I finally got the serger back from the repair shop and everything seems to be working. Now I think my problem is operator error. It’s just going to take some time to figure out where to set the tension based on what I’m trying to do. The first project up was a set of napkins for my grandparents’ picnic basket. It’s a Burlington Basket Co. Hawkeye basket and I love it. So, after attempting to make a rolled hem using the normal hemming foot (I took off the normal foot to put on the rolled hem foot and ended up putting the normal one on again) which doesn’t work that well, I eventually got something that resembled a rolled hem. And they turned out pretty good for my first attempt. Only one of them ended up smaller than the rest, because I had to redo one side. I took a picture of the tension dial settings so I hopefully will have a starting point for my next rolled hem project. I’d rather not have to reinvent the wheel each time I want to do a project.

I finally made Allison a new dance bag.It only took me 6 months to get around to it. It took awhile to figure out what I wanted to do. I found a couple pictures online so I just went at it. I think it turned out cute. I should have put the name a little bit higher, but oh well. I wish I had an embroidery machine. I used a friend’s machine for this one. The inside has two pockets for Allison’s tap and ballet shoes. All ready for when dance starts in a few weeks.

Ok, so this is why I don’t like to make things for me to wear. They never turn out right. I was attempting to make this skirt from a tutorial at Amazing Mae. Just a simple, ruffled, pull-on skirt. Well, the fabric that I used was a little on the heavy side, but it was also a little see-through. So I thought I’d line it with muslin. But I did it the hard way and cut out each piece in the main fabric and the lining and sewed them like one piece. The stupid thing weighs a ton and has no drape to it. It looks like a curtain. So much for a light, airy summer skirt. Oh well. This thing was cursed from the beginning, though. I wanted to use the serger because I had gotten it working. I ran test after test, but of course when I start with the skirt, the thing starts hitting something and making a horrible sound. Basically, something is bent and the upper looper isn’t looping both needles anymore. So the dillema is: do I take it in to see if it can be fixed ($80 service + whatever it will take to fix it) or just wait until I can afford a new one? Now that I’ve had a taste of what a serger can do, I really want one. And if I get one, I want a decent one from the dealer so I can take the classes for it. Looks like the hubby will have to work some overtime for my Christmas present 🙂