Baby-Loc eats my fabric
 

I have a Baby-Loc which I love, except for one thing. I've never been able to just put a piece of fabric in and sew without it pulling the edge down into the opening below the foot. I chain piece whenever I can, of course, but I have to use a leader piece anytime I start a new seam. I am curious.. is this common to other machines or unique to the Baby- Loc? Does anyone have any feedback on this problem? Thanks!

Bring it in for servicing. Babylocks don't usually behave like that.

Mine doesn't do that, I recommend you take it in for servicing and explain the problem.

Kat

it is best to begin ALL piecing like that...you should hold the threads behind the foot and put the needle down into the fabric...now when you put the foot feed down it will sew perfectly, no losing threads, no rat's nest under the bobbin... this is true of a 21st century serger or a 19th century treadle...

My friend has a very old Kenmore small sewing machine, she taught me to keep a small piece of scrap for chaining when you aren't really chaining! Her's will give you a bird's nest in a hurry if you don't do that. My Viking Diamond doesn't do it often, but boy, when it does, I get out a scrap and chain! I think some people are just more careful about holding the threads, starting with the needle down, etc. I am not. I just sit down and start, so sometimes I do have to slow down. Linda

Do you have or can you get a single needle plate for that machine.? It's the size of the hole to allow the needle to zigzag that is causing the problem. Ask me why I don't quilt on my Elna. That's one of the two reasons. Several of the newer machines have a changeable plate.

My Pfaff does that but the Babylock does not. Can you get a straight-stitch needle plate? That was suggested to me for the Pfaff.

Also you may need to use a finer needle, what size of needle do you use?

It happens on many kinds of machines. Holding the threads when I start off seems to do the trick for me. I only have problems when I forget to do that.

Single hole needle plate is great to have too.

Ditto that! I just had mine serviced and it runs better than it ever did. He adjusted the feed dogs.

Thank you, I never thought of that. It makes sense though, because my machine continues to do it, even though it has been serviced several times.

I use all sizes, it doesn't seem to matter.

I was having that problem with my Bernina Artista 185. I don't like to change the plate because I use the decorative stitches frequently and I could just see myself forgetting and doing a lot of damage. I found if you change the needle position to one side or the other even one place it gives you more control and allows the feed dogs to do their job. All you have to do, at least on my machine to put things back, is turn the machine off and then back on.

I agree, make sure the correct needle plate is attached. Makes a huge difference. Also, my Babylock embroidery machine came with two bobbin cases-one marked with a pink dot (embroidery) and with a green dot (embroidery and other sewing). The tensions are different on the bobbin cases, the pink dotted case being tighter.

I use a leader most of the time you actually save thread and time using a leader on most projects like pieceing

Mine did that too until I used the straight foot plate. Still does it once in a great while for very small pieces.