Machine sewing stretchy fabric

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Hi all, i'm new here so please bear with me but i'm hoping you guys could be just what i need!

I relatively new to machine sewing, the credit crunch has prompted me to try and recycle clothes that are too big and even attempt something from scratch!

I currently have a very simple summer dress, made of stretchy material (i will come back with the exact type of material later) i would like to take it in at the sides to make it more slimline.

Taking it in is not a problem, however, i have found that my sewing machine doesn't like the material.

I am using cotton thread, a standard universal sewing machine needle and the only 'foot' that came with the machine.

The fabric goes through under the foot ok and it doesn'r get sucked down into the hole, but the needle doesn't seem to be picking the bobbin thread up. I thought it was the machine so took the fabric out and put a cotton piece in and it stiched fine.

I have tried adjusting the stitch length, tension (i cant change the bobbin tension) but nothing, so i'm a bit stuck.

Could it be the needle, should i get one with a round tip?

Your help will be much appreciated

I'm a complete novice!

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Reply to
yaff
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What you need is a ball point or jersey needle if it's a cotton knit, and a stretch needle if it's poly or has any Lycra type content and for sewing elastic. Use cotton thread on cotton fabrics, and poly thread on artificial fabrics.

Set the stitch length quite small, and the width to a very narroe zigzag. Stretch the fabric VERY SLIGHTLY AS YOU SEW, KEEPING THE PRESSURE EVEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NEEDLE AND LETTING THE MACHINE FEED IT THROUGH. What is probably happening is that the needle is trying to split the threads of the knit and bouncing off. A ballpoint needle will slide between the threads of the knit.

When you start buying feet for the machine, if you have a lot of this sort of thing to do, a roller foot (with either a pair of knurled rollers or a set of little wheels in it) will be very useful. Other feet to get would be a blind hem foot and a zip foot. With them you can do almost anything.

What sort of machine is this? Make and model if you can. It helps us know what the best advice for you is.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Changed my thread to Guttermann Changed my needle to Schmetz Stretch, size 75-11, H-S Bought some thread lubricant, Sewers Aide, and applied a couple of drops to a piece of felt I glued to my machine in a place where the thread would move across it. I have not had skipped stitches since! Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl

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