Help Hemming Bulky Seams

Hello all,

I am not much of a sewer. I hem pants and curtains, that's about it! I'm having a problem hemming a pair of cords. The seams are bulky and my machine is having trouble going over them. The thread puckered up and the needle got stuck. Any ideas what the problem could be? Do I need a new needle? Does the machine need a tune up? I've hemmed jeans in the past without a problem. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mandy

Reply to
mandymoon5000
Loading thread data ...

Hi Mandy,

This is common when hemming a garment with bulky seams. (If you've been able to hem jeans without a similar problem, congratulations!)

It's caused by the fact that the presser foot is not level when approaching or sewing away from the bulk of the seam. Try folding a scrap of the fabric and placing it under the back of your presser foot, thus evening out the thicknesses. You probably will need to reposition the scrap a time or two as you sew toward the seam.

I enthusiastically recommend an inexpensive little gadget called the Jean-A-Ma-Jig, which usually can be found with sewing notions, or failing that, at several online sources. The advantage of the JAMJ is that its open slot lets you position it only once as you approach a thick seam, and also as you sew away from it. I made a short tutorial to go with the JAMJ I passed along to a future son-in-law, who was hemming his sons' jeans.

formatting link
the same line is a product called Hump Jumper. These come two, of varying thicknessses, to the package. They also are very helpful. Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen

Also, don't be scared of the tool box. Go get the hammer. Put a block of wood, if you have a scrap, inside the leg of the pant. Whack the seams with the hammer a couple times. Repeat on outseam and other leg. It really does work well. Remember you want to hammer on a surface that won't be hurt. I use the garage floor a lot. ;) This is also what I do when I'm hemming jeans both for myself and clients.

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

Seconded, and a ball-peen hammer works really well for this purpose, because the rounded surface doesn't leave sharp marks as the edge of a regular hammer might. And I find it works best if a heavy dose of steam has been applied to the seam first.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Do you do this with cords, too, Sharon? I guess steam would renew the pile, and if they are washable, no problem. But whacking might affect the 'new' look...do I sound like a coward? :)

Doreen in Alabma

Reply to
Doreen

Cords always look best as they wear in a bit.

I have a most wonderful book which I would strongly recommend to anyone who loves clothes (male or female) as it is just stuffed full of delightful information on all sorts of things (mostly male) clothes related. It's called "A Gentleman's Wardrobe", subtitiled "Classic Clothes and the Modern Man" by Paul Keers, Pub: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London.

There is a lovely quote in this book that says of suits "No suit should look new. Anderson and Sheppard of Savile Row believe that if a customer leaves their shop and is recognised as wearing a new suit, then they have failed to do their job. Beau Brummel had his valet wear all his clothes first, to take the vulgar newness out of them. The modern suggestion is that having a suit cleaned removes the dressing in the cloth and takes out the 'new' feeling. But Fred Astaire had a different solution. 'To get that stiff squareness out of it', he explained, 'I often take a brand-new suit or hat and throw it up against a wall a few times.'

Reply to
FarmI

Yes I do. Since on most RTW cords, there's a flat felled seam to deal with, just like on jeans, it looks fine. The pile is usually pretty mangled there anyway. And you are right, steam, along with a little brushing from a stiff bristled brush, brings the pile back up AFTER stitching the hem.

You can always try on the scrap that you cut off for the hem. See what you think of how it looks...post-whacking. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

I, too, am all for the "whacking" method. it not only deminishes the thickness of the seam, but gets your aggressions out! Hmmmm....garage floor....i'll have to try that next! i really do love to use the driveway too, tho.

OT: my XH bought a "faux" aubusson rug for our old house, i hated it, so instead of selling it or giving it away, i put it in my garage in my new house, and ran the car over it for a few months.....the slush in winter did a great job....Ahhh...just had to share that. =D

amy

Reply to
amy

The benefit of the garage floor is you can whack a way in any kind of weather. ;)

You are a wicked, wicked woman!! LOL I think that was a pretty good reuse though. ;)

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

i thought so, too. i've been in the house 9 yrs, just threw the battered old stinky thing out in the trash when the for sale sign went up!!! ( my realtor's suggestion). the funniest thing is...someone came by within 20 minutes of it being out in the trash heap and took it....eeeooo. amy in CNY

Reply to
amy

Heh. Well, when I was in fifth grade my school clothes consisted of two corduroy skirts, one green, one rust, which I wore on alternate days. I sure hated the flat shine they soon developed in the seat area. Didn't help any that my mother insisted the skirts had to be dry cleaned rather than washed.

Maybe that's why I prefer corduroy when it retains some newness...washed a time or two for softness, of course.

Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen

I don't remember if you turned your bulky hem up once or twice. I would highly recommend serging around the bottom of the hem and then only turning it up once before sewing the hem in place.

Reply to
Sylvia

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.