great advice ramblinrev, that makes sense about the feed dogs not pulling the fabric through, and causing a clump. thicker/tougher material needs tighter top tension. (makes me think of tater tots) thanx JerryW.
I fully appreciate the advice, and am always amazed by the HF community and how easy and fun it is to get answers from friends that I never met. thanks everyone..
If anyone knows any other good sewing tricks, Im all ears.
Because you fall through the clouds if you try to lay on them, so the next best thing is a hammock.
something else I've found with my machine...
My machine sews really well (even though it's over 20 years old) but... on occasion the top thread will somehow manage to slip out of the (...ummm I don't know what to call those things) but it's all those holders on the top where you run the thread through before the thread gets to the needle. I'll be sewing along and then notice that I've got a rats nest on the back side of the material. Usually all I have to do to fix it is to pull the upper thread out of the machine and totally rethread it back.
So keep a watch on your upper thread and make sure you're threading it correctly to the needle.
TinaLouise
Guides? Fairleads?
Dave
"Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton
TinaLouise, I've had that problem, and fixed it by adjusting thread tension. In addition to regulating where the bobbin thread loop ends up, top thread tension also regulates whether the top thread stays in the tensioner!
Another problem with the same solution is when your top thread sometimes gets cut while sewing. Again, adjust the thread tension.
- MacEntyre
- MacEntyre
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
www.MollyMacGear.com
Hey, I've had that happen too!!! So my thinking that I've got a REALLY super sharp needle isn't right??!!!Originally Posted by MacEntyre
so to adjust the tension, do I need more or less???
TinaLouise
Your needle point is not the problem. More likely you have a burr or sharp spot in/around the eye of the needle. Try a brand new high quality needle paired with high quality thread and see what happens.Hey, I've had that happen too!!! So my thinking that I've got a REALLY super sharp needle isn't right??!!!
so to adjust the tension, do I need more or less???
TinaLouise
Tension adjustment for the top thread is a try it and see situation. You should be able to tell when you adjustment is good or which way it needs to go by inspecting the sample stitching you do before you start the project.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Sonic, this week I just sewed four blaze orange pack covers from silnylon and had the same problem. I partially solved it by turning the fabric around 180 degrees, instead of using the "reverse" lever on my machine. That meant the cogs were always going forward. It seemed to help in my case.
Now, today and this weekend, it's on to sewing myself a "rain skirt" to keep my hiking shorts dry without having to stop and pull on hot rain pants over muddy boots. Okay, so it's really just a silnylon kilt! LOL
Rain Man
.
A quicker and easier workaround would be to do the old industrial machine technique from before machines were made with reverse. Stitch a few stitches (5-8) raise the needle and presser foot and pull the fabric back to where you started stitching. Stitch over the previous stitches and continue along the seam. For all intents and purposes it is as strong as the now standard forward reverse technique. Once you are used to it it is very fast and easy.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Sonic, I've had good luck with starting the stitch in reverse, then allowing the machine to run the rest of the way in forward, on its own. Set up some scraps and do some tests. All good advice you've recieved, so far.
I set the presser foot down about an inch or less, from the edge, click "reverse", run back to my edge, and then go forward.
Just a different technique, give it a try. Go slow, it has helped, a leadfoot on the pedal at start-up is not a good practice.
Ambulo tua ambulo.
For me, not starting on the edge has helped the clumping. and keeping the throttle slow for the forward/reverse/forward or locking i guess you call it. and vrooom im off. I also think I have the tension dialed in a bit better now as Ive had a few days to use the awesome advice from everybody, and adjust on things and examine the stitches. I spent way to long in the sewing department at walmart looking for ripstop of any kind, nothing. But the funny looks are fun.I love breaking stereotypes. hey, sewing shops might be a good place to meet a lady!!
nice girls sew right?
Because you fall through the clouds if you try to lay on them, so the next best thing is a hammock.
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