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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: jennhi
Date: 09-26-2004, 10:13 PM (1 of 9)
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Hello again! Thank you so much for responding so quickly to my first question. Now, I'm attempting a pants project using a cheap piece of cloth I bought for practice purposes. It's a tie-dye that's rather stretchy, probably a polyester blend; it came from a table with just large amounts of loose fabric without any tags or descriptions. The problem is that no matter what size needle, level of tension, or weight of thread I use, the top thread is always breaking after I throw a few stitches. It's not happening on other fabric, so a nice solution to the problem would be to throw the fabric away and find something not so cheap; however, is there any way to get this fabric to cooperate before it hits the garbage? Thanks! Jennifer |
User: jennhi
Member since: 09-24-2004 Total posts: 8 |
From: paroper
Date: 09-27-2004, 03:58 PM (2 of 9)
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That is very odd. I've thrown away material for many reasons but never because my thread was breaking. Is it possible that you have reversed the needle or that there is something caught in your tension disks that is putting undo pressure on your thread?
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: jennhi
Date: 09-27-2004, 05:54 PM (3 of 9)
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hi pam! The reason I suspect the fabric is because when I replace it with another fabric, the rows come out perfectly. I used to suspect the thread (a thicker, organic cotton that I thought maybe couldn't handle a sewing machine) but after replacing the thread with a durable polyester blend, the thread continued to break. Once I replaced the fabric, I noticed there were no problems. Gotta be the fabric. I'm fairly sure it's not the needle, either. I've used a size 14 and then upped it to 16 with the same results. It's odd. Thanks! Jennifer |
User: jennhi
Member since: 09-24-2004 Total posts: 8 |
From: paroper
Date: 09-27-2004, 07:43 PM (4 of 9)
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That is very odd.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-29-2004, 08:22 PM (5 of 9)
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Jennhi, Are you using a straight stitch. ?? if your fabric is a knit (you said it is stretchy) then you do need to use a zigzag stitch or a straight stretch stitch if your machine has one.. If you put the least undue pressure on the needle with the fabric, when you have a knit fabric, it will cause the thread to break rather than breaking the needle..Try using a slight zigzag stitch which will give the stretchy fabric a little leeway and it won't stress the thread into breaking.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: bunzino
Date: 09-30-2004, 03:26 PM (6 of 9)
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Remember not to crowd too much zig-zag into an inch of stitching as that stretches knits as much as pulling on it while you sew. Ask me how I know!! nancy |
User: bunzino
Member since: 08-16-2002 Total posts: 119 |
From: HeatherL
Date: 10-02-2004, 12:22 AM (7 of 9)
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I learned this lesson the hard way. Everything you're saying sounds exactly the same as what I dealt with. I messed with the tension, the needle size, the thread (tried cotton, poly, and blends), and stitch, to no avail. And other fabrics sewed fine! Someone here on the boards finally gave me the answer--in an answer to another question. If your fabric has a lot of stretch to it, make sure you use a ballpoint needle. I can't tell you what a difference it made. I went from spending hours making seams a few inches at a time and sewing over and over and over...to nearly effortless sewing. Yes, the needle made that much of a difference. I'm totally sold on the idea of using these for any stretchy fabric, and since I have several boxes of knits that I picked up for a song, I invested in several packages of these little babies. BALL POINT NEEDLES. Really...try it. I bet it will work! |
User: HeatherL
Member since: 03-13-2004 Total posts: 102 |
From: HeatherL
Date: 10-02-2004, 12:25 AM (8 of 9)
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Remember not to crowd too much zig-zag into an inch of stitching as that stretches knits as much as pulling on it while you sew. Ask me how I know!! nancy Been there, done THAT too! I have learned sewing the same way I learned computers...by jumping in feet first and learning from my (many and frequent) mistakes! I have a skirt and two shirts with "lettuce" edging that was completely unintentional. So nancy's not the only one! 
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User: HeatherL
Member since: 03-13-2004 Total posts: 102 |
From: jennhi
Date: 10-14-2004, 07:12 PM (9 of 9)
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Thank you so much for all the recommendations. Since I've got nothing but time, a lot of fabric that will otherwise go to waste, and a few bucks, I'll go ahead and attempt them. Ball point needles and a level 2 zigzag... here I come. Thanks again! JennHi |
User: jennhi
Member since: 09-24-2004 Total posts: 8 |
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