Question about sewing thick fabrics
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Camdenton, Mo
Posts: 261
Question about sewing thick fabrics
I hope someone can help me with this. I have a basic Kenmore sewing machine that has always been a very good machine. Now I am sewing microwave cozys and my machine is not sewing smoothly through the batting and fabric thickness, especially when sewing the two sides together. It sounds like a shopping cart with a bad wheel! I have changed needles, I tried a #11 and a 14 and cleaned the bobbin area and it's still noisy. The tension is fine. The stitches look nice and flat. It sews fine and quietly when piecing two layers of cotton. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
evy
Thanks
evy
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,097
Try increasing the presser foot pressure. I didn't have noise issues but when trying to sew through thick fabric I got skipped stitches. When I increased the foot pressure it solved my problem. May work for you.
A bigger needle is probably a good idea too.
A bigger needle is probably a good idea too.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pearland, TX
Posts: 406
I've experienced some of the same problems on a couple of my machines. I tried using a denim needle and it worked just fine on both. The denim needle is size 18 -- I think it's actually a small nail with a hole in it!! I have to remember to change the needle back to a regular one when I go back to regular piecing.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 2,093
Those old Kenmores are great machines!
The hook sits on the race, and the driver pushes the hook around. I've seen a lot of old Kenmores with an extra wide thread passage (that's where the hook and driver "kiss" each other at the top or bottom), or a loose driver, which can make them very noisy. The good news is, that the thread passage can be closed, and the driver can be tightened. Your local sewing machine tech. can do that, and those old machines are worth repairing.
The hook sits on the race, and the driver pushes the hook around. I've seen a lot of old Kenmores with an extra wide thread passage (that's where the hook and driver "kiss" each other at the top or bottom), or a loose driver, which can make them very noisy. The good news is, that the thread passage can be closed, and the driver can be tightened. Your local sewing machine tech. can do that, and those old machines are worth repairing.
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