I make a lot of purses/tote bags and you always have thick, bulky seams on them. I keep a hammer in my sewing room and "whack" 'em....I beat down the thick part (carefully.....) and that always takes care of the problem. I'll also whack the seams on a quilt if too many come together at the same place. I know my hopping needle would get caught on them. And it really makes my husband wonder what the heck I'm doing in there. LOL