Singer 99K + 1.1 Silnylon = Poor stitches :-(

[poca]

So I just started in on my first sil project, a tarp, and I can't seem to get my sewing machine to work with it properly. It will only form proper stitches when sewing at a somewhat decent speed using the foot pedal. When I try to do stitches by turning the wheel they don't form (just end up as skipped stitches). Same thing happens when going slow with the pedal, so I end up with 1 or 2 skipped stitches each time I pause to readjust.

I don't know much about it so I could easily be wrong, but the tension seems fine, at least in terms of the stitches locking in the centre of the fabric. The bobbin case was just cleaned and oiled, and I've tried rethreading the machine. I've also played with the pressure of the presser foot.

It stitches perfectly fine on thicker fabric, this problem is only with the sil.

If anyone has any ideas for why this is happening I would really appreciate any advice you could give me.

[nuttysquirrel]

Could the thread you're using be to large for your needle?

[poca]

I'm using regular gutermann thread and microtex 70/10 needles. The woman at the store said they would work together...but that's all I know.

[poca]

Oh, and I found that combo recommended elsewhere on the forums, so it's worked for others.

Edit: after some reading about thread and needle sizes I'm wondering if you are right about the needle being too small. The gutermann site says their "sew-all" thread is size 60NM. Then I read somewhere that the needle size should be 40% larger than the thread, so the 60NM thread would need a size 84 (so 90) needle. Does that sound right?

[poca]

Scratch that, I misread their description. 60NM is the smallest recommended needle size, not the thread size. So I'm back to square one.

[APRock]

Try a tear-away backer. I had the same problem. The fabric just wasn't gripping the thread to make a loop for the machine to pick up when going slow for some reason. Backer helped out.

[gmcttr]

...I had the same problem. The fabric just wasn't gripping the thread to make a loop for the machine to pick up when going slow for some reason...

Which might indicate the OP should try the smallest recommended needle size...smaller needle, smaller hole, better chance of the fabric holding the thread allowing a loop to be formed. Worth a try.

[poca]

Try a tear-away backer. I had the same problem. The fabric just wasn't gripping the thread to make a loop for the machine to pick up when going slow for some reason. Backer helped out.

What do you mean by a tear away backer? Like a layer of a different fabric or a strip of tape underneath?

[MAD777]

For a backer, I use a strip of that tissue paper that you find inside a gift wrap box. Strong enough to hold things together but easy to tear away afterwards.

[poca]

Ok, that I have. I'll give it a try. Thanks!