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Member since 4/19/14
Posts: 931
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Posted on: 2/29/16 10:15 PM ET
Wasn't sure where to post this. . .

I'm practicing with my new ruffler foot and it's been fun, but it seems that no matter what I try, I can't seem to get consistent stitches. Is this normal? Any setting recommendations I should start at? I've played with the tension, but got the same results. Then I fiddled with the foot pressure, very similar results. I did learn that the 3.0mm setting for the stitches seems to work better.

 photo IMG_0396_zpsmau9mbqd.jpg

Current settings
Stitch: 3.0
Tension: 4.5
Foot Pressure: 6.0
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Bernina 570qe
Elna Star (My kiddo’s machine)
Pfaff Passport 3.0
Handi Quilter Amara (Long Arm)
Juki Haruka TL18 QVP
Singer Featherweights (custom painted & white)
Bernina Serger 1150mda
  
Member since 3/24/04
Posts: 26392
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Posted on: 2/29/16 10:20 PM ET
In reply to Pomegranate27
Try going up a needle size and making sure your machine is really clean.
  
Member since 5/2/09
Posts: 11280
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Posted on: 2/29/16 10:51 PM ET
Your long stitches there, do look 2 to 3 times as long as the short ones. I don't know how you could do that on purpose even? Possibly instead of really getting different lengths of stitches, the long areas are just places you skipped stitches instead? And the top and bottom threads, just did not even connect to themselves there? That's what it looks like to me.

Try it on another kind of thinner, smoother and more bendable fabric, just like a bed sheet or quilting cotton or such, and maybe see if the same thing happens or not? I don't think rough burlap is probably the most easy fabric to use though, and that kind of looks like what you got. What kind of ruffler is it? Is it really a small foot or a big old fashion kind of ruffler attachment that also has to hook with a yoke/arm kind of piece to it over your needle set screw at the same time? If it's got a underplate that comes with it, use that in the mix too, with the fabric in the middle between the two pieces of metal there. Maybe that might even
help?

Because of the kind of fabric you got, if you are just skipping stitches instead, you won't know it easy, as you would not be able to see the blank and empty needle holes in the fabric where that happened, if there were some. On some more tightly woven smoother cotton though, if it's skipping stitches to get that look, you would be able to see empty needle holes ( with no thread in them, in your fabric in those places instead) maybe?
-- Edited on 2/29/16 at 10:57 PM --
  
Member since 5/14/05
Posts: 2095
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Posted on: 3/1/16 1:15 AM ET
In reply to Pomegranate27
Firstly, does your machine stitch several layers of this same fabric 'without' the ruffler foot?

Stitch length changes the spacing of the pleats, but in the photo it's all over the place.

Have you tested the ruffler on some lighter weight cotton fabric? might be a good place to start, get that right before going back to the dk green fabric in the photo.

On the ruffler foot, you can choose the depth of the pleat and stitch length dictates the space between the pleats. Rather than re-type the directions have a look Ruffler Foot Instructions

See how that goes and report back?
  
Member since 1/7/13
Posts: 1821
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Posted on: 3/1/16 3:16 AM ET
In reply to Pomegranate27
Your fabric looks to be very thick. If you pleat the same fabric by hand on the machine does it go through the feed easily.
  
Member since 4/19/14
Posts: 931
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Posted on: 3/1/16 12:34 PM ET
Hopefully, I answer every one.

Kayl, I will do that.
Beauturbo, It's the Pfaff Ruffler foot. I does have an underplate and I did use it. The fabric is barely thicker than quilters cotton, but I'll try thinner fabric. I intend to use thicker fabric though. This is definitely not burlap. Right now I can't remember what the back looks like. I'll check my sample again and see if it did skip stitches because it does look like it did that.

NanaAnna, Good ideas. I'll test that out.
Geejay, I'll give that a try.

As soon as I get home I'll do the following:

1. Clean machine.
2. Change to larger, perhaps sharper needle.
3. Stitch through the fabric flat and see if I have any issues.
4. stitch the ruffles by hand and see if I have any issues.
5. Try thinner fabric.
6. Report back here.


------
Bernina 570qe
Elna Star (My kiddo’s machine)
Pfaff Passport 3.0
Handi Quilter Amara (Long Arm)
Juki Haruka TL18 QVP
Singer Featherweights (custom painted & white)
Bernina Serger 1150mda
  
Member since 4/17/06
Posts: 1724
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Posted on: 3/1/16 2:01 PM ET
Did you oil the ruffler? Make sure everything swings freely.
  
Member since 5/2/09
Posts: 11280
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Posted on: 3/1/16 2:03 PM ET
In reply to Pomegranate27
Pfaff might be different than some other machines, just since you do need to make sure your pulled down top walking foot is disengaged and all the way up and not at all, interfering or catching with, the ruffle/pleating action going on ? I've got a Pfaff one (and some others) but the Pfaff one is actually pretty much like even some other really old ones, from just decades ago too actually.
-- Edited on 3/1/16 at 2:04 PM --
  
Member since 4/16/14
Posts: 650
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Posted on: 3/2/16 9:25 AM ET
I have a Brother ruffler foot that I use when making ruffles for little girls' clothes. I use the "1" slot, and found that a stitch length of 3 on regular garment or quilting cotton does not work as well as the 2.5, so I always use the 2.5 length. I also "play" with the screw that determines how much fabric is "grabbed" and test scraps until I can get a 2:1 ratio. Most of the time, I just leave the screw at that setting. My machine tension is 4. I do enjoy my ruffler foot on those long lengths :-)
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Cheryl
"Busy Hands, Happy Heart"
  
Member since 6/18/08
Posts: 2609
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Posted on: 3/2/16 11:53 AM ET
Possibly skipping stitches. I would change your needle.
  
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