Lycra...skipped stitches

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Subject Author Date
Lycra...skipped stitches Cheryl 02-24-2008
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Posted by Cheryl on February 24, 2008, 5:38 pm
I'm sewing lightweight lycra and getting skipped stitches in my
seamlines. I've tried every needle type from woven to ball point,
needles for stretch fabrics, tried my teflon foot, my even feed
foot...all terrible. About the best so far is something called a "Q"
foot from Sears...only 2 skips in about 8 inches of stitching. I've
been sewing a lot of lycra but have always had to go to my serger to
get the job done. However, using the serger, I can't leave a seam
allowance. Any ideas on how I can get my regular machine to stitch
without all the skipping?
Cheryl

Posted by robb on February 24, 2008, 9:09 pm

> I'm sewing lightweight lycra and getting skipped stitches in my
> seamlines. I've tried every needle type from woven to ball
point,
> needles for stretch fabrics, tried my teflon foot, my even feed
> foot...all terrible. About the best so far is something called
a "Q"
> foot from Sears...only 2 skips in about 8 inches of stitching.
I've
> been sewing a lot of lycra but have always had to go to my
serger to
> get the job done. However, using the serger, I can't leave a
seam
> allowance. Any ideas on how I can get my regular machine to
stitch
> without all the skipping?
> Cheryl

Hello,

What **size** needle are you using ?
What type of thread are you using ?
What is the machine ?

First try lubricating your needle with just a **wee** bit of oil
?

like rub a wee drop between finger tips then lighly rub the
needle with the oily finger tips untill it is slippery then
ready set go

If yoy do not have light sewing machine oil then i suppose some
vegetable or olive oil will work ?
if you have some siliconized lubricant then that will work the
best as it stas on the needle longer IMO

Let me know how it worked out
robb


Posted by Cheryl on February 24, 2008, 10:35 pm
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I'm sewing lightweight lycra and getting skipped stitches in my
> > seamlines. =A0I've tried every needle type from woven to ball
> point,
> > needles for stretch fabrics, tried my teflon foot, my even feed
> > foot...all terrible. =A0About the best so far is something called
> a "Q"
> > foot from Sears...only 2 skips in about 8 inches of stitching.
> I've
> > been sewing a lot of lycra but have always had to go to my
> serger to
> > get the job done. =A0However, using the serger, I can't leave a
> seam
> > allowance. =A0Any ideas on how I can get my regular machine to
> stitch
> > without all the skipping?
> > =A0 Cheryl
>
> Hello,
>
> What **size** needle are you using ?
> What type of thread are =A0you using ?
> What is the machine ?
>
> First try lubricating your needle with just a **wee** bit of oil
> ?
>
> like rub a wee drop between finger tips then lighly rub the
> needle with the oily finger tips =A0untill it is slippery then
> ready set go
>
> If yoy do not have light sewing machine oil then i suppose some
> vegetable or olive oil will work ?
> if you have some siliconized lubricant then that will work the
> best as it stas on the needle longer IMO
>
> Let me know how it worked out
> robb- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I used a size 11 needle. Tried ball point and woven styles.
Using Coats Dual Duty thread.
Machine is a Kenmore.
I will try the oil on a scrap of fabric and see how it goes...don't
want to leave oil stains on the real garment.
Cheryl

Posted by robb on February 25, 2008, 2:12 am

>
> > I'm sewing lightweight lycra and getting skipped stitches
> > in my seamlines. I've tried every needle type from
> > woven to ball point,needles for stretch fabrics,
> > tried my teflon foot, my even feed foot...all terrible
> > . About the best so far is something called a "Q"
> > foot from Sears...only 2 skips in about 8 inches
> > of stitching.
>
> What **size** needle are you using ?
> What type of thread are you using ?
> What is the machine ?
>
> First try lubricating your needle with just a **wee**
> bit of oil
>

Oooops ... Sorry Cheryl i misread your OP

i thought it was 2 skips every 8 stitches
now i see you typed every 8" inches of stitching

i do not think the lubed needle will help you

the lubricated needle was to help identify if the problem was the
lycra grabbing the needle or a fabric bounce problem but at 2
skips per 8" then the lubricated needle would likely have no
affect and give no useful results.

2 skips per 8 inches is a more sinister problem.

well, if the others highly experienced suggestions do not pan
out i would reccomend trying tests with ;
1. a different better thread. I use coats but many serious sewers
seem to use other thread.
i have had thread twist problems before when the thread was
coming off the
"wrong end" og the spool
2. a different size needle smaller / larger


> I used a size 11 needle. Tried ball point and woven styles.
> Using Coats Dual Duty thread.
> Machine is a Kenmore.
> I will try the oil on a scrap of fabric and see how it
goes...don't
> want to leave oil stains on the real garment.
> Cheryl



Posted by Sarah Dale on February 25, 2008, 5:03 pm
Cheryl wrote:
> I used a size 11 needle. Tried ball point and woven styles.
> Using Coats Dual Duty thread.
> Machine is a Kenmore.

Cheryl,

You said a light weight lycra I think? In which case try a smaller
needle - try a size 10 and see if that helps.

I'd also find yourself a better, lighter weight thread. I tend to use
gutterman in my machine, but some people on this group report bad things
about it recently - I haven't sewn in a while, so can't comment.

The 365m and 1000m you have on your reels of thread is the length in
metric meters - not the weight of the thread. The weight of the thread
gives you a feel for whether it is thick or thin. Now somewhere there
are charts etc. that give you all of the numbering systems and
cross-comparisons - but I'm not sure where! But it has been mentioned in
this group in the past - so a search on old articles may help.

I'd suggest you try some serger cone thread for your lycra - it tends to
be lighter weight than standard machine thread.

HTH

Sarah

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