Knit fabrics and my new Bernina

Posted by Katie on May 8, 2007, 12:39 pm

I've got a new Bernina and I lurve it - have already sewn a couple of
woven fabric projects successfully but I was trying to mend a t-shirt
and I just can't get it to sew knits.

I am using a ballpoint needle, and although if it was another needle
from my collection I'd say maybe it was blunt, but I tried a couple of
them and seriously I only ever do mending on knit fabrics - so they
have been used about 3 times each for about 6 inches of sewing.

It skips stitches, and the bobbin starts to rattle and then the thread
at the back gets all messed up. I am _sure_ I've threaded the bobbin
right, and I swapped to a different bobbin in case it was coming loose
or something.

Any ideas? With the overlock stitch on the Bernina I was hoping I
could actually make knit garments...

thanks!

Katie

Posted by BEI Design on May 8, 2007, 1:32 pm

Katie wrote:

show/hide quoted text

Sounds to me like the bobbin thread is not in the tension
groove. But I don't know anything about your machine, check
your manual and re-thread both the bobbin path and the
needle path *from scratch*.

Also, even though you think it's almost new, replace the
needle. You cannot see the microscopic damage to a needle
point.

There is a good page here of hints and tips:

http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Repair/Sewing%20Machine%20Troubleshooting.htm

HTH,

Beverly

Posted by Katie on May 8, 2007, 6:00 pm

On Tue, 8 May 2007 10:32:44 -0700, "BEI Design"

show/hide quoted text
I have rethreaded the bobbin about five times - the needle path was
already threaded from sewing something woven - but I can try
rethreading that, I suppose. I am absolutely _sure_ I have the bobbin
threaded correctly! That was my first thought.
show/hide quoted text
I have tried a couple of needles and the skipping is so serious I
didn't think it could really be this - I'm talking going in about one
stitch in 10 i.e. skipping 9 out of 10... I will try and get some new
needles too...

show/hide quoted text
That looks good - will bookmark it.

I'm going to retry everything but I'm pretty sure I redid everything
enough times that I'm wondering if it's something else I haven't
thought of...

Katie

Posted by Kay Lancaster on May 9, 2007, 5:42 am

Any chance you've got the needle in backwards? (I won't tell you how I know
that can make the stitches skip. ;-o )

More helps:
http://sewandserge.com/tshoot.asp
http://sewing.about.com/od/machinetroubleshooting/qt/threadingmachin.htm

What a worn out machine needle looks like:
http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/needles.html

Kay

Posted by Katie on May 9, 2007, 1:16 pm

show/hide quoted text

It is slightly possible I had that wrong - but now I have

Bought new needles
Checked how to put them in in the manual
Checked how to thread the bobbin
Rethreaded the top thread

and it worked!

My guesses are on the placement of the needle or the actual needle
itself... but I fixed it!

Thanks for the advice - and the good web links

Katie

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