The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Overlockers & Coverstitchers => Topic started by: CraftyIrish on April 02, 2021, 21:49:37 PM

Title: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 02, 2021, 21:49:37 PM
Finally ordered my new overlocker before everything was gone.
(https://i.imgur.com/xSLpFFU.jpg)
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Ellabella on April 02, 2021, 22:15:02 PM
You should enjoy that!
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 02, 2021, 22:17:33 PM
I can't wait to try it out. I have so many things lined up for it.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: So Chic on April 03, 2021, 11:27:27 AM
I think that’s the same machine as the Bernina 800DL, which was made by Juki for Bernina.  It’s a great machine and I hope you enjoy using it.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Bodgeitandscarper on April 03, 2021, 12:02:08 PM
Oooh, nice!!  You'll wonder why you never got one sooner!
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 03, 2021, 17:34:05 PM
Any recommendations on what thread to buy.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Marniesews on April 03, 2021, 17:53:54 PM
Juki aren't Prima donnas so any branded thread including the budget ones. The cheaper ones create more lint but that just means you clean it more regularly.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: BrendaP on April 03, 2021, 20:59:28 PM
Start with the basics - black, white and grey will work for most fabrics as you don't really see the overlocking once a garment is finished.  Cream is useful too. 
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Happymrsg on April 04, 2021, 11:32:40 AM
I have that overlocker. Enjoy it  :loveit:
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 04, 2021, 11:37:29 AM
I have that overlocker. Enjoy it  :loveit:
Hey what brand of thread do you use in it and what size
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: So Chic on April 04, 2021, 11:51:41 AM
As marnie said Jukis are not prima donnas and I use whatever thread is to hand and I only use thread matching the garment in the left hand needle.  The cheaper threads tend to make more fluff so you have to clean the machine a bit more than usual.  Woolly nylon is nice to use on stretch fabrics as it covers the seams well.  As the seams don't show normally I find it's a good way of using up unwanted thread and I would add navy and a dark cream to the colours BrendaP suggested.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Helen M on April 04, 2021, 11:53:58 AM
A tip for buying extra shades is to buy 1 cone and wind off onto 2 or 3 machine bobbins if you want a match for a particular garment. Also have a light grey and a dark grey and maybe an off white or cream. You can mix shades as well say a darker for the upper looper thread, that is normally on top side, (think of a turned up hem on a skirt or trouser) and one that isn't quite such a good match for the under looper.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: HenriettaMaria on April 04, 2021, 12:59:46 PM
Keep an eye on the Middle of Lidl for cheap overlocker thread in a fairly limited assortment of colours (from memory they have black, white, royal blue and red).  Never noticed Aldi doing it (they've got habby on offer at the moment but no separate thread).

Empress Mills do overlocking thread in cops up to 5000m if you need a specific colour.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Happymrsg on April 04, 2021, 15:20:47 PM
@CraftyIrish  i'm still using cones of thread that came free when i bought my first overlocker 12 years ago from SMD. I have had a few overlockers in the years since then because I swapped when I couldn't thread them! I'm sticking with this Juki one now. I also have some thread bought from Lidl & some passed on to me. They all seem to work fine.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Ellabella on April 04, 2021, 15:30:15 PM
I use anything I can get hold of in the O/L.

It’s great for using up all sorts of odds and sods. If you want a particular match, 4 reels of Moon thread work well.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Bodgeitandscarper on April 04, 2021, 17:18:21 PM
I generally like my overlocker threads to match, so another vote for buying 4 reels of Moon thread.  BTW, you can also get larger cones of Moon thread.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: BrendaP on April 04, 2021, 22:39:58 PM
A tip for buying extra shades is to buy 1 cone and wind off onto 2 or 3 machine bobbins if you want a match for a particular garment. Also have a light grey and a dark grey and maybe an off white or cream. You can mix shades as well say a darker for the upper looper thread, that is normally on top side, (think of a turned up hem on a skirt or trouser) and one that isn't quite such a good match for the under looper.

Winding from a cone onto a machine bobbin is OK for needle threads (assuming your bobbins will fit onto the overlocker's spool pins) but not practical for the looper threads as they use so much more thread.  As a minimum you need two cones of any colour.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: BrendaP on April 04, 2021, 22:47:45 PM
I generally like my overlocker threads to match, so another vote for buying 4 reels of Moon thread.  BTW, you can also get larger cones of Moon thread.

But be aware that Moon is a bit thicker than 'regular' sewing thread such as Guetermann SewAll.  It's fine for thicker fabrics, but if you are using the overlocker for neatening seam allowances you probably don't want the extra bulk.  The big cones of overlocker thread are thinner than SewAll.  Also on a pennies per yard or cents per metre basis the large cones work out cheaper in the end. 

Start with the basic colours then add more as and when you need to.  Either buy cones in sets of four or two vaguely matching cones for the loopers and two smaller spools for the needles.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Helen M on April 04, 2021, 23:24:30 PM
Winding from a cone onto a machine bobbin is OK for needle threads (assuming your bobbins will fit onto the overlocker's spool pins) but not practical for the looper threads as they use so much more thread.  As a minimum you need two cones of any colour.

I wind from a cone of overlock thread so I can use on the other looper thread and needle/s. My machine bobbins fit my Brother overlocker spool pins okay I've always used the spool caps to prevent them moving just in case
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 23, 2021, 15:12:12 PM
Update on my overlocker.  :(
Its stuck in the UK  and it might not get delivered to the shop for another week or 2
But John at sewing machine.ie  has been brilliant i was talking to him yesterday and told him to email the details of what machines he has left,  on the one i picked he knocked off some money on it, it was 699 and is given it to me for 629. I paid the remainder today and its on the way to me.
juki  (https://www.sewingmachines.ie/shop/overlockers/juki-overlockers-2/juki-mo-654de/)
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 24, 2021, 11:35:34 AM
Its here omg  :dance:
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Ploshkin on April 24, 2021, 11:41:06 AM
Have fun playing.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Celia on April 24, 2021, 13:22:23 PM
What’s the first make?
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 24, 2021, 13:35:33 PM
What’s the first make?

I have pattern cut out for a t-shirt for my little lad. I washed and dried my fabric a week ago.
I need to cut my grass and do some weeding first.

So do I just overlocker it together or sew on the machine first.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Celia on April 24, 2021, 13:49:51 PM
Overlock it together if you are sure it will fit, much better for stretchy material
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: HenriettaMaria on April 25, 2021, 11:14:16 AM
This video explains how to do the neckline of a t-shirt

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2008/10/27/video-a-neckline-binding-for-knits
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 25, 2021, 14:25:07 PM
I tried 3 times to do the neckband with the measurements the pattern gave me. So I thought I would make the neckband a bit bigger and now its not sitting right
The neck measurement is 16 1/2 inch. The pattern said to cut it at 14 1/2 x 2" so I went and cut a new one at 15" the fabric is 95% cotton 5% spandex.

Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Acorn on April 25, 2021, 14:34:54 PM
I would normally cut the neckband at 80% of the neck size - so 13.2" here (plus seam allowance, of course), then pin the mid back, mid front and the centre of each side, and stretch to fit between the pins.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 25, 2021, 16:17:33 PM
Well I left the neckband the why it was and once its on its not 2 bad.  :o

Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: BrendaP on April 25, 2021, 16:48:34 PM
Your little one looks happy so it's fine. 0_0

The neckband is coming forwards a little bit, which suggests that it was very slightly too long; you do need to stretch it a bit all the way around, but fabrics vary and it is sometimes a bit of trial and error.  The stretchier the fabric the more you need to stretch the neckband.
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: CraftyIrish on April 25, 2021, 17:57:27 PM
Yeah when it was 14 1/2 I stretched all around and the it was to small so I thought maybe 15 would do it but maybe next time I'll try it at 14 3/4
Title: Re: New overlocker
Post by: Renegade Sewist on April 26, 2021, 05:49:24 AM
Yeah when it was 14 1/2 I stretched all around and the it was to small so I thought maybe 15 would do it but maybe next time I'll try it at 14 3/4

Usually I make them a bit shorter than they say, stretch and pin as outlined above. The key is a nice steam press when you're done.