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Need Some Advice,,,,

16 years ago

Recently I have been into making some bags,but I had some needle breakage from the thick layers.I went and purchased a "jeans" weight needle, but then my machine started skipping stithes and wouldnt sew.I think I probably need to adjust my tension,and maybe thread weight or something????I have never used anything but a singer 14 or 16 needle,and as for thread I get all purpose thread at Walmart. I know nothing about thread weights,,,and have never seen anything but what I get there.What Im using now is Coats Dual Duty Plus,,,but I have never seen a "weight" on a spool.Can someone tell me if I need to adjust my tension or get a different weight thread or what???? All I know is the heavy duty needle wont sew....THANKS!!!!!

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Comments (9)

nickisews
16 years ago
If you're skipping stitches as you're changing layers, you need to use something (like the jean-a-ma thing?) to keep your presser foot flat. If your skipping stitches regularly through the project it could be a bad needle or wrong thread. Change one and see what happens. I'm not a fan of coats and Clark thread...are your bobbin thread and top thread similar weights, this could be a problem if they aren't.

Nicki
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caroline1947
Original Author
16 years ago
No, its not changing layers,,,,I am using a walking foot. The thread is the same in top and bottom. I have no other place to get thread so it will have to do. Maybe its the tension????? The thread doesnt seem to catch in the bobbin,,,,there will be long stitches and they come apart....someone else?????? ( pulling hair out here)
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redpenny
16 years ago
Try adjusting your stitch length. Use a piece of scrap
adust your tension also!
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Islay_Corbel
16 years ago
Change the needle for the one you normally use and try it out on 2 layers of cotton.
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wendyfaye
16 years ago
Did you try rethreading your bobbin? Or using a different bobbin?

Faye
0
bonica
16 years ago
Every time that I've had those kind of problems it's been because I've got a pile of threat fuzzys under my bobbin case. I go thru all sorts of other "fixes" because I hate having to bother removing that case..but each and every time there's a fur-critter under there. Coats & Clark does that! And I just keep on using it!!!!!!!
good luck
Bon
:)
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lucyh_quilts
16 years ago
Are you sure that the needle is in as far as it will go? A different size needle should not be causing skipping or long stitches unless it isn't set in properly. I don't use Coats and Clark any longer because it has become so linty but if that is all that is available to you, then try taking your machine apart to clean out whatever might be in there. It's also possible that there is a small piece of thread stuck in the feed dogs or in the bobbin area.

Sometimes we have to play detective with stuff like that.
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caroline1947
Original Author
16 years ago
I think I need to try the tension adjustment. I keep my machine well cleaned,and it works perfect with my regular needle.When I use the heavy duty needle it skips,and if I put the old one right back in it is perfect again. Ill experiment some more....(sigh) if nothing else Ill use my regular sized needles and sacrifice a couple to breakage.
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crafteedee
16 years ago
You should be able to find "Jeans" thread. It's the gold stuff that many manufacturers use. I think it's thicker & stronger. I know I've seen it at Joanns in a hanging pkg...& maybe at WalMart too. One other thing you could try is a different type of Coats & Clark that's stronger/thicker.
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