This is why I don't like slant shanks
04-09-2020, 11:06 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
My 401A bought new in 1958 has been my main machine all these years. It has sewn leather, jeans and every kind of very thick fabrics and never had that problem with it. She sews as beautiful today as when she was new.
04-10-2020, 09:30 AM
#13
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 60
My previous post was mostly just musings...and talking to some engineering-types since, I've been convinced that likely a home user wouldn't notice a difference in a slant shank vs straight needle machine. If you need to sew industrial things you're gonna get an industrial machine, but I'm betting most things you can fit into a home machine for sewing would be addressed equally by slant vs. straight.
04-14-2020, 04:53 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 383
I've had the same problem when sewing through thick layers. Here' what I think is causing it. When sewing forward, the needle goes into the fabric, and comes out while the feet start to move the fabric. When going backward, the needle comes down - while the fabric is moving. With thin fabric this doesn't matter. But with thick fabric, the needle is in the fabric as the fabric moves and that movement deflects the needle away from the needle hole. The solution is to use small back stitches.
04-14-2020, 10:15 PM
#15
Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 60
I've had the same problem when sewing through thick layers. Here' what I think is causing it. When sewing forward, the needle goes into the fabric, and comes out while the feet start to move the fabric. When going backward, the needle comes down - while the fabric is moving. With thin fabric this doesn't matter. But with thick fabric, the needle is in the fabric as the fabric moves and that movement deflects the needle away from the needle hole. The solution is to use small back stitches.
04-21-2020, 06:59 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 809
I've had the same problem when sewing through thick layers. Here' what I think is causing it. When sewing forward, the needle goes into the fabric, and comes out while the feet start to move the fabric. When going backward, the needle comes down - while the fabric is moving. With thin fabric this doesn't matter. But with thick fabric, the needle is in the fabric as the fabric moves and that movement deflects the needle away from the needle hole. The solution is to use small back stitches.
