Workshops Know Your Overlocker

Know Your Overlocker

Overlockers are amazing machines that can stitch, trim and neaten seams all in one operation. Yet so few owners fully understand them or use them to their full potential. Most people who have overlockers only use them for neatening edges but they can do so much more. This short sessions teaches you to get to know your overlocker.

Course Description

Overlockers are far more complicated than normal sewing machines. They require a good understanding of how changing the tensions creates different stitch types. So I’ll teach you to understand how the tension settings affect the stitch type and quality, how to recognise and obtain correct tension.

Other functions include sewing in elastic and lace trims, creating decorative seams on sports and casual-wear, rolled hems on evening wear, and making home furnishings. Not to mention being able to sew up jersey fabrics quicker and more neatly than your normal domestic sewing machine.

Artisan Stitch holds a Certificate of Excellence and is rated ‘Best sewing classes in Edinburgh’. Winner of the UK Enterprise award for Best Sewing Classes 2020, Scotland Prestige Awards in 2022/23 & 2023/24 and the only Edinburgh sewing classes recommended by Queen Margaret University.

Who is this aimed at: 

Anyone who:

• owns an overlocker and is too frightened to take it out the box
• if you’ve only used your overlocker to neaten raw edges

You must have some dressmaking experience and be familiar with domestic sewing machines. You must be able to bring your own 4-thread overlocker to this class

What will I learn?

• Overlocker anatomy (what all the parts do)
• How to thread it and obtain the correct tension
• Sewing knitted fabrics
• Basic edging and seaming operations using 2, 3 & 4 threads
• Flatlock and blind hemming
• How to add decoration to your clothes

You will need to bring your overlocker, power cable/foot control, accessories and instruction manual. Please bring samples of a variety of fabrics heavyweight to lightweight (denim or furnishing fabric, medium-weight woven, jersey knit such as an old T-shirt, and silky polyester, organza or fine crepe such as an old scarf or evening blouse).

Duration: 10am – 4pm. There will be a break for lunch during the day.

Limited places available so this must be pre-booked here

Enquiries to jen@artisanstitch.co.uk  

Useful links:

If you’re considering buying an overlocker, then I recommend visiting a specialist supplier where you will be able to test and compare many different models. My trusted and recommended supplier is Pembertons Sewing Machine Centre.   Here’s my review of the Juki MO-644D Overlocker

Location details

How to find St Margaret’s House

Directions