Overview; How Your Acclaim Operates - Baby Lock Acclaim BLES4 Instruction And Reference Manual

How Your Acclaim Operates

Sometimes called an overlock machine or overlocker, the serger is different from any conventional
sewing machine you have used. Awareness of its simple operation will enable you to become more
proficient in its use. Please read all instructions before using your new machine.
Serging is kind of a knitting process that loops two, three or four threads together to create a stitch.
Your Baby Lock Acclaim operates with one or two needles and one or two "loopers," each
carrying a thread to form the overlock stitch.
When fabric is placed into the machine, it reaches the feed dogs first. The feed dogs move the
fabric along as the cutting blades trim the edge, creating a clean edge to be finished. Then the
loopers and needle(s) form the stitch on the fabric edge, supported by one or more parallel "stitch
fingers" - metal prongs that keep the fabric flat. The threads become "locked" over the fabric and
the resulting stitches encase the raw edge with thread to prevent fabric raveling.
After setting up your machine for the first time, take a few moments to learn how it sews. Before
your serger is threaded, turn the handwheel counterclockwise and watch the movement and
operation of the various parts. Don't bother with fabric at first. It doesn't hurt your serger to stitch
without fabric under the presser foot.