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From: dregan
Date: 10-13-2004, 02:24 PM (1 of 9)
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I have some polyester material, which is quite slippery and wondered if it would be hard to sew with. I've never used a walking foot, but is this where you would use one? Also, I think I read in the forums before that some people spray their whole material with spray starch-I think it was for silk, but same thing applies, I would think. With the material stiffer, it's easier to sew. Has anyone heard of that? I think I used sulky spray adhesive once when I was ready to throw away some nice velvet!! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. Deb |
User: dregan
Member since: 02-28-2003 Total posts: 24 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 10-14-2004, 08:08 AM (2 of 9)
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I'd try the walking foot first. Maybe hand basting if it is too difficult to work with. Sometimes it is easier than it looks. And sometimes it's harder. A walking foot can make all the difference in the world. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-14-2004, 06:38 PM (3 of 9)
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If you have a walking foot GREAT! It would be my guess that it will probably work. What it does is help keep the top and bottom fabrics together. If you don't have one and you happen to have a teflon foot, I would try it before I purchased a walking foot just because the walking foot can be quite expensive. The teflon foot is nice and it also allows the fabric to move smoothly by cutting down on the "drag" of the presser foot. You might also try easing up the pressure (tension) on your presser foot too to allow your fabric to feed more freely. If you don't have either foot, easing the pressure might be the first thing I would try.
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: dregan
Date: 10-15-2004, 12:28 AM (4 of 9)
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Thank you both so much for your information. I do have a walking foot that I've never even used, and also a teflon foot when I found out how slippery velvet can be. I still ended up using the temp. fabric spray to hold that fabric together! I will try the feet, but I only have a NEW Home sewing machine and it doesn't have very many extra features. I don't think I can change the pressure on the pressor foot. It also doesn't have any changes in the needle position. I can dream for a better one when I start sewing instead of reading, reading, reading, how everyone else does things! Thanks again Deb 
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User: dregan
Member since: 02-28-2003 Total posts: 24 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 10-15-2004, 08:12 AM (5 of 9)
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I really think the walking foot will do it for you. And, especially if you are new to sewing, take the time to hand baste. You don't need a fancy machine to get great results. For years I worked on a Singer treadle with a patent date of 1910. I had to do button holes and a lot of other things by hand, but when I look at some of the stuff I made, it was pretty darn good. The difference is the time you are willing to put into a piece. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-15-2004, 08:13 AM (6 of 9)
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Hey, if it sews, what else do you need to start out? I was suprised that you had the feet. I didn't have a teflon foot for my machines until last year and I'd had the machine I was using for 12 years. I did have a walking foot though. Enjoy your machine. You can do incredible things with a simple machine, the bells and whistles are fun (and sometimes convient).
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: MaryW
Date: 10-15-2004, 11:17 AM (7 of 9)
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Here is a trick that Fred Bloebaum of La Fred patterns offers for slippery fabrics. When using fabrics with more drape, the fabric can occasionally slip as you are sewing it in. Pin the sleeves in place but start sewing at the shoulder seam and sew to the underarm. Then flip the garment over and again, sew from shoulder to the underarm on the opposite side of the fabric. This same trick might very well work with other seams as well. The basting idea is good too. Sometimes you just have to devote more time than you thought to handling these fabrics. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: dregan
Date: 10-15-2004, 12:39 PM (8 of 9)
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Thank you all so much for the info. I know I could use a lot more patience, but I am only able to sew at times when pain isn't as severe, and it is usually severe and never goes away. I'm unable to sit on my right buttock hardly at all and sometimes have to even put foot pedal up on a chair and try to sew. I have sciatica down both legs, too, and end up with more dreams, patterns, and material than anything else! Ha! I sure like to hear about others stashes as I sure have a lot of fabrics for only returning to sewing the past few years since being disabled from nursing. I had such terrible luck with the fitting of UNIQUE pattern company for most of those 2 yrs that I'm stuck and seem to be afraid to try and fail again because none of them fit. Of course, it didn't help when they scanned me and documented a bust 3 in. too small, and height 3 inches too short! I have about 4-5 UFO's that I just dont even want to look at. They redrafted my measurements about 3 times, but the patterns still always seemed wrong. The last capris I took in about 3 inches both sides and they still hang on me. I never can tell from the tissue patterns whether they'll fit or not. I wish I had a sewing mannequin, do they call it? Now I'm just whining, but I just need to try again. Deb |
User: dregan
Member since: 02-28-2003 Total posts: 24 |
From: Londa
Date: 10-22-2004, 11:05 PM (9 of 9)
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REgarding foot pressure - if you can adjust it on your machine, I always learned - and taught that you want to increase - or have more pressure for lighter weight fabrics, less for lofty fabrics. I think the main handling technique for lightweight fabrics is to sew TAUT. THis means left hand behind, right hand in front, creating a taut situation - your seams will look SEW much better! Also - straight stitch presser foot - one without an indentation on the underside (which is meant for the 'bump' of decorative sewing), and a single hole (little, in the center ) needle plate rather than the zig zag wide hole plate. Try these - Londa www.londas-sewing.com Londa
www.londas-sewing.com www.alondaoriginal.com |
User: Londa
Member since: 05-26-2004 Total posts: 39 
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