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From: mbar03
Date: 07-15-2005, 11:12 PM (1 of 13)
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I'm having a problem with my fabric "slipping" while I'm piecing. For instance, if I have two pieces to sew that are the same length, one piece ends up a little bit longer. I even have this problem if I pin - the fabric on top just bunches up before the pin. I have a Bernina Activa 140, and I know that I can stop this problem by using my walking foot - but I really like to use my 1/4" foot to piece. Does anyone else have this problem? Hopefully I explained it well enough, and does anyone know how to remedy it other than by using the walking foot? Any help would be much appreciated. Michelle
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User: mbar03
Member since: 07-11-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: June Harlow
Date: 07-16-2005, 08:59 AM (2 of 13)
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Hi Michelle & welcome to the Forum! Do you have this problem with all fabrics that you use, or just certain ones? From time to time I run into a fabric that "grows" larger than the pattern after I cut it. I've found out that it's some sort of synthetic, not really a stretch fabric in the true sense, but it has some "give" that allows it to get a bit larger after it's cut. Not sure if this helps you, but I understand your problem. 
June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100 
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From: mbar03
Date: 07-16-2005, 03:48 PM (3 of 13)
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Actually it's happening with 100% cotton. Oh well, maybe I'll ask my Bernina dealer and see if they have any recommendations/remedies. Thanks for the reply! Michelle
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User: mbar03
Member since: 07-11-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: June Harlow
Date: 07-16-2005, 04:32 PM (4 of 13)
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Please let us know what you find out. Good luck!
June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100
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From: carman
Date: 07-16-2005, 05:45 PM (5 of 13)
| my janome is sooooooooooooooooo bad at doing this, this is what happens, the feed dogs on the bottom are feeding the lower fabric at a slightly different pace than the top fabric that just has the foot. |
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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From: June Harlow
Date: 07-16-2005, 06:19 PM (6 of 13)
Yes, I routinely used an add-on walking foot for just about everything when I used my old Kenmore because of that sliding problem. Finally I moved to a Pfaff with a built-in walking foot and I'm a lot happier now. But there's still some of those strange fabrics that just won't cooperate 
June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 07-16-2005, 11:17 PM (7 of 13)
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Mbar03, when piecing I usually take just a few stitches to begin sewing the pieces then stop. Then I make sure that I hold the two ends together and as I sew, I pull a little bit stretching the top and bottom. They will generally feed evenly and end up the same or close to the same length. When I am sewing pieces longer than 6 inches I usually pin and ensure that the ends align. As I sew I do the same...pulling (or stretching) a bit between the pins and generally it will work out to the same length.
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 07-17-2005, 10:15 AM (8 of 13)
Most of the time, I use my walking foot while piecing. I had read a tip somewhere (it might have been on this site), that you put a piece of masking tape on the bed of your machine with a permanent line measured at a 1/4" to line your fabric with while sewing. It works well for me, and no slippage. 
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: mbar03
Date: 07-17-2005, 01:27 PM (9 of 13)
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Judy, I usually do pin all my pieces if they're over a certain size, specifically to prevent this - that's why it frustrates me when it does it anyway. Liz, I use my walking foot for a lot of things, but I just feel like it's faster to piece using my 1/4" foot. That, of course, could just be me - the walking foot just kind of clangs away when I'm piecing, so it's probably the same speed. I really appreciate everyone's comments. Michelle
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User: mbar03
Member since: 07-11-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: carman
Date: 07-17-2005, 02:13 PM (10 of 13)
| one other thing that really helped me was loosening the tension on the presser foot, mine has a 1-3 level of pressure and i have put it to the lightest, and that REALLY helped mine, i have very little movement now. |
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692
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From: June Harlow
Date: 07-17-2005, 05:40 PM (11 of 13)
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Just as a footnote (no pun intended) there's a couple of different types of add-on walking feet. One has the regular serrated teeth (like those on your feed dogs), another type that I own has smooth feet. I'm not really sure what the walking foot with smooth feet is for, perhaps for very sensitive fabrics that might be damaged by serrated teeth, but it's possible it might let certain fabrics slip. But they both sound like an threshing machine when they're running !
June ~
"If only I could find that missing pattern piece!" June sews on a Pfaff 1209 and a Babylock 5180 serger |
User: June Harlow
Member since: 05-30-2005 Total posts: 100
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From: mbar03
Date: 07-17-2005, 06:00 PM (12 of 13)
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Thanks June! Carman, I didn't know that you COULD loosen the presser foot. I'll have to look into that. Michelle
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User: mbar03
Member since: 07-11-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: kittendodie
Date: 07-19-2005, 09:18 PM (13 of 13)
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I had a problem with the fabric bunching at the start, or being uneven and discovered that if i put the streight stitch plate on my machine this corrects the problem. I tried different feet and backstitching, all kinds of things...but the only thing that works for me is the streight stitch plate. Maybe this would be worth a try. dodie Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 ; Husq. 936 Serger ; and lots and lots of fabric.
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User: kittendodie
Member since: 01-22-2004 Total posts: 19 
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