Hello. I have a Viking Platinum machine and have been sewing patches of cotton knit onto cotton tees without a problem, using zigzag stitching near the edges. Recently I switched fabrics to a thinner, slightly stretchier cotton knit and I am having lots of problems-- jamming, fabric bunching up, zigzag stitch not consistant and getting thinner in spots. I have tried using a J foot, but it still happens. Does anyone have any suggestions? Tension ideas?
Thanks, Gabrielle
Do you use a stabilizer? I think one of the Solvy water-soluble might help, placed over the top of the work in the hoop.
Beverly
Are you using a jersey or knit needle?
If it's lighter weight fabric, have you tried lessening the foot pressure?
Walking foot?
Try lessening the presser on the foot so it doesn't put as much pressure against the feed dogs. I've got the 1+ with the sewing advisor and it also advises use of a stretch needle in a size 70 & use of the "A" foot.
-Irene
I use starch on knits: get a *good* spray bottle from a hardware store -- not a "plant mister" from Wal-Mart -- fill it with diluted bottle starch (grocery store, usually in the same aisle as the bleach), mist the fabric while it is lying flat, and let it air dry. For extra control, come back after an hour, turn the fabric over, and mist the other side.
If it's jersey or some other fabric that is apt to curl when it gets wet, fold it in half and baste around the edges. Spray both sides, allowing the first side to get firm before you move it.
Oddly, I've never found it necessary to wash out the starch before wearing the garment, even though most of what I make from knits is underwear. But if something should be objectionably stiff when finished, five minutes in a tumble dryer would knock the starch out.
For really-stubborn fabric, use a slice of sponge as a brush to paint a narrow line of undiluted bottle starch along the stitching line. Undiluted starch does stiffen the fabric, so try not to splash it around.
Joy Beeson
One thing that I don't think anyone else has mentioned and which may help: I always catch hold of the threads at the back of the foot as I begin an new seam. I find this stops jamming that can sometimes happen at the beginning of a seam.
Some fabrics and applications require a stabilizer while you sew, for a decent result, especially when you are not using a straight stitch throat plate on your machine. Stabilizers help prevent the fabric from being sucked down thru the throat plate, give needed body to the work area, protect the fabric from excess stretching, give the feed dogs something to grip, negate the need for time-consuming fabric treatments, dramatically improve the quality of work, and save the sewist a lot of grey hair.
There are a gazillion different stabilizers available today that either cut-away, wash-away, iron-away or tear-away or come in combinations (ie tear/wash-away). These all come in different weights and materials. I recommend a medium tear/wash-away for your project--- one that tears easily so you don't stretch your appliques out of shape. You might want to try out a few different types and then purchase a large roll of ones you will use often. I buy most of mine from Allstitch online:
Good luck.
Phae
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