While I’ve been sewing for decades, I’m pretty new to the serger world. I got my first serger, a Babylock Evolution, just over two years ago. I knew next to nothing about them except that they were sometimes a nightmare to thread and that they could cut your fabric and sew the edges at the same time. That pretty much sums up my serger knowledge. The first thing I did was order The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James. I was so impressed with the quality of the material in this book that I wanted to do a sewing book review to share that info with all of you.

Sewing Book Review: The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris James

One of my favorite things about this book is the pictures! There are a ton of full color photographs that litter the book.  Many of the photos also include additional text overlays that label each item in the photo making it very clear what you are looking at.

This book offers chapters for those beginners that are new to serging such as what type of thread to use, the different types of stitches and their uses, and threading and tension issues.  It also includes more advance techniques such as serging with twill tape or elastic as well as using a flatlock to hem a garment. There is also an entire chapter on serging with knits with lots of tips that will make this sometimes challenging fabric a breeze. There are also several troubleshooting sections through the book with advice to help you if you have a common problem.

Overall, I liked this book a lot.  I refer to it anytime I have an issue while serging or if I’m looking to try a new-to-me finishing technique that I’ve never done before. It’s a great reference book to add to your library if are interested in exploring all the things your serger can do. The best thing about this book is it is not brand specific. No matter what brand of serger you have, you will find the information useful.

Did you enjoy this book review? Is there another book I should check out and leave a review on? Let me know in the comments. I’m addicted to sewing books, so I’m always looking to add something new to my library.