gingerd

Ladies,
I so hope you can help. I'm using a Viking Sapphire with a new needle, sewing batiks together. Can you see the knots that are made as I'm stitching? It doesn't seem to be slowing down the machine when it is doing this. I don't feel anything different as I'm feeding the fabric to the needle.

Any wisdom?
Thanks so much!

DogHouseMom

What size needle?
What kind of thread (weight and type (poly or cotton))?

Off the bat ... I'm thinking it may be a thread problem. Have you tried a different thread?

gingerd

The thread is 100% cotton, but a new spool. The needle is a new Schmetz-75/11. Maybe I'll switch the thread. At least I can start there.

Thanks much!

bearisgray

If you are using batiks, maybe use a heavier/thicker needle?

Lori S

It looks like a tension issue. With batiks I use the smallest needle , since they are so tightly woven , a larger needle will make a hole in the fibers .
I am not sure if the photo is the top or the bottom , and it also appear that there is a very sight gather happening. Loosen the top tension just a bit.

gingerd

Thanks ladies....I just used the vacuum to clean out the bobbin area. The photo is the back of the fabric. My machine is a Viking Sapphire and sets the tension automatically.

I'm going to try and sew a couple of pieces together again and see how it goes. It didn't do this yesterday, although yesterday was different fabric/thread.

I'll come back after I sew a couple of pieces together.

gingerd

Ok, I sewed using the thread that I started with. I ended up with less knots. I switched the thread back to what I had used yesterday.....no knots.

Crumb...as the "knot" thread is a new very large cone that I bought at a show.

So ladies, how do I go about choosing the correct thread? The knotty thread is 100% cotton, so is the un-knotty (if there is such a word) thread.

Thread knowledge please....

Thanks much~~

Dolphyngyrl

Looks like tension to me

KarenR

I'll be watching to find out how to get the right thread.

BKrenning

What weight is the thread that is causing the knots? If it is thicker--try a larger needle. My guess is that it is a short staple thread and your other thread is a long staple so it's not really knotted--just fuzzier. You can run several lines of sewer's aid down the cone or spool or spray the with silicone lubricant. It will act as a de-frizzer which will keep the auto-tensioner on your machine from freaking out.