If you’re new to overlocking / serging, don’t let all the jargon scare you: you’ll soon get the hang of it and be delighted with what your overlocker / serger can do!
You'll hear a lot about the "feed dogs" so here's an overview of what they are and what they do.
What are these “Feed Dogs”?
They look a bit like cogs, with grippy “teeth” on them and they are usually either made of metal or plastic.
Whare are the Feed Dogs?
They are underneath the overlocker / serger's presser foot and they are sited below the needle plate.
What Do They Do?
They are the overlocker / serger feed mechanism. The fabric you are working on feeds over the top of them and their teeth grip the fabric and “feed”it through the overlocker / serger, past the needles for stitching.
There Are 2 Sets
In an overlocker / serger, there are typically two sets of feed dogs—one in the front and one in the rear. These sets of feed dogs work together to ensure that the fabric is fed through the machine evenly and consistently.
They can work at different speeds to produce different effects. This is known as the differential and there is a separate blog post here for that.
Fabric Transport and Stitch Cycle
The primary function of the overlocker / serger feed dogs is to transport the fabric, from the front to the back of the machine, while it's being stitched. The feed dogs move in sync with the overlocker's stitch cycle, advancing the fabric the appropriate distance with each stitch.
Controlled Movement
The feed dogs move the fabric according to the stitch length and differential feed settings you select on the overlocker / serger. These settings allow you to control the fabric's movement and prevent issues like stretching or gathering, depending on the type of fabric and overlocking / serging technique you're using.
Adjustability
Many overlockers / sergers allow you to adjust the feed dog settings to accommodate different fabric types and sewing tasks. For example, you can adjust the stitch length and differential feed to suit lightweight or heavyweight fabrics, ensuring a smooth and even seam.
Engaging and Disengaging
Some overlockers / sergers come with the option to disengage the feed dogs. This is useful when you want to do free-motion shaped or embroidery type work or darning, as you can manually move the fabric in any direction without the feed dogs advancing it.
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