Quiltingboard Forums
Page 2 of 4
1
2
3
4
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/)
-   -   Featherweight skipping stitches (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/featherweight-skipping-stitches-t107277.html)

Bobbielinks 03-13-2011 09:11 AM
By the time your get this I hope your machine is stitching good again. If it's not, it sounds like the pressor foot height is not where it should be. I believe I read that the skipped stitches begin right after the pressor foot goes "up and over" the seam. Would it be that the pressor foot needs to be lowered just a tad to hold the fabric down so the stitches can be formed. It may be just a tad to high as it comes over the

deema 03-13-2011 09:18 AM
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
FWs needs the Singer needle. There is a difference in the needle eye and length. I buy Singer needles to use just for my vintage Singers. Other brand will work but for perfect stitches try the Singer needles.
I'm using singer needles...

Scrap Happy 03-13-2011 09:19 AM
There is a lot of good info here. I've book marked this and am eager to learn from what other FW owners have to share.

Kas 03-13-2011 09:20 AM
With thread, the bigger the # the thinner the thread. With needles, the bigger the # the bigger the needle. But my mom hasn't given me her Featherweight yet, so I can't help you with the thread/skipped stitches issue.

peacebypiece 03-13-2011 09:21 AM
an 80/10 is smaller than a 90/14 needle. You really shouldn't need more than 80 for piecing.

deema 03-13-2011 09:22 AM
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
For skipped stitches, check to make sure that you're not using a "universal" needle. Universals were intended to bridge the gap between sewing on wovens vs. sewing on knits, so that the home sewer didn't have to try to keep two different types of points on hand. But, they don't sew wovens as well as sharps and they don't sew knits as well as ball points.

For skipped stitches using a "normal" (sharp) needle, (as long as the thread isn't shredding, too) I would first suspect that the needle or the eye is too large. Try an 80/12 or a 70/10.

If the thread is shredding as well as skipping, go to a large eye in the same size or go up a size or two until you find the one that holds the thread correctly in the groove along the needle.

With the right combination of needle and tensions, a FW will sew with any kind of thread - they were made to use even size 100 silks up to very heavy threads. :)
I'm using a sharp needle, 90/14. The thread isn't shredding at all.

I honestly don't think it's a needle issue either, because this only happens in one spot, same spot every time (just after the seam), but everywhere else, there isn't a single missed stitch or issue of any kind...

deema 03-13-2011 09:33 AM
Originally Posted by Bobbielinks
By the time your get this I hope your machine is stitching good again. If it's not, it sounds like the pressor foot height is not where it should be. I believe I read that the skipped stitches begin right after the pressor foot goes "up and over" the seam. Would it be that the pressor foot needs to be lowered just a tad to hold the fabric down so the stitches can be formed. It may be just a tad to high as it comes over the
You are absolutely right - the presser foot isn't coming down from the seam...right after, the tail end of the foot is still on the seam, holding the front end up, but the machine is sewing beyond the seam at that point. The foot isn't meeting the fabric until the back of the foot is past the seam. I've adjusted the height, but maybe I need to go lower. Thanks!

purplefiend 03-20-2011 06:15 PM
I use Schmetz sharp or microtex 80/12 needles in all my vintage machines when I'm piecing quilt blocks and I don't have any skipped stitches or other problems. I haven't had good experiences with the Singer needles that are sold now.
When I quilt with my full size Singers I use a 90/14 or
100/16 top stitching needle. The smaller the number, the smaller the needle. Thread is the opposite.

smitty 03-20-2011 09:08 PM
Originally Posted by deema
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
FWs needs the Singer needle. There is a difference in the needle eye and length. I buy Singer needles to use just for my vintage Singers. Other brand will work but for perfect stitches try the Singer needles.
I'm using singer needles...
I don't think there is any difference in eye or length. if you have a 15x 1 in any brand, they are the same. Yahoo group for 221.s usually prefers needles different than Singer brand.
Berninas have their own system for some machines. many machines do not like the cotton covered poly thread. tend
to think it may be the pressure knob. try turning it a little each way & see what happens.

k9dancer 04-30-2011 04:23 AM
Originally Posted by deema
Originally Posted by Bobbielinks
By the time your get this I hope your machine is stitching good again. If it's not, it sounds like the pressor foot height is not where it should be. I believe I read that the skipped stitches begin right after the pressor foot goes "up and over" the seam. Would it be that the pressor foot needs to be lowered just a tad to hold the fabric down so the stitches can be formed. It may be just a tad to high as it comes over the
You are absolutely right - the presser foot isn't coming down from the seam...right after, the tail end of the foot is still on the seam, holding the front end up, but the machine is sewing beyond the seam at that point. The foot isn't meeting the fabric until the back of the foot is past the seam. I've adjusted the height, but maybe I need to go lower. Thanks!
Have you tried adjusting the pressure on the presser foot? It's that screw on top of the machine that is right over the foot. Turn it to the left, counterclockwise, to increase the pressure a bit and see if that helps.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:51 AM.
Page 2 of 4
1
2
3
4
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page