The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide: Troubleshooting for Any Overlock Brand or Model (Creative Machine Arts Series)

I got my new Husqvarna Viking Huskylock 936 a while ago, and was totally new to using sergers. I had one Norwegian book about using a serger, but real soon found that it was way too limited (most of it was description of projects), so I went on Amazon, thinking that my best bet would be to find some English language books. I am the type that really like to understand how an item works and functions, and I want to get the most out of it. I also want my sewing projects to have a perfect, professional looking finish.I soon found out that there are quite a few books that has real good reviews, but finally decided that my choice would be  Serger Secrets: High-Fashion Techniques for Creating Great-Looking Clothes . But, initially I did feel quite intimidated, thinking that it would be quite a challenge to learn how to use and understand this machine which is so different and much more complicated than an ordinary sewing machine. One of my greatest fears was that I wouldn't be able to handle challenges that arise, e.g. when things don't go as they should. After looking around, I found out that this book would be my best bet. The book covers a lot of brands of sergers, but the book was published already in 1996, so it is quite a lot older than my serger. But I soon found that it really didn't matter. I think it is wonderful how one chapter of the book covers "insider insights", brand specific serger information, for most of the serger brands (Babylock, Bernina/Bernette/Funlock, Brother/Homelock, Elna/Elnalock, Juki, Necchi/Allyn Int'l, Janome/New Home/MyLock, Pfaff/Hobbylock, Singer/Quantumlock/Ultralock, Husqvarna Viking/Huskylock and White/Speedylock/Superlock - it is quite an extensive list). The rest of the book describes problems which are general and valid no matter which serger you have. Most things are general, one serger is much like another for most things, I think. Sure new features come each year, but their general parts are mostly the same and works the same, so problem solving will be the same for the most part and even if you own a newer model of some serger (e.g. like me), you'll soon find that you find solutions to most things in the book. The features that are more new and modern is mostly covered in the instructions manual. E.g. my serger is computerized, it will tell me which tension to use etc., but despite this, the tension itself, the loopers and needles work just as on an older or more simple serger. Every time I have had a little problem, I have just gone straight to this book and found the problem in question. When you look up a challenge you're facing, the book lists several possible things which may cause it, and I have found that normally the first one on the list will make the problem disappear, like magic! I just love this book, saves me a lot of frustrations and trial and error to figure out problems! This book and Serger Secrets really has given me the confidence needed to throw myself into making things I haven't done before using techniques new to me. I am having lots of fun with all the options my fantastic high end serger has!Actually I think that all sergers should come with a copy of this book, as all these small things that may cause you problems, may turn people off from learning to master these wonderful machines that makes your project look like made by professionals. It is easy to give up when you face challenges if you consider yourself a not too tech savvy person, but having this book sure makes a huge difference! For that reason, I can't recommend this book enough! I think it is a must-have!There is one thing I have to make clear though - This book is not the book you turn to in order to learn how to use the serger and techniques used to get the results you want though, which is why I really think it is perfect to be paired up with Serger Secrets! If you want to look more at Serger Secrets before deciding if you want to buy it, you can find it on Google Books (quite a bit of it can be read there, so you can get a real preview of how useful it is, but you still need to buy it to really enjoy it). This book however, is my troubleshooting reference, when I have a problem, this is the one to turn to! I don't even bother to try to find the problem in my instructions manual, as this book is way better, easier to use and lists many things it sure isn't easy to imagine yourself, e.g. how adding something as simple as a thread net may be 100% necessary to get the stitches to form on some fabrics/threads, while you in some other cases need to remove the nets if you have them on... Many such small things which makes a huge difference in your every day use of your serger!The book has "Look inside!", so take a look at the contents at the front of the book as well as the index at the back of the book - it has both, so it is easy to get an overview of what the book covers as well as look up a specific problem when it arise, using the alphabetical index. This book is very reasonable, the Amazon price is around $11 at the time and it is also available new/used from affiliate sellers from approx $7. You sure get a lot for your money!After initially buying the two books mentioned, I chose to add a third book which I just love too, a book specifically about sewing with knits and techniques used to get professional results:  Sewing with Knits (Sewing Reference Library)  It is amazing how this wonderful book is available from $0.91! I bought my copy listed as used at $0.99 from an Amazon affiliate seller, but when it arrived, it was brand new. I soon found that this too, just like Serger Secrets, is filled with large amounts of wonderful, high quality pictures that makes it very easy to learn the different techniques described. These three books form a wonderful trio for me - they are all so helpful and that at a very reasonable price! I have added my reviews on all three, since they're all older books, which may make some buyers skeptic, and I really want to add my view on this, I find that it has been no problem for me, I feel no need to get newer and more up-to-date books as the ones I got, cover everything I need!

I received this book from Amazon only 3 days ago but it has proved invaluable. I recently purchased a serger for the first time and initially found it quite a challenge. However, the manual has helped somewhat but after reading this book (I bought two others as well including Serger Secrets which everyone recommends) I would highly recommend this Guide. It covers all the commonly found problems and questions that people ask about sergers. It also has very good diagrams including line drawings which are very helpful. It's very easy to read, to understand and to put ideas into action. The book also covers some of the main sergers and comments on how to manage individual problems on them.All in all I couldn't recommend this book highly enough. After being concerned about making anything I sat down the next day and made a fleece pullover within about two hours. This book gave me the confidence to do that.

Probably great for a beginner, but I wasn’t thrilled with it.

I found the book helpful, but found it did not fully answer or solve all my serger problems. Would have like more technical detail, which is what I was expecting. Would also have liked to have known the date of publication prior to purchasing the book, as this would have warned me that the book probably did not cover the newer serger models. My serger is a Pfaff Coverlock machine, purchased in 2007, and apart from a brief reference to the cover stitch, tensions and feet, did nothing to explain the problems experienced with the changeover from serging to cover stitch function, which appears to be a major headache for sewers with these machines. This was my main reason for purchasing this book. Apart from that the book is everything it claims to be for the serger models around at the time of publication.

If you are new to serging or even experienced, you will find this book a valuable asset in your sewing library. I am new to serging and have found it to be a very helpful. Most owner/instruction manuals tell you how to thread and use your machine but don't get into a lot of detail about the actual how-to of serging or problem-solving. This book covers everything from needles to sewing with various types of threads to troubleshooting with lots of illustrations and photographs.There is a reason why people buy sergers and never use them. Unlike sewing machines, sergers are a little more complicated and can be down right intimidating, so good reference books are a MUST! This book, along with "The New Singer Sewing With A Serger", have been very helpful to me. Sergers are great machines and reference books such as this will give you the confidence and ability to get through problems and master your serger.

I think with this book you'd be better off with the actual print version than the Kindle version. It seems like it would be a great troubleshooting guide for people new to sergers. It shows photos of what "good" seams and "bad" seams look like, and what to do to correct them. It seems like you could look at your seam, flip to a photo and find out what went wrong.The problem is on the Kindle version (at least on my tablet computer), the photos are hard to see. I've never seen the print edition, but from all the praise (Amazon lumps kindle and print version reviews together), I'm going to assume that they are better in the print version. There were many photos where I couldn't really tell the difference between the stitching, but they are dark on my copy (and adjusting the brightness bleeds them out).I'm probably going to run to a real bookstore and preview a copy of the book and see what it looks like, because I returned the Kindle version.

This is a very helpful and practical reference book for anyone who owns an over locker (serger). It has a contents list that is categorised by issues (i.e. stitch related problems, needle related problems, seam and edge problems, rolled edge problems, etc.) then has an easy to understand list of these issues below (i.e. under stitch-related problems, there are tension issues, thread breakage, skipped stitches, etc.) The pages clearly explain the issues and solutions, using colour photo's and drawings to illustrate the text, which is written in plain to understand, jargon free English. The back pages cover different typed of threads and feet, and what they do, and also has advice on individual machine makes "quirks". The book was published in 1996, so this won't cover newer machines.I initially "borrowed" this book for free using my Kindle Unlimited subscription, but was so impressed with it as a reference tool that I bought a hard copy!

I was swayed by the enthusiastic reviews on this book. I'm disappointed.Firstly, it's not exactly encyclopedic, running to a mere 95 printed pages; around one third of which are supplier lists, accessory lists, troubleshooting charts etc.The actual informative pages are scant. I'm new to serging/overlocking and hoped to glean some gem of information to improve my use of my shiny new machine. There was nothing, nada, zilch, in this book that I had not already read and bookmarked from a variety of sources online (for free I might add).Okay, having it in book form makes it a little more accessible than having to find saved bookmarks and read or watch online. But, therein lies another massive annoyance to me. These types of books are intended as reference books/manuals, they are intended to be picked up regularly I assume. Why in the world then do publishers insist of flimsy covers and binding? It drives me mad!When I buy a book I expect it to last for years, not fall apart after a few readings.I feel this book has just been a waste of money for me.

My serger was driving me mad- this has saved my sanity! Straightforward help for your machine at home. Good on kindle.

Lost the manual for my overlocker but this is a very comprehensive guide/troubleshooter. Covers all functions, set ups and potential problems.

I repair overlockers and as such get a lot of questions regarding tensions, fabrics etc and this book is a very good reference guide for me. My wife (who teachers sewing) has also found it indispensable for diagnosing and correcting overlocker issues.