Sewing SOS (aka, Auuuuuugh!)

[saxikath]

One of the fabrics I'm using for the Insane Costuming Project turns out to be one my sewing machine Does Not Like At All. (It's definitely the fabric's fault; the machine is sewing other fabrics fine.) It's a metallic fabric, slightly stretchy, and my machine won't sew it smoothly -- the bobbin thread keeps not catching, so there will be some stitches fine and then a big gap, and then it won't catch at all for a couple of inches.

The woman at the craft store told me that a serger is really the best sort of thing to use for this. Does anyone have one they're willing to lend me for a couple of days? This project has to be finished by next weekend, and the metallic part is crucial. It has a number of parts, so hand-sewing would be very time-consuming.

If anyone has one, or advice on what to do, I would really appreciate it. I am frustrated out of my mind right now, and worried about how I'm going to get this finished.

Comments

[wesleyjenn.livejournal.com]

I left you a Facebook comment too... I have one that's been sitting lonely in my basement for 2 years. It worked fantastically when I last used it - haven't checked it in years though. I don't know what kind of thread I have for it either - I think it has white in it now. But I'd be happy to lend it to you.

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

if the problem is that the knit is loose or slightly stretchy, a serger may not help (in fact, it may compound the problem.) if it were me, I would pin the edge of the piece to a strip of interfacing (or bias tape, pressed open, if you need something even more solid), sew down slowly at about 4/8" inch, then sew the other piece on at 5/8", and I think you'll find that will give it a lot more stability (and gives the thread and needle something to pull against.)

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

I know you may know this but...
1. are you using a zig sag or stretch stitch to sew it? this can help if the stretch is the issue.
2. do you have some tissue paper (like you wrap gifts with) or some very light paper around? If you put some on both sides (or just try it against the feed dogs instead of both if you don't have much) and then try sewing, that might help with the slippiness. The beauty is that when you tear away the paper after the seam is sewn, you should get to keep your stretchiness and the "hand" of the fabric.

A serger is not always the answer for such things. If you need more help, you can give me a call tomorrow (I will send you my phone number in e-mail) and we can puzzle it out if you'd like. I have a ton and a half of reference material that might give you seomething.

[saxikath]

My machine is a 50-year-old Singer Featherweight -- beautiful thing, but it doesn't do zigzag. (I might have a zigzag attachment somewhere, I'm not sure.)

Thanks for the advice!

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

And obviously I have no brain with LJ. And I don't have your e-mail address. *sigh*

Just pop me a note at faithwallis@gmail.com if you have questions.

Faith (da Virtual Virtue)

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I also have a serger you're welcome to use, if the other solutions don't work. :)

[muffyjo]

I'm a huge fan of iron-on technology. Sewing without thread, I mean. :) don't know if that would help at all.

And then there's always the glue gun.

:)

[saxikath]

I tried the glue gun. I may still use it for the hemming. But the problem is, I'm making some narrow tubes that have to then be turned right side out, and the glue gun glue doesn't seem to hold up to the inverting very well. :(

[donnad.livejournal.com]

Hi, you don't know me, I found my way here through friends of friends. Sounds like you might be headed for Philcon?

I sew costumes for a living and deal with this kind of thing all the time. What is happening is the needle is stretching the fabric and pushing it down into the feed dogs rather than piercing it so it's not picking up the lower threads, using a needle specifically for stretch fabrics can help. Also I find using blank newsprint or heavy tissue (lighter tissue will just tear when the dogs grab it) between the fabric and feed dogs works well. You can get cheap blank newsprint at staples or moving and storage places.

You say it'a a metallic fabric, sometimes metallics can dull needles very quickly. You may just need a new sharp needle. Sewing machine needles are only rated for 8 hours of normal stitching before they should be replaced, on metallic fabrics it would be less. Also if it's a sequined or confetti dot fabric, the needle could be sticking and not piercing the fabric because of the adhesive that hold the metallic to the fabric.

Good Luck.

[saxikath]

Thanks for all the suggestions! This is actually for a LARP event, not Philcon.

My first thought was to switch needles, so I used first a new standard needle and then a new needle designed for knits. That didn't help, alas.

If the serger that wesleyjenn is dropping off today doesn't do the trick, I'll try the tissue paper technique. Thanks so much for dropping by.