Help with sewing batiks
 

I'm making a wall hanging with the fusible, laser cut "stained glass" leading. It is a big (27 X 42) Nativity scene. The directions say that you don't need to sew down after fusing the applique to the batik, but I want to do a little topstitching for definition and to act as the quilting. I've layered it with a thin poly batting and a batik back. I've switched to a microtex sharp needle and lengthened the stitch length a little and when I can get the machine to stitch at all I get skipped stitches. I'm at a loss. May have to give up on any extra stitching. This is a picture of what I'm doing it is from The Creative Iron
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Their fusible may be the no-sew type.

What brand and type of fusible did you use? Some fusibles are not made to be sewn through.

Yes, it might be the fusible. Rather than trying to stitch on the black lead part, can you use a stitch like the buttonhole that would be mostly on the background fabric? I love the look of the creative iron pictures.

I agree. You need to use the type of fusible that is made to be stitched through, but I have even had my needles gum up some with that. What I do is clean the needle good with denatured alcohol, if it has gummed up, then rub a little "Sewer's Aid" on the needle and run a bead of Sewers Aid from bottom to top on the spool of thread. You can buy Sewers Aid at JoAnns in the notions dept. It is a silicone type liquid in a little bottle, and it wont stain your fabric. It works on most things where you have trouble with skipped stitches and the like. Sometimes a bigger needle than usual helps too. Hope some of these ideas help. Post a pic when you get it done. It will be gorgeous.

That would be my guess too, non-sew fusible. Try with a top-stitch needle 90/14 as a last ditch effort.

Please update on what works. This is a project on my list; they have some beautiful laser cuts.

I have quilted this product on a LA, so I didn't really have any problems. I think the glue is what maybe throwing you off. I quilted in the backround. Hope it works out, it is beautiful.
Enjoy!

I would use another fabric (rather than batik) on the back unless there is some strong reason to use the batik.
This reduces the stress a bit.

Thanks everyone. The black laser cut comes with the fusible already on it, so I don't know what type it is. Think I've decided to just do some minor quilting in the background only. It is only a wall hanging so won't get lots of wear.

Sometimes, when you want to do extra stitching, it is a good idea to just use fusible thread as the outline only, in order to just keep the pieces in place. Then you have soft,pliable fabric to sew through.

I did something similar to this one year. IT IS LOVELY.

I had the same issue when quilting a baby blanket. I started quilting it with a standard needle and realized I forgot to switch to a quilting needle about half way through my first echoed block. I finish the block and then switched needles. Then the trouble happened. My machine would not quilt. I put a piece of practice sandwich together and tried adjusting the stitch length and it would still skip stitches. After a huge mental breakdown, (because it was two weeks until Christmas and I still had gifts to finish), my husband suggested I google it! With two seconds I found a list of reasons why a sewing machine skips stitches. The number one reason is the needle! Try changing your needle, it worked for me! Good luck and Merry Christmas! Here is the link if it is not the needle, http://sewing.about.com/od/sewingmac...roubleshot.htm

I,m no help with the fusible but the wall hanging is beautiful Great job.
I,m sure the experts on here will be more than glad to help you. Good luck

Can't help you with your question but I just LOVE the nativity pattern.

Hi Pat,
I use a 70/10 microtex needle when I sew batiks. I don't get skipped stitches anymore.
Sharon W. in Texas

Please what ever you do, DO NOT put sewers aid on the thread only on the tip of the needle. I have a lot of people bring me their machines in for repair because of tension issues and I find that they put sewers aid on thread like you are describing and it gets into the tension disc and clogs everthing up. Just put on the eye of the needle only and reapply every 5 minutes of sewing if necessary. However that said it is probably the fusible and the batting combined. I would try a larger eye needle.

Hi, I found that my machine will do that and more if I don't keep it real clean; so I keep a little eye makeup brush close at hand. But yes that sticky fusable is a problem but I found I can use the non-stick and a little glue stick on the side or middle temporarily to help. Hope this helps.

Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice on this because I did the same quilt, quilted it and didn't have a problem. But I did do a stipple stitch over the entire wallhanging rather than following the leading....