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Member since 7/16/07
Posts: 30016
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Posted on: 11/21/07 11:34 PM ET
Quick question -- with a shirt-weight woven fabric that has a bit of stretch, do you just use a normal straight stitch (this would be my first guess), or do you approach it the same way as a knit? The fabric is cotton with a bit of lycra, maybe about 6%. Thanks!!
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

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If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
  
Member since 8/24/02
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Posted on: 11/22/07 0:20 AM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
I've done it with a regular straight stitch, but I've found that a ball point needle is helpful. I've gotten skipped stitches with my regular needle on stretch wovens.
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Member since 8/24/02
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Posted on: 11/22/07 3:44 AM ET
I always use a regular straight stitch and a sharp woven needle. If you use poly thread, the thread will give the seam some stretch and you won't get popped seams.
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If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
  
Member since 8/7/07
Posts: 371
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Posted on: 11/22/07 7:44 AM ET
100% polyester thread, #14 ballpoint needle for knits should do the trick. Remember when you wind your bobbin to not put any tension on the thread (wind it too tightly) while winding as this causes the thread to retract later while sewing creating issues in your seams and stitching. Also clean your bobbin case and housing out before sewing. Oft times sewing knits and stretch textiles are sensitive to lint in the bobbin housing areas resulting in skipped and looped stitches. JF
  
Member since 7/16/07
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Posted on: 11/22/07 7:51 AM ET
Thanks for your help, Cidell, Sherril, and JF.
JF, how do you know if a bobbin is being wound too tightly? My machine winds the bobbin automatically and as far as I know doesn't have any settings I can adjust. Thanks.
Oh, by the way (just remembered this) -- HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you in the U.S.A.!
-- Edited on 11/22/07 7:58 AM --
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
  
Member since 10/14/03
Posts: 2589
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Posted on: 11/22/07 10:35 AM ET
Thanks for the holiday wish jsjs!

On the subject of stretch fabric, I'm currently making a jacket from a fabric containing lycra. I'm finding that it has a slight rubbery feel which I'm not fond of. I have some other fabrics with lycra and I notice the same thing. I'm not so sure I love it. Am I the only person who feels this way?
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If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
Member since 8/24/02
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Posted on: 11/22/07 11:18 AM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
Wind your bobbin very slowly. I know it will take a few seconds longer but it will prevent the thread from stretching.
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Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com

If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
  
Member since 8/7/07
Posts: 371
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Posted on: 11/22/07 11:21 AM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
some machines that wind the bobbin automatically do so through the tension. If that's the case you would want to reduce the tension by a HAIR so as not to have the bobbin thread pulling too much as it's winding.
And some people actually hold the thread as it's winding to get a tighter/fuller bobbin so they can get a few more feet of sewing out of the bobbin, this too will cause tension and thereafter the release while sewing.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well! JF
  
Member since 4/11/02
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Posted on: 11/22/07 11:42 AM ET
In reply to greco
Quote: greco
100% polyester thread, #14 ballpoint needle for knits should do the trick.

Why a 14? I think that's too big for a shirt weight fabric.

Me, I use an 80 universal for sewing shirt weight stretch wovens.
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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
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Member since 7/16/07
Posts: 30016
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Posted on: 11/22/07 11:51 AM ET
In reply to greco
OK -- thanks! Come to think of it, I sometimes -- for no particular reason -- hang on to the thread while it's winding... I'll have to stop doing this.
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be, not what you nag them to be. ~ Scudder N. Parker
  
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