How to Adjust the Tension on a Singer Serger

A sewing machine

Tension is important in using a conventional sewing machine or a Singer Serger. For sergers, the tension dial may be found on its front or face. It can be a knob, a built-in adjustable dial or a vertical dial that adjusts the thread's tightness or looseness. On electronic serger models, adjustments may be found on the LCD touch screen.

Helpful hints and solutions contained in your Singer Serger manual can address most common threading tension issues, like attaining the tension for the desired stitch by identifying each thread's origin. To do this, thread the machine with a different color thread for each thread path, making thread identification easier. Incorrect tension means incorrect threading. Simply adjust the tension dial(s) to correct this.

Instructions

1. For too much needle thread on the underside, tighten needle thread tension or loosen lower looper thread tension.

2. If upper looper thread is pulled to the underside instead of along the fabric's edge, loosen lower looper tension or tighten upper looper tension.

3. If the lower looper thread is pulled to the top side of the fabric instead of along the edge, loosen upper looper tension or tighten lower looper tension. If not, sew at a slower, yet steady, pace, or check for thread caught in a thread guide. Re-thread.

4. For hiccups (stitch width is inconsistent along the seam), check if thread catches on the spool and does not reel off freely. Re-thread if necessary. Another adjustment solution is to remove the net cover on the spool, as it may be hindering thread flow.

Tips & Warnings

• When adjusting the tension dials, move one dial at a time and in small increments. Then sew a sample to check the adjustment.

• Adjust serger tension knobs by turning the knob right or left. Remember: "Righty tighty, lefty loosey."

• Adjust sergers with a vertical, built-in dial, by moving up (+) to tighten or moving down (-) to loosen. Remember: "Up tight to tighten."

• Adjusting the serger tension takes some time of getting used to. Practice until you get it right. On the other hand, some machines have an automatic tension that is set depending on the selected stitch.

• For optimum performance, always clean your serger after every use, using canned air product for sergers to blow lint out of the machine. Then apply a drop or two of sewing machine oil on all accessible moving parts. To know which part to oil, turn the handwheel toward you. Make sure to apply on all moving parts.

References

• The New Sewing with a Serger;" The Editors of Creative Publishing International; 2001.
• Cooperative Extension Service: Serger Basics