Machine Eating Triangles
 

What is you secret to sewing triangles without the machine eating the corner? I use a single needle throat plate and chain stitch. What else am I not doing that might would help? This is very annoying, slow, and it damages the fabric as well as distorts the piece.

First I would make sure I had a new needle, so it isn't dragging a bit of fabric into the stitch plate. Also, I hold the back piece as it starts on the new piece, just give a little resistance, don't pull it through. Also, DON'T backstitch on either end! Not needed, as all seams will be encased in the next cross seam. Good luck!

I would also look at the needle. Use a sharp, and try one size smaller than the one currently installed.
What thread are you using. It might be too thick.

do all the above (smaller, sharper needle, thinner thread (should be 50wt, but try 70wt if needle is tiny, hold thread). Also keep single hole plate, and don't use a zig zag foot. Use a straight stitch foot).
If all else fails, buy a machine with the feed dogs close together. Modern machines often have feed dogs far apart to deal with decorative stitches and wide zig zags. This is the main reason I piece on a Singer feather weight.....to stop the machine from eating my fabric at the start stitch........Jane

Using a leader piece of fabric is a good method. It keeps even pressure on both threads and out the back. I also agree with sharp needle

My assessment, as well.

this was my first thought too.

Do you mean you are chain piecing? I've never had machine eat my fabric when chain piecing, that is the same as using a leader. Be sure your needle matches the thread size. What wt and ply thread are you using?

I just hold the thread tails. Quick and simple

Are you also using a straight stitch presser foot? I lift the foot then slip the next corner up to the needle, raise the needle just enough to slide the corner under, lower needle then foot and continue.

Starch your fabric heavily before cutting.

Totally agree with the leaders & enders, and yes - starch first - love that starch.
And I don't use the needle plate with the tiny hole - I break too many needles.

[QUOTE=sweetana3;7742559]Using a leader piece of fabric is a good method. It keeps even pressure on both threads and out the back. I also agree with sharp needle[/QUOTE


That's my suggestion as well..Good luck.

Save your scraps...cut them into small squares, put two of them together, and sew on the diagonal, using those as your leaders...........my machine ALWAYS has a leader or ender under the presser foot...............and it is amazing how fast I can piece enough squares, 4 patches, half square triangles, etc to make a scrappy top.............no more reusing the same scrap and wasting time and thread

I do that, too! It works!

I recently had that problem with a fabric I was using for a project. I put it a #8 needle and used the single hole plate. Sometimes the tiniest burr on a needle can cause a problem. Don't try to sew over pins with a small needle. Ask me how I know.

Yes, leaders are your friend. I use just any old single piece of fabric, sew through it and then slide the end of the triangle right up to it and don't have issues. Perhaps it's because I also starch (everything) pretty heavily? I use a regular foot and throat plate (no single hole on either) and don't have issues. Don't use particular needles/threads either. Maybe I'm just lucky.

I agree with everyone else, but I will add. I have had this issue when I didn't slide my piece close enough to the needle. If it was to far in front of the needle when I started to sew my machine would eat my fabric. So I learned to make sure my fabric was in the "sweet" spot each time. no more fabric being eaten. hope you figure it out.

The only thing that worked for me, even though I did all of the above, chain piece, leaders, hold the threads, but my machine still ate the corners, was leave the needle in the up position. This seemed very contrary to everything I had been taught, but it worked for me. I don't have a single hole foot plate, so couldn't try that.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I need to check my needle and thread weight. I am terrible about changing the needle out. I do use a leader piece of fabric, but I had lost my word for it when I posted.

I used the hint posted here about making any throat plate a single hole one. It works perfectly. Also learned here how to set the default of my Brother machine to always default in the middle when the machine is turned on. It worked for my friend's Janome too.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...p-t284243.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfq-GW88DsA

I agree too-use a small piece of fabric before you start your piecing and that should help. Also maybe a new needle.

start out sewing at the opposite end (no point)

I do several of the things some others have done. Sharp needle, leader strips, starching and holding on to the thread ends. All of these have been a big help to me.

If all else fails, try putting a light weight piece of paper under the triangle end, ripping it away when finished.

If all else fails, place your pieces on top of an ordinary sheet of tissue paper (like gift wrap). It tears away from a straight seam very easily if you are using it in the correct direction, so do a test tear each direction to see which way tears in an almost straight line.

As much as possible even up the fabric with the feed dogs, both of them. I've moved my needle over so I can put the fabric over both feed dogs. I hope that makes sense.

I always use leaders and enders. 2 in squares of cloth to put on end, and then cut thread and leave it under foot then butt new piece under foot and sew till end and butt another one on to start again,Unless i am chain stitching then i use one to start and one to stop and thats it cmarascia. I keep a small jar by machine for the small pieces

The solution I use most - there are several - is to position the needle at least an 1/8th of an inch from the edge of the fabrics your are piecing.

You can also use what is called a 'leader' - just a small scrap of two fabrics that you put under the needle - and start your sewing on that. When you reach the end of the leader, do not lift the foot, just place the triangle you are piecing near it and start sewing. It's really just an adaptation of the chain piecing technique.

Others will chime in with even more solutions. Quilters are a resourceful bunch of people.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I did replace the needle with a smaller one and that has seemed to help. I think my machine has a sweet spot on where it likes the fabric placed.

I use a piece of paper (type one would for paper piecing) under the seam. I leave a starter tail that I can hold onto. This also works great when piecing small pices.

There are a few ways around this. 1) Hold both bobbin and top thread down firmly with your left hand for the first half to inch of stitching. I do this regardless of the shape. 2) Use a leader piece of scrap fabric and then chain piece all of your triangles. 3) Start in the middle and come back later and finish the end.

I see those using leaders get the ends of those eat up, same problem just not on the block piece.