Cath Virginia is the senior designer right here at The Verge, who creates illustrations and collages for our articles. Nevertheless, she additionally has “dabbled” (as she places it) in characteristic designs for articles akin to 2004 was the primary 12 months of the long run (which received the 2025 ASME Award for Greatest Information and Leisure Design), How the Stream Deck rose from the ashes of a legendary keyboard, and The Lurker. “I additionally designed the branding for Notepad by Tom Warren and not too long ago refreshed the look of Verge Offers,” she explains.
When not doing this spectacular work, Cath sews. Quite a bit. And so, after I requested her what certainly one of her favourite devices was, she stated it was her Brother 1034D Serger. If you happen to’re not fairly certain what a serger is (I definitely wasn’t), learn on.
What precisely is a thread serger?
A serger, also called an overlocker, is a sort of stitching machine usually utilized in attire making. It has two needles and makes use of as much as 4 strands of thread at a time to create the loops and completed edge you see on the within of most knitwear, like T-shirts and leggings. It additionally has a knife that cuts the sting of your material on the similar time, so the completed product seems clear {and professional}.
When did you purchase this one, and what went into the choice?
I purchased this one this previous March as a birthday and tax return current. I’ve been wanting one for some time, as a result of I sew plenty of garments. I’m choosy about model and, being fats, have a tough time discovering garments I like that truly match me. I additionally love sporting knits as a result of they’re comfy, and conventional stitching machines aren’t supposed primarily to stitch knit clothes, which must have stretchy seams. You should utilize a zigzag sew to realize a stretch in your seam, however the serger sews and cuts unexpectedly, in addition to finishes the within edges, so it saves plenty of time.
In selecting a serger, I wished one which was simple to string, had an adjustable free arm for stitching cuffs and sleeves, and will sew a number of layers of cloth at a time. I watched a bunch of YouTube evaluations of sergers and located this one to be fairly inexpensive — and it checked my bins. It additionally received higher evaluations than its cheaper sibling, the DX. I used to be intimidated by it at first as a result of 4 spools of thread is type of scary. However it has clearly labeled and color-coded directions for threading and comes with a handbook, so I discovered it and had it down in below half an hour.
What do you often create with it?
Up to now, I’ve hemmed a pair shirts and made a maxi skirt (with pockets!) and a crop high. That was after an extended and irritating interval making an attempt to learn to use it. I additionally dulled two completely different knives, studying that you could’t sew over pins with a serger as a result of there’s a massive metallic knife chopping your seam off.
What do you want about it?
Generally while you’re stitching knits on a conventional (lockstitch) machine, the perimeters turn into unintentionally ruffle-y (as a result of its one measly feed dog, which is the moveable plate that pulls the fabric by way of from sew to sew). This will make your piece look fairly bizarre and unhealthy. One other wonderful thing about this serger is that it has one thing referred to as differential feed, which makes use of two feed canines to stitch your material collectively. It may be adjusted to feed one piece of cloth quicker or slower, so it should flatten out your wobbly knitted seams or can be utilized to create a lettuce hem. It additionally comes with a gathering foot, which can be utilized to collect and stitch (intentional) ruffles!
Is there something about it that you just dislike or that you just suppose might be improved?
That is truly on me for not doing fairly sufficient analysis, however after I purchased it, I used to be excited to lastly be capable of do the coveted two-thread coverstitch you see on the hems of T-shirts and different knit stuff, solely to seek out out you really need a complete different machine that actually solely does that one factor. That was disappointing to seek out out, however to compensate, the serger does truly include a blind hem foot that you should use to do an okay impression of 1. It’s type of a finicky sew to get proper, although, since you’re stitching from the mistaken aspect of the material, and I needed to do fairly just a few samples to check it out earlier than I used it on any clothes.
Who would you advocate it to?
If you happen to sew plenty of knitwear clothes, it may be a very useful gizmo for leveling up your clothes and being a bit extra environment friendly! It’s not a complete alternative for a lockstitch stitching machine however I’m actually liking it up to now. Don’t be too intimidated by the 4 threads: they’re your pals. And don’t attempt to sew over any of your pins.