Thread injector attachment help?!

**Mouseskowitz** · 05-11-2014, 23:11

My wife and I were trying out some new toys tonight and trying to do a Knotty mod to my hammock. We got the mod done but didn't get the toy to work, it's a plane tape binder. We're planning on using it for grosgrain ridge lines on a couple tarps we're making. The problem is that the top and bottom portions of the grosgrain are not feeding correctly. Unfortunately I didn't think of taking any pictures of the problem so I will try to describe it. Basically within a couple stitches the top half of the grosgrain slides off to the right of the presser foot, so it is no longer being sewn and the bottom also seems to shift to the left some. We were trying to have the stitching rather close to the edge so we had a channel for the shock cord. I'm not sure if you just can't do that or if something was not positioned correctly. Does anyone have experience with these and can you help me trouble shoot this please? Here are some reference pictures for roughly how we had it.

**Mouseskowitz** · 05-13-2014, 18:21

Anyone??? Help please!!! I did watch a YouTube video from a manufacturer of these types of attachments. They had two things different from my setup. First, the vertical piece on the foot side was up against the foot. Second, they were using a walking foot machine. Are one or both of these things required for successful utilization of this gadget?

**The Old Boot** · 05-13-2014, 19:19

There's a reason no one jumped on helping you!

The general consensus is that a lot of the attachments, the plain tape binder included, are so fussy to operate that it's just easier to do it by hand. By the time you get it to work right you'll have done the job 10 times over without it.

I have three sets of attachments that have been sitting in my sewing gear closet for probably 40 years and have never used.

Now ask about a buttonhole attachment or a zipper foot and we'll talk...

**VictoriaGuy** · 05-13-2014, 20:06

Originally Posted by The Old Boot

The general consensus is that a lot of the attachments, the plain tape binder included, are so fussy to operate that it's just easier to do it by hand. By the time you get it to work right you'll have done the job 10 times over without it.

+1
I agree. Unless you are setting up a factory, it's simpler to just do this stuff 'by hand' aka folding/pinning/pressing, etc and sewing normally with the machine,IMO.
I use the zipper foot and, once in a while, the blind hem foot....thazzit for gadgets for me. (I do usually use a Pfaff 1222E which has a 'top feed' foot, and zigzag..)

**Mouseskowitz** · 05-13-2014, 20:58

I we might have to do it the regular way if this doesn't work out. These things seem like great ideas though.

**mjs3350** · 05-13-2014, 21:04

I tried the tape binder once and I doubt I"ll try it again. Even though I was using the correct side grosgrain, the edges kept "walking" as you mentioned. I thought it'd be a way to save time but it ends up being more hassle than doing it without any "help".

**gmcttr** · 05-13-2014, 21:59

I think there's a reason they are called a Plain Tape Binder and not a grosgrain binder....probably intended for lighter weight tape. I gave up on mine in short order and have never got myself to try it again.