overlocking merino

[daydream97]

i havnt used ribbed merino in ages. and im trying to overlock the edges for a baby wrap. it sews ok andlooks ok but has no stretch. so the body of the wrap is all stretch by the edges wont stretch iykwim.

is this fixable and how can i make the edges stretchy as well>?

[Pippy-long-stockings]

have the width on the overlocker wider, Mine has stretch

[Claire]

increase the differential feed

[JandC]

Use wooly nylon

[daydream97]

the width and diff feed - is that teh same?

what sort of number shouldi have for it?

i did the ribbed merino nd just stretched the merino as i went - looks ok, has a wriggly edge iykwim but looks quite cool as the fabric is white with black stripes.

now to try on my jersey merino. i want to actually bind or fold and stitch the edges and not have the overlocking showing. any good tips for doing this andmaking it look nice?

[Claire]

no width and stitch length and differential feed are all different things
Do you have your overlocker manual?

[Pippy-long-stockings]

I think if you stitch an turn then top stitch its going to have that funny wriggly look, I just made all my knows higher number then what the recommended number is.
Just goin to do school run an then ill tell you what each one of mine means, I got a nice straight, stretchy edge

[daydream97]

no width and stitch length and differential feed are all different things
Do you have your overlocker manual?

yup just lokoign through it now. im terrified ill fiddle with my settings and then wont be able to get it all back to normal working order

how do you do your edges on merino baby wraps?

[daydream97]

I think if you stitch an turn then top stitch its going to have that funny wriggly look, I just made all my knows higher number then what the recommended number is.
Just goin to do school run an then ill tell you what each one of mine means, I got a nice straight, stretchy edge

did you use ribbed or jersey merino? i think my jersey merino is goign to sew completley different as it doesnt have the same amount of stretch as the ribbed.

[Claire]

Go on ... get out your scraps and have a good fiddle. I never used to change the differential feed on my machine but now I know how to use it I find it makes a HUGE difference to the look and stretch
I usually bind my baby wraps but a well overlocked edge would be lovely and work just as well.
OR how about go for a very wide contrast strip...say 10cm wide or even wider in a nice contrast colour.. overlock it on wrong sides together, mitre the corners and topstitch.. that would look rocking.

[daydream97]

Go on ... get out your scraps and have a good fiddle. I never used to change the differential feed on my machine but now I know how to use it I find it makes a HUGE difference to the look and stretch
I usually bind my baby wraps but a well overlocked edge would be lovely and work just as well.
OR how about go for a very wide contrast strip...say 10cm wide or even wider in a nice contrast colour.. overlock it on wrong sides together, mitre the corners and topstitch.. that would look rocking.

ooohhhh ok, ill fiddle with it. might make lunch first and move the machine to the livign room so i dont kill my back at the desk.

what does the diff feed actually do?

i want to keep the edges on the one for a gift the same with a thin edge - but if ijust bind it by folding the binding in half and overlcoking then topstitching - will that keep its stretch or go all tight?

[Pippy-long-stockings]

right,

I've got a Brother, this is what mines set on an what the dials are!
Stitch length ---4
Differential feed ---0.7
stitch width ---6

[Claire]

what does the diff feed actually do?

it changes the amount of stretch in the stitch

i want to keep the edges on the one for a gift the same with a thin edge - but if ijust bind it by folding the binding in half and overlcoking then topstitching - will that keep its stretch or go all tight?

if its a plain straight stitch it won't have as much stretch as an overlocked or coversitched stitch.

[daydream97]

yah! diff feed changed and adjusted the tension and i the merino is nice and stretch and overlocked

[Pippy-long-stockings]

yah! diff feed changed and adjusted the tension and i the merino is nice and stretch and overlocked