Overlock foot: description, function. Sewing machine

Previously, beautifully treated seams could be performed only at a sewing factory or at the atelier. At home, seamstresses could only trim the edges with a zigzag or a tissue bend. Now, thanks to the latest technology, you can buy an overlock for the house. If the sewing machine can only do the shuttle stitch, the overlock, with the help of loopers and needles, forms various chain stitches. But to work with him will require some skill and a lot of reels with threads.

In the case when a person does not professionally sew, it makes no sense to buy an overlock. It is enough to buy an overlock foot. It is suitable for many kinds of machines, both domestic and imported. Buying overlock, you will need to pay a tidy sum, even more than a typewriter. If you buy the tagging foot, the costs will be minimal. Learning to use this device is quite simple. What does the overlock foot look like?

Which machine is better to buy?

If you decide to purchase a sewing machine, and the overlock does not buy into your plans, then you have to stop your choice on the device with the overlock foot. It is also called a machine with an overlock. In the kit there is at least one foot for sewing. The higher the discharge of the sewing machine, the more additional tools go to it.

But if you do not have enough money for a steep car, then do not be discouraged. Then you can always buy other paws. It's not a problem. In specialized sewing equipment shops or on the Internet, you can order any foot that you need. If the purchased device already has devices for several obmetic stitches, then in the near future you will calmly manage without an overlock.

How does the overlock foot work?

The special foot has a rod and a spring plate. The plate presses the edge of the cut fabric to the presser foot and allows you to sweep it right along the edge. The rod holds the thread, which slides off at each step of the stitch, and the fabric does not tighten.

With the help of the foot, the overlock seam will be beautiful and neat. The stitches will be laid along the edge of the fabric. With an increase or decrease in the tension of the upper thread, it can be achieved that the threads will be intertwined closer to the edge of the cut material. Each seamstress by trial and error can set the tension in the desired position, all the more, having a foot with the stem, this is easy to do. The seam will look like a real overlock. But that it served for a long time, you must always duplicate it by making a straight line just next to it.

Executing a bookmark

Before beginning the trim operations with the overlock foot, you need to sew details of the future product and gently trim the remaining allowance on the seam. Scissors need to cut the desired width and protruding thread. After that, place the presser foot on the machine. In modern units, you do not need to unscrew the screw holding it. To do this, it is enough to lower the lever located behind. Remove the unnecessary paw at the moment and insert the overlock.

You should hear a click, and after that you need to raise the presser foot lever. If the installation is correct, the sole of the foot will rise too. After setting the foot, the material must be placed under it, with the limiter controlling the direction of movement of the fabric. Then an ometic line is sewn.

Tips for sewing different tissues

1. The stitching line, suitable for dense fabrics or parts of the product, where it is necessary to strengthen the seam and most similar to the overlock, is required to be made with several stitches. In this case, the sewn tissue must be fed back and forth.

2. When sewing, the fabric does not need to be pulled forward; it must automatically move itself, otherwise unwanted creases will appear.

3. If you work with a thin fabric, for example, chiffon, then the material can be folded into a roll. After processing, there will be a wavy, untidy edge. To avoid this, you need to wipe the edges of the material with a starch solution, then iron it through any cotton cloth. After that, smoothly sew and sweep the edges, they will keep the shape and not curl up. Without any effort, the seam will lie flat.

4. For delicate fabrics, you can advise using threads that make decorative embroidery. For color materials, you can take not only threads of the same color, but also suitable in tone.

How to pick up the foot for sewing fabrics?

Previously sewing machines used for sewing zigzag line, but with the tension of the fabric it could burst in several places. When the stitch is sewn on the overlock, the product stretches easily in all directions, and the seams do not diverge. The presence of an overlock paw in modern machines contributes to the similarity of the seam to a two-thread overlock. True, he can not withstand strong tension.

Since the overlock paws are of different shapes, it is better to have some kind of paw from your car when buying. Then you can compare the mounts and measure the height of the legs. Also, you can select these items, based on the name of the manufacturer of the machine.

A convenient option is to buy a universal overlock foot. It becomes on most types of sewing units, also makes decorative finish of the edges of the product. At the same time it performs reciprocating movements. The line turns dense and beautiful.

Different kinds of legs

When buying a machine in the kit, several paws are given to it. These are the basic necessary for performing the simplest operations of the device. For example, the foot for sewing a snake, universal, making a stitch "zigzag" (one of the most popular paws among seamstresses), semi-automatic, for sewing buttonholes. In the set of expensive cars they are an order of magnitude larger, from 10 to 15 pieces.

In addition to the standard pawls that are sold complete with a sewing machine, you can buy separately a whole set of 32 pieces. Most of them are metallic, but there are also combined ones, consisting of plastic and metal, as well as Teflon. Description of some products from the set of feet for sewing machines are presented below:

• For working with curly stitches. Thanks to her sewn beads, it turns out neatly and smoothly;
• For curling cloth (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm);
• For sewing snakes (universal);
• To form elongated loops on the article;
• For sewing buttons, but only flat ones;
• Sewing one or more ropes;
• Making assemblies on the fabric, attaching a ribbon with this effect;
• For figured embroidery;
• For sweeping details (makes a figured stitch);
• For stitching the edge;
• For the invisible snake;
• To hide seams in bulk tissues;
• Roller. Used for leather processing and knitwear. Special round rollers help the paw to move freely on the material;
• Teflon glides easily on the skin, suede, nubuku, velvet;
• For machine artistic embroidery patterns;
• For sewing cloth, only with a brush, which instantly cleans the dust formed during the process of marking.

Device for cutting edges

There is another foot for the machine, which must be included, namely, the overlock foot with a knife. When sweeping the edge of the fabric, the side knife gently cuts off excess fabric. The process takes place simultaneously, the fabric does not contract at the same time. The structure of this element includes a wide sole, a hook and 2 knives. Hook is responsible for the consistency of the needle and upper knife. The knife at the bottom is rigidly fixed to the sole of the foot.

Before you start, you need to prepare the material for the stitch. For this part of the product must be fastened with pins across the drawn line of the future overlock seam. Using the universal foot is a straight line. After that, the part changes to another, overlock with a knife. To properly install it, you need to put the hook on the holder for the needles. Only then will the synchronous operation of the foot and needle holder. If the foot is not correctly installed, the fabric will not be cut.

Principle of operation

Unlike the usual sewing foot, which leaves the hooks, grips and uneven stitches with the zigzag, the overlock foot does not entangle the threads and does not melt the material. This is due to the presence in the middle of the slot for the needles of the tooth, which is covered with a few stitches in a row. The seam is formed around it and the edge of the material. Thus, matter is not pulled together, and the line turns out neat.

Pros and cons of this foot

Buying an overlock foot, any skilled worker can save considerably. This overlock is expensive, and to understand its connection and a huge variety of seams is also not easy. Having instead of one sewing machine two devices at once, it will be necessary to allocate a lot of working surface for this technique. When preparing for work, it takes a long time to refill the threads. When you use the foot, you do not need to do all this.

To the disadvantages of the paw, it can be called that, over time, the stitch will begin to pour, unlike the overlapped finish. And the edge needs to be cut off on its own or the nozzle can be changed to the foot with a knife. The seam is designed for a quiet toe, as it is not very strong and can crack when stretched.

So decide for yourself, what is more profitable for you to buy and use in your future work.