The New Creative Serging Illustrated: The Complete Guide to Decorative Overlock Sewing (Creative Machine Arts)

This is an up-to-date, practical guide to decorative overlock sewing and all the latest techniques in serging, which incorporates all the changes made by serger manufacturers over the past few years since they first came onto the market. Explains all the basic techniques with special tips for decorative serging offering advice on how to thread the serger, heirloom serging, how to use the latest threads to their best advantage, quick ways to make accessories without a pattern, five-step serged jackets and tops, serging for kids, flatlocking, including beads, serging for your home and rolled edges.

Sergers can do so much more than produce a clean seam or a simple decorative edge, and this extensive guide shows how. Beyond thorough coverage of serger basics and decorative thread analysis, there are directions for decorative flatlocking; rolled edges (including some stunning cascades of ruffles produced by rolling the edge over fishing line); heirloom serging (for lace inserts); and how-tos for using decorative serging to embellish jackets, sweatshirts, exercise and swimwear, accessories (shawls, belts, scarves, and more), kids' clothing, and home decor items. Though short on photos (except for a 32-page color section), there are numerous good diagrams and line drawings, and the instructions are encouragingly clear. --Amy Handy