The Complete Serger Handbook

I’m in my 50s, taught myself to sew last year by watching videos. Decided to up my sewing game and picked up a serger. Serging is a whole other beast compared to sewing and I’ve been stuck. I’ve watched videos, read blog posts, and bought a different book (Serger 101), and while I was able to run the machine I still wasn’t sure what to do when and didn’t feel I understood enough to even know what questions to ask. This book saved me. It is obvious the author was a very experienced teacher because going through this book is like being in an introductory class with a teacher at your side. Her words, the pictures, and the layout perfectly capture her experience teaching serger tyros. The book guided me through learning about and using my new serger (Singer S0230) and by the end (and after practice) I felt a confidence and understanding I hadn’t felt when using the serger before. It taught me just what I needed to know when I needed to know it. It wasn’t “here’s everything about serging, sort it all out yourself”. Despite the great reviews I didn’t buy this book first because it was published 20+ years ago. Big mistake. The machines in the book are exactly like the serger I bought a few weeks ago. Nothing in this book seems outdated. Just because it’s all new to me doesn’t mean it’s all new to the world. If you’ve never used a serger and you buy a serger then also buy this book. And 4 cones of serger thread in the 4 colors of the dials on your machine...that makes it way easier to diagnose stitch issues.

My new serger came with great technical documentation, but no examples of what the different stitches are used for, or really useful troubleshooting techniques. I figured out a little and then bought this book. All the information I sought is right here. Granted it's probably fairly basic stuff, but it's just what I needed to know and is presented in a very user-friendly manner. There are multiple examples of uses for various stitches (and plenty of pictures) that helped me connect them with their names so I could get more value from the documentation booklet supplied with the machine. This book isn't machine specific so using both together gave me the best results. I greatly appreciate the troubleshooting section of the book as it describes what to look for first, second, etc, when you're not getting the results you expect, and again, lots of pictured examples to help you identify your exact problem. Since I'd just gone through one such episode, eventually finding the problem on my own, I knew this book was right on target (and if I'd had it sooner, I'd have saved that hour of frustration). There are also tips and tricks that have really helped me, such as how to change threads more easily. I must say the serger intimidates me a little, but this book has made the learning curve much shorter and I know I will continue to get use from it as my skills mature because there are examples of more complicated things I look forward to trying. I've found it well worth the purchase.

I was new to using my serger, so I needed some help. I inherited it from my aunt, so it came with no manual and when I downloaded the manual from the manufacturer, it was more confusing! So, bought this little book and away I went. Absolutely love using my serger now. The illustrations are excellent and the instructions you will find in this book will help you to understand the various features of any serger. It is not model specific, so the general instructions and photos help you troubleshoot and set up your machine for excellent stitching every time. I particularly like that it is written in very understandable language and has chapters/sections that make sense in how they are divided. Thanks for a great book!

My sister gave me her used Bernette Serger -- thank you Sis! Until I read this book, I knew absolutely nothing about how to operate a serging machine and my sister didn't have the mfr's instruction book. The book helped me to understand the threading process, the tension knobs, and about what type of thread and needles to buy. At the beginning of the book, the author attempts to discuss different machines and then abandons the idea as the book progresses. However, the concepts and techniques are pretty much universal. After reading the book and using the threading guide stamped on the machine, I had enough confidence to make a throw pillow -- and it turned out looking store bought! I am now hooked on using sergers!

I read about this book in several reviews of several serger models. I looked at it one day and it was a reasonable price. Apparently HSN also sold and plugged this book and it soon sold out. With the shortage the prices soared in one week. There were used in good condition copies listed for above $300.00. No thanks!! The only book I would pay that for would be a really cool Bible. A little patience and ordering it elsewhere twice only to be told it wasn't really in stock, I finally found it here and actually recieved it. It has very easy to follow hints and directions. The writer has a sense of humor making it more than just a mundane handbook. I am not new to sergers but have still found it helpful and worth the price I paid and the hassle to get it. I think someone new to sergers would exponentially benefit from this book. Chris James has a way of making the daunting task of mastering a serger sound a whole lot easier than I found it fifteen years ago. I really wish I had found this book back then. I might not have given up on my $1,000.00 monster. I feel strongly enough about the usefulness of this handbook to say, if the short stock is a indication that it is about to be updated, I would purchase the most current copy. This is from 1998 and could actually use a makeover. Happy Serging!!

I just finished reading this book from cover to cover. It has some small flaws that the editor should have noticed and corrected, but it is printed in China where workmanship is shoddy. Still, the publisher should have noted missing text before selling it to the public. Pictures are good and there are plenty of them. For me, there should have been more for the more complex concepts. This is a very good beginner book, but you should have your machine's documentation nearby so you can use the information presented here to better understand and USE your machine. It's a short book because the author does not go into any detail beyond the basic information, but after reading it, you'll have a much better understanding of how a serger works so that you can figure out how tension, stitch length, stitch width, thread, material, etc, affect the final product. Of course, another more advanced book, plus lots of experimentation will help to master the serger beyond the basics presented here.

I recently purchased my first serger. After a lot of research, I was so excited to start serging away! I live in a small town and purchased my serger online. The fabric store didn't offer any type of classes, so I was on my own. From the beginning, it was apparent I was in over my head. The initial threading was a nightmare. I could not find any type of classes so hit internet for how-to-books. When I found this book, I decided to give it a try.I read the entire book and then went back and read it section by section while sitting with my serger. The author became my friend and it seemed she was sitting with me as I slowly edged my way thru each chapter. I am still quite the novice, but I am confident I will love serging. I sincerely recommend this book to all those first timers, like myself. And even if you aren't a first time user, this book is packed full of valuable information. It is full of notes and sits near my sewing station. Thanks so much for a great handbook, Chris James.

Wish it would have gone over threading the serger and stitching in a little easier format. Otherwise, it is a complete handbook on how to.

Just what I needed!

I recently purchased another similar book (The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide) and left a scathing review, so bad I returned it. This, on the other hand, is everything I had hoped for. Clear dialogue, excellent pictures and covers a multitude of topics; from tension to decorative stitching. The experience of both teaching and serging from this author is clear. This is an ideal book for those new to serging/overlocking, those who have not used their serger for a while and even more experienced users. At less than half the cost of the previous book I bought on this subject and blowing that one out of the water in terms of content and genuine information, this one is a keeper! Not manufacturer specific either, so brilliant if you don't have your original manual, as the way sergers work is clearly explained and demonstrates that, even though you may own a different brand, you can still get the best out of your machine.

Nada de preámbulos innecesarios, va directamente a centro de la cuestión explicar qué es eso que te has comprado (o piensas comprar) y aclarar tus dudas: para qué sirve esto o lo otro, qué hilos puedo usar, como regulo las costuras... etc. Me ha resultado muy útil.

Book is well-written, has a lot of pictures and is easy to understand. It is written for beginners, at least the part that my wife has read. The latter part of the book looks like it delves into more complicated things. Recommended if you use a serger, since most instruction manuals do not tell you about actually using the machine.

A very good handbook with excellent illustrations explained simply, highly recommend