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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: abcameo
Date: 01-08-2005, 10:51 AM (1 of 10)
I'm trying to sew lining fabric and a woven polyester together. I'm deliberately sewing with the woven side up because it has a grid design and I want to sew exactly along this line of the grid.

I have a Janome 6260QC. I've tried a regular foot, a teflon foot (which they say is supposed to be good for matching plaids--I haven't especially found that to be true when I sewed two pieces of the woven grid fabric together). I also tried adjusting the presser foot tension.

Next, I tried a walking foot--which I think is supposed to do exactly what I'm trying to accomplish--and I'm having a problem with it. It's not moving forward at all, just stitching in place over-and-over again. I've put the bar of the walking foot on top of the needle bar/screw area. Maybe I need to add some stabilizer since the slippery lining side is down, but I've tried to use this walking foot on other fabric and the same thing happened. Can anyone please advise how to use the walking foot properly so that my fabric moves forward.

Can anyone also help with which foot to use for even feeding? I also heard a roller foot can help with even feeding, but I don't own one for my machine. One person had suggested that I can glue the two pieces together with a glue stick, but it seems to me the right foot or technique should handle it without using glue.
Many thanks,
Amy
The Wear-with-All
http://www.thewearwithall.com
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004
Total posts: 131
From: Sewhappie
Date: 01-08-2005, 11:15 AM (2 of 10)
Is you presser foot down? Are your feeddogs engaged? You might not have enough pressure on your presser foot to hold the fabric. What is your stitch length set at? You could have it set on to short a stitch. Are you holding the threads in back when you start out to help it grip?
If all else fails use a piece of wax paper under the fabric to help the teeth grip into something. It can be torn away after you finish the seam.
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001
Total posts: 1427
From: shirleyp
Date: 01-08-2005, 11:21 AM (3 of 10)
Could you be sewing too close to the beginning of the fabric. You might have to start about a 1/4 of a inch past, just because the lining is on the botton it's not grabbing. If you would like to try to adhere the two fabrics try a strip of steam and seam or wonder under. It irons on both sides and will hold the two fabrics together. It sounds like you have your walking foot right. The lever needs to be above the screw which holds your needle in place in your shaft. Hope some of this works, good luck.

Thought I would add this, after reading your note again. Have you accidently dropped your feed dogs. You also still need to drop your foot down when you use the walking foot.
User: shirleyp
Member since: 02-12-2002
Total posts: 352
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-08-2005, 04:39 PM (4 of 10)
I'd say stick with the walking foot and try putting a bit of tissue paper beneath the lining.
Maybe you don't have the walking foot on properly. It should be going forward when the needle goes down and pulling the fabric back when the needle goes up at the same rate the lower feeds are pulling the bottom fabric back.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: Mom of Six
Date: 01-08-2005, 05:00 PM (5 of 10)
What is your stitch length? I accidently forgot to change mine once after sewing on buttons & it took me a long time to figure out what was wrong.
Sounds simple but worth a try. Otherwise everyone else has given good advise.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!!
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001
Total posts: 1115
From: abcameo
Date: 01-08-2005, 06:28 PM (6 of 10)
Thanks, everyone. My feedogs are engaged because I can sew everything else fine. The walking foot is sitting right--the bar is sitting up against the needle housing.

I did not hold my threads in back when starting (oops!), and I also did start at the very beginning of the seam. I did try adjusting the stitch length, but maybe not enough. The walking foot sounds very "clicky," is this normal? It just barely moves forward at all and usually just keeps stitching in the same spot. After trying for about an inch several times, I gave up. It did the same thing when I tried it on two normal fabrics--instead of the slippery lining material.

I'll keep trying... I very much appreciate all the replies.
Amy
The Wear-with-All
http://www.thewearwithall.com
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004
Total posts: 131
From: Mom of Six
Date: 01-08-2005, 10:16 PM (7 of 10)
Do you have a dealer you could go to for help? Or a friend that sews. Sometimes you just need another person to look at it. I even used my husband once & he knows nothing about sewing.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!!
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001
Total posts: 1115
From: plrlegal
Date: 01-09-2005, 12:04 AM (8 of 10)
Amy the arm to your walking foot needs to be on top of the needle clamp. If that is not wear the arm is, that is why the walking foot is not moving properly.

Patsy
Patsy
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001
Total posts: 318
From: abcameo
Date: 01-09-2005, 12:41 AM (9 of 10)
It is above the needle clamp. I think I will take it on over to the sewing shop and have them figure out what's going wrong. In the meantime, I managed to finish my project and just have a little hand sewing on it. It was a shawl to match a Vogue pattern skirt. Now, I'm going to (after the fact) do my best to add a lining to the finished skirt. It wasn't called for in the pattern, but I really think it needs it. Well, it's one way to upgrade my skills--just wish I could decide to do stuff like this before I finish the darn thing. I guess I'll eventually get the correct sewing sequence down.

I've done that once or twice now with my knitting--decided I should add a lining to a jacket AFTER the darn thing is all sewn up. Then I have to lay the finished jacket flat and try to draw around the thing and try to make it work. I'm finally starting to realize, it would be wise to cut the lining when the pieces are knitted up but not yet sewn into a garment. A perfect example, on my (soon-to-be-redesigned!) website, check out Fine Knits: "Wear-It-Alls" Purple & Silver Blazer. Yep, did the lining AFTER the fact. :bolt:
Amy
The Wear-with-All
http://www.thewearwithall.com
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004
Total posts: 131
From: mamadus
Date: 01-13-2005, 10:36 PM (10 of 10)
Amy...just wondered if you finally got this figured out?? what was the problem? and what was the solution???

MO
life is too short, not to explore
User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004
Total posts: 492
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