Replies

1. 
   mygaley | Jan 01, 2006 06:11am | #1

   Just a few thoughts:

   Try "taut" sewing, where you hold the fabric firmly front and back while still allowing the feed dog to advance the fabric.

   Sew with tissue under your seam.  I save my old patterns (the ones I bought and never sewed) and cut them while still folded to make 2-3" wide strips.

   If it is the tension, go to http://www.sewalot.com.  I had both of my machines messed up and Alex taught me what 50 years of sewing had not.

1. 
   lesleypf | Jan 02, 2006 12:45am | #3

   Thank you for the suggestions. Using tissue certainly does help and I always use it behind button holes on fine fabric. Also thank you for the link to sewalot website - what a mine of information!

    

2. 
   woodruff | Jan 01, 2006 12:36pm | #2

   There are a few more tricks you can try:

   A fine, "sharp" needle, not universal or ballpoint.

   A slight zigzag stitch plus "taut" sewing.

   Coats and Clarks fine machine emroidery thread. Sometimes an even finer than usual thread is helpful.

   Probably most importantly, for finely-woven fabrics, shorten the stitch. Lengthening is what you do for thick fabrics like coatings and fleece.

   According to Sandra Betzina, woven polys often pucker much less if you cut them on the crossgrain, and they behave even better when cut on the true bias.

1. 
   lesleypf | Jan 02, 2006 12:50am | #4

   Many thanks for the tips. The shorter stitch was much better and loosening the tension also helped. but by far the best result was sewing across the grain. Unfortunately, I don't have enough fabric left to start again so I may have to go and get some more!

1. 
   Kiley | Jan 05, 2006 11:10am | #5

   You might want to adjust your foot pressure if your machine has this adjustment.