How to Make a Rolled Hem With a Serger Machine

Using your serger is a great way to make a professional-looking rolled hem. Although serging a rolled hem can be tricky, it's a technique worth learning, because of the time you'll save by not having to pin, trim and sew the fabric by hand or with a regular sewing machine. In one pass, the serger will trim the fabric, fold back the edge and sew a narrow hem using an overedge stitch. This type of hem is particularly appropriate for the lightweight, often sheer fabric that is used as on overlay on formal dresses.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Serger with a rolled hem needle plate
• Screwdriver

1. Change the standard needle plate on your serger to the rolled hem needle plate. Different models work different ways, but on most machines you loosen the screws holding the needle plate (located under the presser foot) and put the rolled hem plate in its place.

2. Loosen the clamp or screw on your serger that holds the left needle in place. Make the rolled hem using only the right needle.

3. Set the stitch length dial between 1 and 2. (This represents 1 to 2 mm.)

4. Adjust the width to 1.5.

5. Place the fabric under the presser foot so that the edge of the fabric is 1/8 inch away from the needle. Begin sewing. The machine will fold under the fabric and create a 1/16-inch overedge hem.

Tips & Warnings

• Use matching thread to make the hem blend into the fabric or contrasting thread for a decorative edge.
• Practice on a scrap piece of the fabric you will be sewing before attempting to make the rolled hem on the garment.