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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: bridesmom
Date: 10-23-2005, 12:47 AM (1 of 4)
My son has a duffel bag that is made out of a very heavy rubberized nylon coated fabric that needs the zipper replaced. I put topstitch thread into the machine with quilting cotton in the bobbin, adjusted the tensions, using a new 100/16 denim needle. Tested it on a thick swatch of fabric which is not the same fabric cause I don't have anything similar to test it with. It tested fine but when I start to sew the fabric with the zipper it starts out fine then the topstitch thread makes huge loops on the underside of the stitching when I am sewing through the two layers of fabric and the zipper. So I stop, test again and its fine. What is happening?? I even changed to quilting cotton top and bottom and the same thing happens. HELP! 
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 10-23-2005, 07:41 PM (2 of 4)
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Oh that's aggravating! Well, I can see how a rubberized fabric might grab your thread a bit, changing the functional tension on the top and bottom threads. The heavier thread is already a challenge for the machine's tension, and it suonds like you've worked around that well, but that heavier thread is going to experience even more drag on that kind of fabric. And of course, this is a repair, so you don't have spare fabric for a realistic test swatch. I can offer you a nice explanation, some good hearty empathy, but no solution. How do you like that? sorry
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 10-24-2005, 06:50 AM (3 of 4)
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Thanks Andrea - the sympathy did help some! I finally changed my threads to quilting cotton top and bottom and sewed really slow and did each seam twice. It looks like it worked and he is really pleased that its fixed, I just hope it will hold!!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 10-24-2005, 07:26 AM (4 of 4)
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I have never tried this but my mother worked in factories for many years first sewing shoes and then sewing snowmobile suits. At home when she would have to sew heavy rubbery stuff like that, I have seen her put a bit of cooking oil on a q-tip and rub some on her needle. She would sew slowly and periodically stop to rub more on.
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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