My Serger is Scary....

[NicoleBridget]

Thanks everyone!  I actually do keep a sewing notebook which I keep out and write little notes in when I'm working on a project.  I write down everything from stitch lengths used to fabric pre-wash methods.  But I can see I'll need it to chronicle my adventures in serging even more.  I even made myself labels and stuck them on the machine so I know the upperlooper apart from the lower looper, and the stitch width dial apart from the stitch length dial and the differential feed....

But I also decided to get a couple books from Amazon to help de-cloud my brain and I got them yesterday.  I figured they would HAVE to be better than the instruction manual alone.  One is called The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James, which was (get this!) only $2.15!  Yes, brand new.  I mean...does ANYTHING cost only $2.15 anymore?  And the other is called Successful Serging by Beth Baumgartel.  I already feel more confident having flipped through both (I like the handbook better so far), and now that I have these books I'm ready to get back to work.  Tonight hopefully!

I'm surprised how intimidated I was by the serger.  But I see now that it's like thinking you know how to drive a forklift just because you know how to drive a car.  It just seems scary because the machine itself looks different, there are all these knobs labeled "tension" and while we're encouraged, it seems, to be spinning them willy nilly on sergers, it's not usually a good idea to do that with a sewing machine.  I've gotten myself into sewing machine tension trouble in the past so now the very word instills fear in my heart.

[gem]

Nicole, I've just discovered that my sewing machine/quilting shop (where I bought my SM) offers a class called "Serger Driver's Ed"--whether you bought your serger there or not. (They actually also offer it to people who haven't been brave enough to buy one yet! Which will be me when I take it later this year. ) If you have a shop you like, it might be worth seeing if there's a similar class or workshop where you live.

Where did you buy your Brother? I was planning on ordering mine from Amazon, but I've learned they carry them at Walmart, too (easier returns if it completely intimidates me!!)

[NicoleBridget]

Gem, I bought it from Amazon.  But if I had known Walmart carried it, I would have bought it there.  Always best to buy stuff like that locally if you can, ease of return/exchange like you said.

If I still feel really unsure about the machine I probably will look into classes.  I think it's probably me needing to just get in there and mess around and not be so nervous.