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Seems like my bobbin thread tension needs loosened... (Moderated by EleanorSews)
Posted on: 4/17/15 0:20 AM ET
Hi all,
I'm making some (better) pants, and I'm going to be sewing with a double needle. I didn't really care about the tension settings last time I used it, but now I do.
Here's my problem. If I turn the thread tension up so that I get the zig-zag on the back (with the bobbin thread), the fabric will pucker between the two straight lines. It'll be a raised bump between the two stitches on the topstitched side. If I lower the thread tension to get rid of the bump, I lose the zig-zag on the back (bobbin) thread. Note, when I say pucker, I don't mean ALONG the direction of stitching, as would be typical of sewing with too high of a thread tension, I mean perpendicular to the stitch direction.
What I want to do is lower the bobbin thread tension so that I can lower the thread tension accordingly and have both the zig-zag on the back and no puckering on the front.
Am I right? What else could I be doing wrong?
EDIT: Even if I crank my thread tension most of the way up, I still can't get the complete "zig zag" on the back. I still have the top thread pulling through.
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:28 AM --
I'm making some (better) pants, and I'm going to be sewing with a double needle. I didn't really care about the tension settings last time I used it, but now I do.
Here's my problem. If I turn the thread tension up so that I get the zig-zag on the back (with the bobbin thread), the fabric will pucker between the two straight lines. It'll be a raised bump between the two stitches on the topstitched side. If I lower the thread tension to get rid of the bump, I lose the zig-zag on the back (bobbin) thread. Note, when I say pucker, I don't mean ALONG the direction of stitching, as would be typical of sewing with too high of a thread tension, I mean perpendicular to the stitch direction.
What I want to do is lower the bobbin thread tension so that I can lower the thread tension accordingly and have both the zig-zag on the back and no puckering on the front.
Am I right? What else could I be doing wrong?
EDIT: Even if I crank my thread tension most of the way up, I still can't get the complete "zig zag" on the back. I still have the top thread pulling through.
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:28 AM --
Posted on: 4/17/15 0:25 AM ET
Sounds right to me. I've only done a very little bit of twin needle work, so I don't know that much about that specifically. But your description sounds like you need to adjust your bobbin tension. So just do it. The adjustment screw is there to use. If it doesn't work out, you can go back.
And I don't mean that to sound snappy or disrespectful. Just want to encourage the use of the adjustments provided.

-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
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And I don't mean that to sound snappy or disrespectful. Just want to encourage the use of the adjustments provided.

-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
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A sewing machine is just a welder for textiles.
Posted on: 4/17/15 0:29 AM ET
In reply to Al Johnson
Quote: Al Johnson
Sounds right to me. I've only done a very little bit of twin needle work, so I don't know that much about that specifically. But your description sounds like you need to adjust your bobbin tension. So just do it. The adjustment screw is there to use. If it doesn't work out, you can go back.
And I don't mean that to sound snappy or disrespectful. Just want to encourage the use of the adjustments provided.

-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
Sounds right to me. I've only done a very little bit of twin needle work, so I don't know that much about that specifically. But your description sounds like you need to adjust your bobbin tension. So just do it. The adjustment screw is there to use. If it doesn't work out, you can go back.
And I don't mean that to sound snappy or disrespectful. Just want to encourage the use of the adjustments provided.

-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 0:27 AM --
Thanks Al. I was planning on trying it anyway. I just need to find a screwdriver that's both skinny enough, and short enough to reach the adjustment screw. A toolbox full of screwdrivers and I can't find one to fit my sewing machine. Who knew...
Posted on: 4/17/15 7:58 AM ET
I am wondering why various adjustments don't produce a wider zigzag like RTW?
Posted on: 4/17/15 10:42 AM ET
I'm assuming the puckering you're talking about is tunelling, where the two lines of stitching get sucked together and form almost a tunnel between them. Using a stabilizer of some sort will help with this, because some machines can't adjust the bobbin tension. Personally, I'm not really a fan of twin needles, the result is never really as good as two independent lines of stitching, the only exception to this is for knits, I do like to use one for neck bands/hems.
Posted on: 4/17/15 11:17 AM ET
Everybody has a different feeling about this. The ridge between the two needles never bothered me. Who would ever notice such a thing?
If you use a bobbin case in your machine, I've known some that keep an extra bobbin case adjusted strictly for twin-needle use. And stabilizer helps, but I never bothered because as I said it didn't bother me.
If you use a bobbin case in your machine, I've known some that keep an extra bobbin case adjusted strictly for twin-needle use. And stabilizer helps, but I never bothered because as I said it didn't bother me.
Posted on: 4/17/15 11:20 AM ET
Get a set of mini screwdrivers. I found a set with tiny blades (straight and Phillips) at a discount hardware store that my husband forced me to go to (actually, I like hardware stores as it was one of my first jobs where it rained men every day!)
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 4/17/15 12:09 PM ET
In reply to corrado33
Did you loosen the top tension? It sounds like your settings are too tight. This usually works fine. If you want more of the same look as RTW, zigzag the edges before hemming with the twin needle-it will look more similar to the RTW/coverstitch look. It will never look exactly like RTW. The other thing you could do that I do on better clothing, is to attache hem tape or ribbon on the hem and use a blindstitch on my sewing machine to hem the pants or skirt.
If you start messing with the bobbin tension, it might take you awhile to get it back. Bobbin cases have a little screw on them that can be adjusted-go in very very small increments. Use different color threads in the bobbin and the needle until you can see if you like the results. I would highly recommend a second bobbin case for this purpose rather than changing the only bobbin case you have.
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 1:25 PM --
If you start messing with the bobbin tension, it might take you awhile to get it back. Bobbin cases have a little screw on them that can be adjusted-go in very very small increments. Use different color threads in the bobbin and the needle until you can see if you like the results. I would highly recommend a second bobbin case for this purpose rather than changing the only bobbin case you have.
-- Edited on 4/17/15 at 1:25 PM --
Posted on: 4/17/15 12:25 PM ET
Before fiddling with the bobbin tension try Liamsmom' s suggestion, and if your machine has presser foot pressure adjustment, lower that as well.
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 4/17/15 5:32 PM ET
Thanks all.
I AM talking about tunneling. Now I know the word for it!
Unfortunately the machine I'm doing this on does not have a foot pressure adjustment, only top and bobbin thread tension, so those are my only easily accessible tools.
I AM talking about tunneling. Now I know the word for it!
Unfortunately the machine I'm doing this on does not have a foot pressure adjustment, only top and bobbin thread tension, so those are my only easily accessible tools.
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