serging compresses the layers to make the seams flatter in the stocking.

Batting or no Batting?

I made one stocking with batting and one without batting so I could compare both methods. Both stockings turned out well. But I prefer the stability of the stockings with the batting. I used a thin sew in fleece batting by Pellon, but many other battings would work too. You can see in the photo below that the stocking without batting is a little floppy. The stocking with batting holds its shape.

Fabric Gift Wrap

Fabric gift wrap is beautiful and can be used over and over again. I’ve been using fabric gift wrap for many years. The serger is a perfect tool for finishing the raw edges of your fabri gift wrap edges quickly and neatly. You can simply serge the edges of a piece of fabric just like you would with a cloth napkin and use it like wrapping paper. Or you can create a variety of gift bags with your serger. Check out my blog post and tutorial on serger made fabric gift wrap.

How to Make Fabric Gift Wrap with a Serger

Beautifully Wrapped Gifts Made Simple with a Serger

Apron

Every year at our store we make holiday aprons to display. This was my apron for 2020 and it was based on Kwik Sew pattern 4284.

I applied all of the binding on the apron using my 36mm double fold bias binder and a serger chain stitch. I used the same set up to apply the binding to my apron as I did for my watermelon tree skirt. Here are the links in case you would like to learn more.

How to use a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder Video

Serger Double Fold Bias Binder Tutorial

Pot Holders

These potholders were a bonus project made with the leftover fabric from my apron. For the one on the left I made my own quilted fabric with my sewing machine. Then I used cotton thread with a three thread overlock wide and a small stitch length (can’t remember how small) and serged the edge. The one on the right was made by layering the fabrics and serging around the circle with a four thread overlock. Then I flipped the finger pockets over to conceal the serger stitches. The hanging loops were made from leftover bias fabric strips from the apron and the serger 36mm double fold bias binder.

Ornaments

These ornaments all began with a folded piece of fabric, which I quickly and easily made with the cover stitch on my Baby Lock Evolution and the belt loop binder or double fold bias binder. Then I grabbed my hand sewing needle and combined the fabric “ribbons” with beads to make the ornaments. Your choice of fabric will determine whether your ornaments are fun and whimsical or lovely and elegant.

Check out my blog post about experimenting with your serger to make the best fabric ribbons for ornaments:

How to Make Tree Ornaments Using a Serger

and my tutorial for more information on making your own ribbon candy ornaments using your serger

https://overtheedge.blog/tutorials/ribbon-candy-tree-ornament-tutorial-for-sergers/

Quilt

At the store this past spring most of the clerks participated in a fun activity for National Quilting Month. We created our own quilt patterns using only a layer cake for the fabric. Then we taught a class based on our designs. I called my quilt design, Forty Two Ten by Jen. Of course I had to use my serger to make my half square triangles (but you could also make it on a sewing machine.)

I also had a christmas layer cake, Jingle by Deb Strain of Moda, that I wanted to use. So I made a bunch of half square triangles with my serger and pieced them together to make this throw quilt for the holidays.

I considered three different layouts for the half square triangles in my holiday quilt. The winning layout was the friendship star in figure 3. But the giant flying geese in figure 2 was a close second. I finished piecing the quilt top earlier this year, but the layering and quilting will need to wait until next year…

Here is the link to my quilt tutorial for Forty Two Ten by Jen and my serger half square triangle video if you would like to give it a try:

Forty Two Ten By Jen Serger Quilt Tutorial

Holiday Serging with Jen

I hope you enjoyed learning about the many ways I used my serger this holiday season. Happy Holidays and Happy Serging! – Jen

Resources

Stocking pattern used by Jen: http://www.beancounterquilts.com/

Wedge ruler for Jen’s tree skirt: https://www.phillipsfiberart.com/shop/-FREE-FREE-FREE-/p/A-Ten-Degree-Free-Patternthe-one-that-used-to-be-on-the-backing-card-x12926655.htm

Bind a Quilt with a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder

Posted on June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 by jghuiz

Would you like to learn how to bind a quilt using a serger double fold bias binder? If yes, then keep reading! Although I’ve found several videos and articles about the double fold bias binder and its potential as a tool, the internet seems to be lacking in resources about actual projects made using this attachment. So I thought I would try to fill the gaps by sharing my experiences using the attachment on some of my projects.

bind a quilt with a serger double fold bias binder

The project featured in this post is my recently designed and completed Watermelon Patio Table Topper Quilt. It’s basically a christmas tree skirt with a summer twist! The opening in the quilt fits around my patio table umbrella. The topper adds a little fun to my outdoor summer dining. In the future I hope to create an actual pattern for my design, but for now I will share with you how I used the serger double fold bias binder attachment to finish the curved edges of the quilt

Traditional Double Fold Bias Tape

I love the look of traditional bias bound edges, but I am not always excited about applying folded bias tape using traditional methods. If you use pre-folded bias tape and just slide it over the edge of your project and stitch it down, you risk not catching it on the back side. Or you do catch the back side, but your stitches waver because you didn’t catch the bias tape evenly. And pre-made folded bias tape isn’t available in many colors or prints, so often it is hard to find one that matches your project. Sometimes I do make my own double fold bias tape to coordinate with a project, but I don’t enjoy spending all that time at my ironing board pressing the folds into my bias fabric strips.

Serger Applied Double Fold Bias Binding

Now that I’ve experienced using the double fold bias binder for my serger, I’m in love! The serger double fold bias binder attachment folds your bias fabric and attaches it all in one step, saving you time and giving you professional results. To use this attachment you need to make your own bias fabric strips. This does take a little time, but opens up so many creative possibilities because you are not limited to what is available commercially.

Getting Ready to Bind a Quilt with a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder

Things you need to get started:

Serger, capable of chain stitch or cover stitch
Double fold bias binder attachment and attaching screws
Bias cut fabric strip
Quilt or project to bind

Things I’ve Learned About the Serger Double Fold Bias Binder

Practice. You will be guiding the project with your left hand and the bias fabric strip with your right. Grab some scraps and begin with straight edges. Once you’ve mastered the straight edge, experiment with some curves.
Test your binder alignment and settings before jumping into the project. It’s no fun if you have to readjust after you start applying binding to your actual project.
Make sure you keep your project raw edge positioned against the folder. If it migrates away, you may not catch it in the binding.
Don’t be afraid to modify the width of your bias fabric strips slightly to achieve better results. I found that I had better results with 1½” bias strips on my project instead of the recommended 1⅜”.
You may need to change your needle positions for better results with the chain stitch. I found that using the left needle C1 worked much better for me than the right needle C3.
Tweezers are very useful at getting the bias fabric strip into the attachment and under the presser foot.
Make more bias fabric strips than you think you will need. That way you are ready if you have to do a lot of testing or make a mistake. If you have extra left over, you can always use it on another project or for more testing.
The fewer seams in your bias fabric strip, the better. The extra bulk in the seams can sometimes cause little fluctuations in your stitching.
You can’t miter corners with this method of applying binding. You must serge on at the beginning and serge off the end of each edge.

Full Tutorial and Video on How to use the Serger Double Fold Bias Binder

If you want all the details on how to use the serger double fold bias binder to bind a quilt or other project click on the link to read my full tutorial at:

Serger Double Fold Bias Binder Tutorial

I also created a video on how to use a serger double fold bias binder in case you prefer to watch the tool in action. Click on the link below to watch my bias binder video.

How to use a Serger Double Fold Bias Binder Video

Other Examples of Projects with Serger Binding

The serger double fold bias binder attachment is not just for binding quilts. I’ve used it on other projects such as aprons. The aprons below were bound using my serger and the double fold bias binder.

Jen’s Basic Serger Bound Apron – Isn’t this apron cute?! The binding, the ties and the flower on this apron were all done with this tool. Learn how to make this apron in a future project post on my blog.

Festive Holiday Apron – This apron was made from Simplicity pattern 8857. I adapted the instructions slightly so I could use my serger double fold bias binder attachment. All of the red binding on this apron was done with this tool. I was really happy with the results!

Until the Next Project…

I hope you enjoyed this post about how to bind a quilt using serger double fold bias binder. Hope to see you back at my blog soon!

Resources

https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/quilting-basics/machine-minute-evolution-serger-double-fold-bias-binder

My “Cookin in Color Serger” Apron

Posted on January 28, 2020February 12, 2020 by jghuiz

I had been eyeing this cute cherry print fabric for some time. One day at work I noticed the fabric was almost gone. Thinking to myself, “it’s now or never,” I bought the small piece of fabric that was left on the bolt. There it sat in my stash, patiently waiting for the perfect project to come along. And along it did. The pink cherry print fabric graduated from stash to apron. :)

The Pattern

Sue O’Very’s pattern, Cookin in Color Serger Apron, is designed for serger construction. Throughout the pattern, you learn to serge with different techniques, feet and attachments, and the end result is a fun color-blocked apron. For me this pattern was definitely worth making. Now that I have serged my apron, I can say that cooking in my kitchen has never been so colorful!

Highlights of Serging with this Pattern

Applying the pocket zipper using a serger cording foot. What a great way to install a zipper!
Creating the hanging loop using the belt loop binder attachment. I love the belt loop binder, and I will definitely share more with you in future posts.
Embellishing the waistband and ties with Babylock’s exclusive wave stitch. With the right thread, this stitch is gorgeous!

Time to Inspire You

I love to learn new things, don’t you? Would you like to learn to better use your serger? Do you already own the feet and attachments needed for this project? Are you willing to invest in a few feet or attachments to better broaden your serging horizons? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this pattern may be for you. The more you do with your serger, the more skilled you will become.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome. ” – Arthur Ashe

Where to Get More Information About the Pattern

Did my apron inspire you to learn more? Check out the apron tutorial at sueoverydesigns:

https://sueoverydesigns.com/make-serger-apron-zipper-pocket/

Get your own copy of Sue O’Very Designs “Cookin in Color Serger Apron” pattern:

https://sueoverydesigns.com/product/cookin-in-color-serger-apron/