help sewing through bulk
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 673
I agree. The bulk is difficult. The first one I made from their kit. It was tough. The next one I used scraps and very thin cotton batting. That was even worse.
There has to be a better way.
I love making them, but wish it were not so thick.
There has to be a better way.
I love making them, but wish it were not so thick.
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Spencer, OH
Posts: 273
I make a lot of purses/tote bags and you always have thick, bulky seams on them. I keep a hammer in my sewing room and "whack" 'em....I beat down the thick part (carefully.....) and that always takes care of the problem. I'll also whack the seams on a quilt if too many come together at the same place. I know my hopping needle would get caught on them. And it really makes my husband wonder what the heck I'm doing in there. LOL
#24
My Quattro 6000 just wasn't able to handle the bulk either so I always opened the seams with the Pellon and ironed them down, reduced the stitch length, and stitched slow over the bulky area. Hope that makes sense. Love making the bags and know how much they are appreciated. Here is a pic of some of mine. Have fun!!!
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#26
First of all, I want to thank the person who originally mentioned Sadie's bags on this site. I contacted them and am already on my 4th bag for them. I also intend to send them some of my charity quilts. Next, I have not had any trouble sewing through the bulk. I have various Viking machines, but I use my little Brother on these and it glides right through. I use the Pellon type that came with the first kit and it does not seem to be too bulky. Hopefully it is not something with your machine.
#28
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I would recommend using a walking foot, which might help. I do know that some machines do not like sewing on bulkier items. My very first sewing machine, as well as my Kenmore really preferred sewing bulkier items, cotton, not so much. Hope you can resolve the problem. I would also check your owner's manual, as sometimes machines have a way to help that problem, but can't think of it off the top of my head, but it had something to do with the pressure on the pressure foot.
#29
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 36
Check your machine Manuel. Your regular presser foot has a small black knob on the left side toward the back of presser foot. If you read your manual it will tell you to use the knob to lock your pressed foot and the it will sew over heavy areas in your project. Bless you for making charity bags
Last edited by elaine708; 06-19-2015 at 12:06 PM. Reason: error
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
What I do with the bulk is lighten the tension on the foot, most machines have a place to adjust the tension on the foot, use a denim needle, a bit longer stitch length and go slow. Most any machine should be able to handle that using this method.
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