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Member since 12/1/08
Posts: 10
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Posted on: 7/8/10 7:21 PM ET
Hello, I got everything put on right but the binding doesn't seem to want to stitch in the right place. There is a bumper bar under the special foot but I can't get the fabric to stay enough to the right to touch the bumper. So my stitching is in the middle of the binding instead of at the edge.
I'm getting very frustrated. Someone's blog said that she lines her attachment up with the stitching but mine only has one place that it fits on.
There seem to be too many things to watch at one time, the binding, the garment feeding into the binding, the stitches, I'm going nuts.
I'm trying to bind a neckline. Maybe I should practise on something straight.
Thanks,
Pam
  
Member since 1/31/06
Posts: 900
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Posted on: 7/8/10 8:39 PM ET
Hi Pam, bumping you up here. I too have had exactly the same problem so will be interested in any replies. The ladies in this thread are very knowledgeable.

I bought a generic binder and had a world of trouble to get it to work properly. Sew4fun (Belinda) put me on the right track with it. You might need to adjust the binder. There's little screws on the back. I ended up ordering the Brother Binder and foot and have very briefly tested it and having the same issue as you. It shouldn't take too much to sort out as the Brother binder & foot is an absolute dream compared to my recent experience.
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Bernina 770QE, Brother NV 410 Babylock BLCS2, Bernette 1100D, Bernina overlocker L460
  
Member since 2/18/04
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Posted on: 7/8/10 9:28 PM ET
These two things have worked for me and have helped a lot with the binder. Maybe they will work for you as well.

First, I found that I have to push the binder to the right to get the fabric to touch the rudder on the foot that came with the binder. It does slide a bit, though not much. It takes a bit of adjustment, but for me that helps with keeping the binding straight.

When I did the above when using the right and left needles, the left needle thread would always stitch off the binding. I also found that the left needle thread broke frequently in the middle of binding. So now I use only the middle and right needles. I usually cut my binding too long and test sew the first couple inches to make sure that the binding is touching the rudder and the stitching is looking good. Then I start binding.

I found that doing these two things, I have fewer problems when binding.

One more thing: I read somewhere (Sew4Fun's blog?) that she uses exactly 43mm for the width of her fabric. You might try making a template of the width to use for cutting the binding. I found is that the binding fabric must be very precise when you cut it and that my yardstick is exactly the width that I need. Using the yard stick makes it very easy to cut the right width. Too wide and the fabric bunches in the binder and stops; too narrow and the fabric slides out of the grooves.

Hope this helps.
-- Edited on 7/8/10 9:30 PM --
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“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that God holds the future.”
Marie Killilea, _With Love from Karen_

Sewing with my lovelies: Pfaff Performance 5.0, Pfaff Passport 3.0, Babylock Imagine and BLCS, Brother PE770 and a chorus of vintage Singers
  
Member since 12/1/08
Posts: 10
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Posted on: 7/8/10 11:15 PM ET
Thanks, Paula and Ragdoll,
I gave up on the cotton jersey and sewed it on the SM. Tomorrow I will try again with cotton/spandex that is thicker.
I thought of making a template for the binding, Paula, but I couldn't find anything the right size. I will do that tomorrow too. I think I was expecting immediate success but I have been humbled and will be more patient tomorrow.
It's great to have this board. If someone somewhere is doing this successfully then I can too.
Pam
  
Member since 1/31/06
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Posted on: 7/9/10 0:23 AM ET
Pam, my binder issues in the last few weeks made me cross enough to persevere! Surely I can get it right, can't be rocket science. Another thing that Belinda mentioned is that poly t shirt fabric is probably the most consistent with good results and the easiest to get the hang of. I'll go to my sewing room maybe later today and have a fiddle. Let's get this show on the road!!!!
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Bernina 770QE, Brother NV 410 Babylock BLCS2, Bernette 1100D, Bernina overlocker L460
  
Member since 6/6/05
Posts: 2626
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Posted on: 7/9/10 3:44 AM ET
In reply to freepam
Pam - perhaps if you haven't already done so you could look up Sew4Fun's blog where she has some online tutorials - (link to Coverstitch part of Belinda's blog) Debbie Cook Also has some great coverstitch advice on her blog and you can just google her too.

There was also a recent thread by Rag Doll which may help.
-- Edited on 7/9/10 3:47 AM --
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Maree - Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 12/1/08
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Posted on: 7/9/10 10:35 PM ET
Thanks, Maree, I had checked both of those sources and I think Paula's suggestion of moving the binder over will work but I got my new Brother serger today so it'll be Sunday before I can figure the binder out.
Pam
  
Member since 6/6/05
Posts: 2626
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Posted on: 7/9/10 10:51 PM ET
In reply to freepam
Good luck with that. It's annoying isn't it, when things just don't work straight away. Instant gratification is wonderful.
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Maree - Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 12/1/08
Posts: 10
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Posted on: 7/14/10 9:54 AM ET
Well, I got the binder to work ok, not great, but ok.
But I don't like the look! It looks like kid's clothing.
What I wanted was the binding on some of my clothes, which actually has only one line of stitching.
So I'm going to return this binder and see if anyone knows of one that stitches one line of thread. It probably is an attachment to a regular sewing machine so I'll start a thread on that forum.
Thanks for your help,
Pam
  
Member since 3/4/09
Posts: 1711
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Posted on: 7/14/10 11:30 AM ET
In reply to freepam
The binder itself doesn't do the stitching, it just folds and feeds the fabric. If you only want one line of stitching, you could just use a one needle chain stitch, and adjust the binder so that it folds the fabric so that the folds are even on both sides of the edge and the single line of stitching goes through the folds on both sides (as opposed to the underside fold being a little closer to the edge so that, when you're using 2 needles, the coverstitch underneath covers the fold). Unless you're using the type of binder that only creates a fold on the top side, and leaves a raw edge on the bottom.
  
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