Mayhem in May Part Two

For Mother's Day I got to fulfill a wish request I've had for years!  I got to order a serger machine!  Here's the one I purchased through Amazon:

It's the Juki MO-50e.  I got it for $229 with free shipping.  

I researched online reviews on this Juki serger before buying.  The only negative reviews seemed to discuss threading difficulties.

I also had threading problems with this serger at first.  The printed manual's threading instructions  don't clearly explain how to thread the loopers.  My threads kept jamming, because I missed the automatic part of one of the looper guides.  The enclosed DVD with threading instructions helped me see my mistake and get the threading just right.

Cheap cotton thread breaks every time it runs through the machine's high speed and tension settings, resulting in several re-threading experiences.  I switched to Gutermann, Sulky and 100% polyester threads to avoid breakage and re-threading.  Here's the best thing I learned from online searches:  Maxi Lock thread cones for sergers can be purchased from a mail-order and online company called Wawak for only $1.79 each.  Most other sources I found charged $4 minimum per thread cone.  

My first completed serger project was a simple jersey knit maxi skirt.  I love how quickly and easily the serger handles knit stretchy fabrics!  My Viking machine just can't sew through stretchy fabrics without the fabrics getting pulled through the needle plate and down into the bobbin case.  Now, with the serger, I don't have to avoid stretchy fabrics any more!

The photo above shows a side view of the skirt.  The hem at the left side (bottom of the skirt) was a hand sewn slip stitch, but the side seams and blind hem waistband were all sewn on my serger.  The blind hem is easy once you lift the upper blade out of the way and figure out the folding directions for the fabric.  I didn't use a pattern on this skirt, so the waist/hip area is not tapered or fitted.  That's why it looks bunchy (until I fix it).  

**Update** The serger stopped working well after 4 or 5 projects.  I tried replacing the blades and adding oil and just couldn't get the thread tension working any more.  It still cuts and serges, but the stitches are sloppy and too loose.  Inexpensive machines really do not last.