Need help - sewing machine "eats" fabric

My Brother Pacesetter 8200 sort of "eats" the fabric at the beginning of a seam. It does fine after I actually get the seaming going, but when I first start it, it pulls a bit of the fabric down into the feed dogs.

Does anyone have any suggestions, or do I just need to load it up and take it to the shop?

Thanks Daisy

Reply to
daisyoink
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try starting in a bit further on the fabric and reverse to the end then go forward again or try left or right needle positions

Reply to
Ron Anderson

There may be several things at work here:

1: Needle - is it nice and new? A blunt or damaged needle can have this effect, as can a needle that is too thick for the fabric.

2: Thread - it this too thick for the fabric? That too can drag it into the hole... Also, you might need to hang on to the thread tails to help stop this.

3: Fabric - fine fabrics sometimes need help: rather than starting right on the edge of the fabric, pop a bit of tissue under the foot and sew onto the fabric after an inch or so of sewing on the tissue. It'll tear out of the seam really easily afterwards.

4: The hole is too big! Some machines have quite a large hole for zigzag and decorative stitches, especially if the widest setting is 7mm. If you do a lot of straight stitching, it would be a good move to invest in a straight stitch needle plate and foot for the machine.

Try some of these first, before taking the machine in for 'fixing' it may not need. :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

I'm assuming that you are holding your threads when you start your seam. Adding onto what Kate said, be sure you are using a ballpoint for knits and a sharp (not a universal) for especially lightweight wovens. Some machines never require a single hole plate and some do very often. The regular stitch plate on my 9 mm Bernina never sucks fabric into the hole but my Janome at only 7 mm is an entirely different story so I have to use a single hole stitch plate with it. Several other "tricks" are:

1) Start sewing on a little scrap of a heavier fabric positioned right on the edge of (right behind) your chosen fabric and then snip it off when you are done. This is an old quilters trick. Don't forget to secure your seam. A built-in securing stitch is preferable to back-stitching in these instances. 2) For the first stitch, bring the needle into the fabric *manually* before lowering the presser foot. Then lower the foot and bring up the needle while you hold the threads taut. This is a thread nest treatment but can sometimes work for your problem too. Lowering the presser foot engages the tension. 3) Drop the feed dogs, secure your seam nearly in place and then raise the feed dogs.

A great deal more stitching, these days, requires a stabilizer. Old phone book pages work too but be sure the ink won't rub off on your fabric.

Good luck.

Phae

Reply to
Phaedrine

Phone book pages!!!! Bet it works great!!! Never thought of that...........

Reply to
Pat in Arkansas

I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of people who sew. The phone book pages are really only good for light stuff. People use them for foundation piecing on quilts too, I've heard.

Reply to
Phaedrine

Always make sure that your needle has penetrated the fabric, before you begin. Mary

Reply to
crindle134

Thanks for everyone's suggestions as to how for my machine not to "eat" the fabric. Using a scrap of fabric at the start did help, as did using paper, so maybe I can finish my project before taking the machine to the shop. I guess it needs to go, because it did not eat the fabric for years, just started doing it recently. Again thanks Daisy

Reply to
daisyoink

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Reply to
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