The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide: Troubleshooting for Any Overlock Brand or Model

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.

Let me first start by saying I think this is a good book to have, but I don't think it should be your first or only book to have. It is an excellent reference....especially for the beginner or less experienced serger. (but would also be a worthwhile investment for someone more advanced)The book is easily read and has excellent pictures and diagrams. It is soley a problem solver and not a technique teacher (which is why I don't think it should be your only reference book if you are new to serging).This book has an awesome reference sheet on page 79 if you are looking to buy a serger (upgrading or buying for the first time).

I agree with the Sew News editor, who states on the cover: "This book should come with every serger purchased." Close-up photography and to-the-point tips show you how to solve just about any problem, no matter what your serger brand, model or vintage. If you own a serger, or are thinking of buying one (shopping guidelines are also included), buy this book. (By the way, I own several other serging books by Naomi Baker and Gail Brown, and this is new information not repeated in those other books.)

This is the book that persuaded me that I could profitably use a serger, and that I could deal with whatever gremlins showed up (I'd heard serger horror stories for years-- people having to go to dealers to rethread machines, etc.) But with the clear checklist of features of various sorts of sergers, I figured out what I was going to want to look for when I "test drove" sergers... and picked out a serger I've been very happy with. And the troubleshooting tips (the bulk of the book) have saved me much frustration. One of the cheapest and most valuable serger accessories you'll buy.

This book helps you understand your machine and how to change it to do what you want. Whether it is not serging correctly or you want to be innovative, she guides you through the steps to achieve the look you are after. The pictures are great, helping you understand your goal.