Fabric pulling to the left? Please help
 

Hello!


I've been reading the forums and seeing some posts written on this subject, but none of them fully capture the issue I am having.


I'm trying to sew a straight line on two pieces of 8 inch squares. I am new to sewing so when I saw that my stitch lines drift to the side instead of staying straight I immediately jumped on YouTube to see what I could to fix this.


First thing that is said is not to watch the needle and instead look at your fabric well before it feeds under the foot. To aid in this I can use masking take, post it notes, or a rubber band to have an extended line for my guide. I have been successful in using this technique and before the fabric pulls to far left I can guide the fabric very well.


The second thing I learned was to invest in an extension bed or find a way to have the fabric lay flat instead of half off the edge so weight of fabric doesn't pull to the left. I was lucky and my current machine came with an extension bed and I've been using it for my sewing. The squares fit perfectly on it.


The other tip I learned was to help guide the fabric out the back of the machine with my left hand to keep any fabric from bunch and shifting. The fabric doesn't bunch because it's a small square and I'm not pulling on the fabric. I don't know how to accurately describe what I am doing to know if I am doing it correctly enough or if this would have a huge impact on the fabric drifting. All I basically do it's let the fabric freely move through my thumb and index finger. I'm not doing any direction controlling from back there.


Here's the problem I am having.. after doing all that my stitches are still noticeably slanted instead of straight. I can visibly see the fabric drift to the left even on the slowest possible speed. I even started to improvise and push the fabric on the left side towards the foot and that has not helped keep the fabric from drifting.


Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? Is it my machine? I want to be sewing perfect squares. Please help me.

It would help to know what sewing machine you are using. Is it possible that your fabric is not covering the feed dog on the right side? This can happen when trying to sew a quarter inch seam with the needle in the center needle position with some of the modern machines that are capable of extra wide stitches. It also happens trying to sew a quarter inch seam with some vintage machines that are left homing when sewing a straight stitch.

Rob

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I'm sewing on a Brother HC1850. I was using a Singer 7463 and had the same problem using that one too. I gave myself a larger seam allowance, half inch, and have the needle as far right as it will go because it would drift so far that it would eventually uncover the right side of the feed dog.

I know both these machines are capable of wide stitches. Is there something I can do to prevent this? Would a walking foot aid in this situation?

I was having that same problem of my stitches going crooked at the end . I solved my problem by holding the fabric until its under the pressure foot and slowed my sewing down at the same time. It helped me a lot.

I am holding my fabric in the front, but not in the back. My hand is in the back of the machine to help guide the fabric, but that's it. I'm steering from the front keeping the fabric edge aligned with masking tape that I am using as an extended guide. Should I be holding it in the back as well?

Hold it on the left side as it goes through. There are tons of sewing videos on YouTube. Watch a few of them and observe how they move the fabric with their hands.

As for slanted stitches, it sounds most likely to be a tension balancing problem. Work with both the top and bottom tension tighter and see if that doesn't help straighten your stitches.

Well folks.....after having sewn on a Viking SE and now my new Bernina 570 both of which have 9mm feed dogs and really struggling to get that nice 1/4 inch seam and to sew triangles together even with a straight stitch plate, or moving the needle to the right. and using the dual feed or walking foot.....I am so, so, so glad I still have my ancient Viking D1 ;and also picked up the Bernina red machine (both have the old 5mm feed dogs. Today I am pulling out my old D1 and if it is working will use that to finish the piecing of my current quilting project.....I still have the cabinet insert for that one....if my D1 has ceased to function, I will use the Bernina Red Machine although I do not have an insert as yet for that one...I am tired of the gyrations I have to go through to get a decent 1/4 inch seam...with the 5 mm machines....just got to pick up the fabric and go....easy, peasy.

On tip I learned in a class how to have straight seams at the end of a seam is to put your left index finger on the left side of the foot as you reach the end of the seam. Works every time. Classes with excellent quilt makers are so worth the time so take as many as you can. I have learned so many tips and solutions to my sewing problems in classes. If your machine has zig zag function the stitches will always be at a slant. Over 5 mm machine is not easy to get a 1/4 seam without a lot of fussiness.

since it is happening with both machines and you have the needle to the right, it sounds like user error. I think Sewbiz’s suggestion of trying to guide the fabric by keeping your left hand at the side near the foot is a good suggestion. When I’m sewing I do not steer from the front, I use just gentle fingertip pressure with my left hand on the fabric right beside the presser foot. Also, is there any chance that your threads are getting sucked down into the bobbin area when you start? That can cause veering as well. Try pulling up your bobbin thread and then holding both tails as you start sewing. Slanted stitches could also mean a tension problem.

Rob

Welcome to the QB first of all and as you can see there are many people here that will help guide you through the learning process. All of us have been where you are. Learning to guide our fabrics through the machine and get the seam allowance that we want is a challenge. When quilting a 1/4" seam allowance is a difficult achievement and takes a great deal of practice. After 30+ years I can still struggle with a good straight seam allowance, especially as I change from one machine to another. Pressure foot and needle placements can vary a great deal from one machine to another. Practice, practice, practice is what is going to help you the most. Go slowly and keep your attention on you guide marking. I use my outside side of the pressure foot as my guide and align the needle for the right distance. This works well for me but you may find something else that works perfect for you. Getting it straight will come in time.

you need to hold the fabric together at both the front and the back. If the pieces are too small, you can use a stiletto to help it through. I love the Fons and Porter Ultimate Stiletto. It is silicone so grabs the fabric and is thin enough that you can guide it between the presser foot right up to within a few stitches of the needle.

Use the left index finger to guide the fabric on the left side. Tickle the fabric through the dogs. No need to hold fabric at the back of the machine. It's already gone through and stitched.

Example

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...09&action=view

Slow the machine down if you can.

What foot are you using to stitch? Check the different as one may be wider than another. The wider one may help hold down the fabric more. I didn't realize the difference in feet until I took a class about them at the LQS>

Hope that helps!

Welcome to this board. I have two straight stitch only machines and don't have this problem as long as I guide the fabric under the needle right.

This is how I was taught and its works great for me. Also keeping my finger there clear to the end of the fabric helps keep those last few stitches from drifting.

I will look at my machine's manual and see how I can do that. Thank you I'm going to give this a try.

Thank you for this tip. I'll look up some videos on how to check the alignment on the machine.

I'm going to see if I can find some videos on this technique and give it a try! Thank you for the advice!

The thing I learned many years ago from Eleanor Burns was to use a stiletto. Now I know that you really don’t have to buy anything, you can use any pointed item like a chopstick. Basically you’re guiding the fabric through to the last bit goes under the presser foot. Has worked for me, the only time I’ve had a problem is when I haven’t used my stiletto.

With you having this problem on 2 machines what I would do is take some fabric, my machine, and go to the sewing machine store and demo what is happening. See if they have someone who can watch you sew and give advice. Or at least find someone you know who sews and have them watch you sew and give tips. There seems to be a problem with how you are sending the fabric thru the machine. Good luck, keep trying.

also, make sure the feed dogs are clean. walking foot too if you are using one. lint can pack up and isn't easy to see. so look hard. good luck.

Using a single hole faceplate will help with your problem. If you use a single hole plate, make sure your beginning stitch is a center stitch. The wider zig zag plate allows more play in both the thread and the stitch. The wider feed dogs on the Brothers make a difference too. Often, my fabric isn't even caught on the right feed dog. I really have to guide my fabric, pushing it slightly to the right to keep it alignment. I found out that what I was doing was taking my eyes off that last half inch going under the needle and it would trail off every time.

If I use a chain stitching method and stitch a couple of stitches between each block, I focus better and my 1/4 inch seams are more consistent and straight. Chain stitching keeps a steady flow of fabric out the back of the machine and let's you focus on the front part where your fabric is being stitched. I do hold the thread out the back when I first start sewing if I don't have an ender, but you should never have to pull fabric out the back unless you are going over really big seams and your machine just won't sew over the seam.

I find starting on a doubled piece of material and then chain stitching onto my good block helps my accuracy. Quiltville's Bonnie Hunter makes a lot of scrappy quilts with her leaders and enders. You can use any size square to be a leader or ender. Most people precut 2.5 or 3.5 inch squares to use, but you can use any size you want. The theory is that you never leave the machine without a square with the needle in it. And as you sew, you will accumulate enough 2 fabric bocks to make another quilt. This does help immensely with accuracy.

This foot is my favorite 1/4 inch foot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqUHBN0cj1o

A friend of mine was having a similar problem, it turns out the feed dog screws were loose, since then, it sews great.

I am going to have to check this on my machine. Thanks for the tip.

This is what I do when I'm having trouble maintaining a straight seam line. It's just enough pressure to keep the fabric going in evenly.

Leslie

I'm so glad this is being discussed. I have a Juki F600 and often have the same problem with my stitching line not being totally straight. I've tried using a Nancy's Notion guide, tape, and tweezers to hold the fabric but still haven't found that sweet spot. And I don't sew fast either. I'll try some of the other ideas you all have suggested.

Sharon

Thanks for the help!
 

I was having the same issue of the fabric under the back of the presser foot veering off to the left; no problem with keeping the fabric at the front of the foot lined up with my 1/4" seam guide. I have 9mm feed dogs also. I changed to my single hole plate after reading your suggestion to use it rather than the zig zag plate. Made all the difference. No more fabric veering to the left on long seams. Thank you!

I had a Pfaff machine that started to pull fabric to the left. The fabric would not stay straight. It needed a repair. I forgot what went wrong but the repair fixed the problem. May have to take the machine to a repair shop.

This is how I end a seam as well. I was never taught this just figured it out on my own. This method also helps when you sew over where seams come together and form a hump. Slow the machine and place your finger next to the left side of the foot and it will prevent the machine from pulling the fabric and having a slimmer seam at the seam join.

You should not sew with your hand in back of your machine unless temporarily assisting the machine to go over a heavy seam. It puts your body in an ackward postion and stress on your back, neck and shoulders.

One consideration I didn't see suggested is to use a stylus to help guide fabric instead of your fingers.

If the result of your problem is a narrow seam allowance, as sometimes happens to me, I simply turn the block over and re-stitch the end where the problem occurred - start where the seam is in the right place and continue to the edge of the fabric. The original, incorrect seamline is then in the seam allowance and never seen in the final project. This doesn't work if only one of the fabrics slides out of position.

Great ideas, ktbb! I often use my stiletto. I know a lot of people find it awkward, but it has felt natural to me from the start.
And sewing from the opposite end I have done on occasion. It saves the fabric from the wear and tear of ripping the seams.

Leslie

I had a beautiful sewing machine years ago, and found it was not suitable for quilting simply because when reaching the narrow 1/4" seam ends, the fabric was always pulled to the left. I noticed in a quilt class that others did not have this problem. It was all in the feed dog setup.

Some feed dogs are set too wide to control the entire run of a 1/4" seam. Some feed dogs are textured differently, such that they grab the fabric more effectively.

I sold my beautiful machine after trying out some machines my classmates brought to class. And bought one that does not pull at seam ends. Note that when sewing really tiny pieces, where the fabric pieces are simply too small to be held properly by the feed dogs and presser foot, a stiletto can really help.

Other things that can cause issues with straight seams: using a stitch plate with a big needle hole (ie a zigzag hole...try to use a single stitch needle plate for straight stitched seams), poor presser foot pressure, dull needles, poor tension.

I found my presser foot was bent.
bkay