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From: kmtpaints
Date: 06-22-2006, 01:31 PM (1 of 12)
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I need to hem a very light weight t-shirt made from 50/50 cotton/polyester. In the past I have had problems overcasting the edges. The needle pushes the fabric down into the throat plate and the fabric won't feed evenly under the pressure foot. I don't want to ruin the T-shirt. What size and type of needle should I use? My sewing machine is working properly as I use it all the time. I just have problems when sewing this type of fabric. Thank you for your help. |
User: kmtpaints
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 3 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 06-22-2006, 01:42 PM (2 of 12)
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Usually you would use a ballpoint or stretch needle on knits. You could also try some tissue paper or lightweight tearaway stabilizer under the t-shirt.
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: Kew
Date: 07-06-2006, 01:03 AM (3 of 12)
I buy t-shirts and they are much too long for me so I cut off about 5 inches from the bottom and then I serge the bottom edge, then I use a double needle and I turn up the hem just enough to lay nice and flat and from the ride side I use a strailght stitch with the double needle and lengthen your stitch so that it's not too small. This works really good. I just did 3 t shirts last night. It doesn't take long. You just have to be careful that you are just catching the edge which you can't see as it's underneath when you're sewing. Hope I didn't make this too confusing. Buttons 
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User: Kew
Member since: 10-19-2000 Total posts: 58 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 07-06-2006, 05:44 PM (4 of 12)
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Buttons: do you mean a twin needle ? That's often what I will use to hem tshirts, If they keep pushing into the throat plate sometimes a piece of pattern tissue is enough stabilizer to help and then you just tear it away when done. Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-06-2006, 06:17 PM (5 of 12)
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Twin needles come in both, regular and for knits only.. I know what you mean about your machine wanting to eat the knit.. Mine did also.. That is why I bought the coverstitch only machine.. (my serger is older than dirt, but still works so well I couldn't justify getting rid of it..)I make so many t-shirts, I had to get the CS machine.. My gift to me! ! Just because I deserve it... LOL
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: sable
Date: 07-06-2006, 09:44 PM (6 of 12)
| Libby, which coverstitch machine did you get and if you bought one again would you get the same one? My Mum is in the market and is currently dithering between Janome and Brother (Bernina and Babylock are too expensive) |
User: sable
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 76 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-08-2006, 01:19 PM (7 of 12)
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I bought the Janome 900 ?? . I forget the letters.. its the one with 2 needles and 1 looper.. It was what I felt like I could afford.. and yes, I would buy it again.. Remember, these facts help me to decide.. I am 72 years old, on a limited (retirement) income, and also , no one else in my family is interested in sewing except my 9 yr old GD and her attention span is not that long right now.. So , I bought the least expensive one I could find and also (a big factor) I LOVE my Janome MemoryCraft 4000 that I bought back in 1992-1994. I cannot pinpoint exactly when I bought it.. I am sold on Janome.. I got my CS machine on sale.. I did not pay full retail which was $799.00, I think...
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: sable
Date: 07-08-2006, 04:34 PM (8 of 12)
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Thanks for that Libby My Mum is getting on for 60, but is still really into sewing (made my SIL's wedding dress). She does a lot of sewing for herself and a wee bit for my boys. She's been dithering over this for ages now because she's not sure how permanent her place of work is. At the moment here the Janome and Brother are both the same price of $799 (remembering our $ is weaker than the USD). The Janome has a better work area, but the woman that owns the shop selling is not so nice. Some of her employees are really great though; the places that sell Brother are really nice (I'm sure I read somewhere that they're the same machine inside). There's a part of me that really wants one too, it's a pain rethreading my overlocker each time I want to do coverstitch; however I need a new embroidery machine more than a coverstitch and I have to save up for either! |
User: sable
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 76
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From: Kew
Date: 07-08-2006, 06:28 PM (9 of 12)
sorry if I sppelled your name wrong. You're right I meant to say a twin needle. It's great and yes the stabalizer is a great idea. I usually don't have to use it but have occassionally. Buttons 
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User: Kew
Member since: 10-19-2000 Total posts: 58 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-11-2006, 05:08 PM (10 of 12)
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Sable , Maybe the two of you live close enough together to share a machine.?? I used to have a friend that had a great machine, but it made the buttonholes from H--- ! ! So, for about 5 years she would schedule a day every once in a while to borrow my Singer 221 (featherweight portable) and catch up on making buttonholes in all the garments she had made.. She helped me with curved lines and boys stuff construction .. I was having trouble mastering these items at the time..Worked great for us..The Singer 221 still makes the prettiest buttonholes of any I've ever seen, although I must say My Janome makes a specialty buttonhole for knits that is simply exquisite..Best ever..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: sable
Date: 07-11-2006, 07:58 PM (11 of 12)
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Libby, we do, however you know how it is; you always need the machine you don't have desperately at a time you can't get to it! I can rethread my overlocker to do the coverstitch faster than I can get to Mums place. She doesn't have an embroidery machine, she's got a Husqvarna Lily; I want a Husqvarna Designer SE, or at a pinch the Pfaff 2170. Expensive tastes, lol! |
User: sable
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 76
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From: Dede
Date: 07-11-2006, 09:35 PM (12 of 12)
| I always serge the edge before sewing when working with stretch fabric and have never had any problems. It gives the fabric the weight it needs I guess. |
User: Dede
Member since: 03-23-2001 Total posts: 469 |
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