First time making wipes... Total fail. Help!

[KelseyH]

I borrowed a serger from a friend to sew up some old receiving blankets into wipes. Holy learning curve!! This thing is kicking my butt!





This is the machine I'm working with. It's almost like the tension is too high (how do I adjust that?) - my wipes are coming out like this:



Corners pulled up because the thread is so tight and one corner all stretched out (where I started/finished). I also have no earthly idea how to do corners, and there is no "slow" option on this thing! Please help! Any tips, pointers - anything.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

i made my mil do it lol got 3 dozen 2 ply wipes from our old receiving blankets

[qsefthuko]

I don't know. To me it looks like the tension is too loose causing the thread to be easily pulled. This would cause the gathering you are seeing.

When my tension is too tight I tend to see my zig zags become more straight lines instead with no loose thread at all. I think yours looks like a serger though. I have no experience with sergers so it may be different.

[KelseyH]

Yes, mine is definitely a serger. I have quilted and sewn for years, somehow got around ever needing a serger, and now I'm wishing I had learned sooner!

[mcpforever]

A couple of things I would try before adjusting the tension:
1) be sure that you are letting out a good bit of thread chain at the end and then cutting with scissors (instead of the thing on the machine) so you aren't inadvertantly pulling up gathers
2) curve on the corners (less starting and stopping )

Does it do it with two layers of fabric as well? I have to loosen the tension on mine a little bit if I do a single layer or it does that. Two layers and it's fine, but one layer (or two thin layers) and I have to play around with it a little.

[SamanthaSews]

It looks pretty good to me. The tension dials at the top are at a good setting.

The corners of the wipes may be bunching up when you pull the threads. That has happened to me before. It doesn't bother me, but if it bothers you I would practice rounded corners. The trick is to slow down with the foot peddle.

Good luck!

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[abunchoflemons]

Not sewn with but just slow down and I know with sew machine u lift press foot lever thenturn and pies lever down thenkeep going.

[KelseyH]

Originally Posted by mcpforever A couple of things I would try before adjusting the tension: 1) be sure that you are letting out a good bit of thread chain at the end and then cutting with scissors (instead of the thing on the machine) so you aren't inadvertantly pulling up gathers 2) curve on the corners (less starting and stopping ) Does it do it with two layers of fabric as well? I have to loosen the tension on mine a little bit if I do a single layer or it does that. Two layers and it's fine, but one layer (or two thin layers) and I have to play around with it a little.

I tried to curve the corners and it just kept on going straight. it seems like there are two speeds - fast and REALLY fast. At least it seems that way to me. I think it might have been hard to turn because of it being just one layer, but I didn't want to wreck two layers of flannel, kwim? I will definitely try that, though. Thanks!

[jessreichenbach]

I a gree with the turning the corners and 2 layers. I find 2 layers much easier to serge than 2.

[Rdesonia]

You could always just give up and make them 2 layers of flannel turned and top-stitched. I think most people sere them because it is "quicker".