How to Adjust Loopers in a Serger

The loopers of a serger create the neatly finished fabric edges.

A serger sewing machine can sew a seam and finish the edges of the seam allowance at one time, which saves you time and gives you neat and professional sewing results. A serger generally uses three or four threads -- one or two needle threads stitching the seams and two looper threads finishing the edge of the fabrics. As you sew different fabrics, adjust the loopers in a serger to ensure that you stitch with the proper tension.

Things You'll Need

• Practice fabric
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut a 4-inch-by-6-inch scrap of the fabric you wish to sew with to set the tension. Fold the fabric in half widthwise and place it into the serger.

2. Set the looper tensions in the middle and stitch with the serger to see how the tension looks. Optimal looper tension should place the upper looper along the top side of the fabric and the lower looper along the bottom side of the fabric. The two looper threads should meet neatly along the very edge of the fabrics to finish the edges. You should not see any pulling or puckering, and the looper threads should meet evenly.

3. Loosen the lower looper and tighten the upper looper if you see the upper looper threads pulling around to the back side of the fabric. Adjust the lower looper number down by one or two and the upper looper number up by one or two and sew a few stitches to check. Make another slight adjustment if the looper threads are still not even.

4. Loosen the upper looper and tighten the lower looper if you see the lower looper threads pulling around to the top side of the fabric. Adjust the upper looper number down by one or two and the lower looper number up by one or two and test the stitches again. Adjust the numbers again if the threads still do not appear even.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the looper tensions slowly and check the stitches after every adjustment. If the tension is just slightly off, try adjusting either the upper or lower looper separately and then checking the tension again. If you adjust the looper tensions too quickly, you may overcorrect and may need to readjust.

• Check the looper tensions every time before you begin sewing on fabrics. Fabrics with different weights will require different tensions.

References

• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture; Serger Basics; Marjorie M. Baker