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5 ways to finish a serger hem

March 9, 2017

 

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“How do you finish your serger stitch since you can’t back stitch?”; “What do I do with the long serger tail ?” ….just a few of the  serger questions we’ve seen in our group. So, today in the blog I will show you 5 easy ways to finish your serger seam. These techniques will definitely come in handy when your seams will not be enclosed in a hem or they won’t be serged over in a subsequent pattern step.

1. Let’s start with my most used one, and the easiest method since it does not involve any other tools. Serge your fabric together and chain off a 5- 6 inches tail. Simply tie a knot as close as possible to the edge and done! It will not unravel and it took you 20 seconds to do. 🙂

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TIP: For a cleaner look you can tack down the seam with your sewing machine. Simply stitch down the serged edge half an inch  towards the back.

2. Another simple way to finish your serged seam is to snip the tail close to the edge and then add a little dab of Fray Block or Fray Check. This will prevent your seam from coming undone. This method is my least favorite since it takes a while for the liquid fray block to dry and they are not always 100% secure.

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3. A third way to insure that you have a nice smooth finish to your serged seam is to chain off 4-5 inches then using a needle gently unstitch the chain so you have 4 threads. Take the two needle threads and the two looper threads and tie a double knot. Carefully snip the threads as close to the knot as possible.

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4. One of the most popular ways to finish a serger seam is the “weaving through” method. In order to do that you will be chaining off your stitches about 5 inches, then you will be using a knitting or crochet suture needle to weave the chain in the looper stitches. Grab the needle and thread the chain through the needle eye. Slowly weave the chain through the looper stitches about an inch or so. Carefully trim the rest of the chain stitch.

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5. The last finishing method is the most “complex” one and it will need a bit of practice. It is not difficult, you just need to pay extra attention. Serge your seam and when you get to the end of the edge, lift your presser foot, gently but firmly pull the fabric just enough that you can flip it on the other side. Disengage the serger knife and serge in the opposite direction for an inch or two. Stop, lift your presser foot and carefully pull the fabric on the side away from the foot. Chain off a couple of inches and then cut the chain as close to the fabric as possible. In doing this “faux backstitching” you will end up with a beautiful finish that is also very secure.

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There you have it! Hope you found these 5 easy ways to finish off your seam helpful and that you’ll refer back to them when you’ll be sewing the new cami patterns that Judy sneaked on the P4P Instagram page. 😉

Alex

 

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Filed Under: Frequently Asked Questions, P4P University, Sewing Techniques, Uncategorized 12 Comments

Comments

  1. Jeanette says

    March 10, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Another thing you can do to secure the beginning of a seam is to pull the thread tail from the back of the presses foot to the front and slip it under the presses foot before you begin to serge the seam. The knife will cut off any extra threads, and your seam will be secure.

    Also, if you need to start or stop in the middle of a side of fabric, lower your stitch length to “1” for a few stitches. This is similar to the way a sewing machine takes a few stitches in place. Works great on projects where you need to leave an opening to turn the project inside-out.

    Reply
    • Sherri Jones says

      July 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      Great tips, Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Lorraine says

    November 17, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    I just got my first serger a week or so ago and have struggled with this issue. THANK YOU so much!

    Reply
  3. Kate says

    March 4, 2020 at 7:32 am

    Can you do method 5 on a corner that you’ve already serged over?

    Reply
    • patternsforpirates says

      March 4, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      If I understand the question correctly…then yes 🙂

      Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. 50K Fan Celebration :: Exposed Elastic PegLegs Hack - Patterns for Pirates says:
    April 24, 2017 at 7:32 am

    […] back through using a large needle, however you can also use one of the methods Alex described here. The last step is to hem your Pegs according to the tutorial directions and you’re all […]

    Reply
  2. Petite Pegs - easy cuffs hack - Patterns for Pirates says:
    February 8, 2018 at 8:51 am

    […] Note: You may find it easier to attach the flat cuff to the leg instead of sewing the inseams and the cuff in a loop. You can certainly do that, you will be sewing the inseam after you attach the cuffs. You can read about some ways to finish your serger seam here. […]

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