Sewing machine stitch length for cotton reddit . 5-3. Along with a sewing machine, you'll need sewing machine needles in ballpoint, stretch, twin stretch and universal styles; all-purpose polyester thread in a good brand like Gutermann, Coats and Clark, or similar; basic measuring and marking tools; fabric shears and straight pins. 2. Agree with all above, but I also make sure I increase the stitch length to 4, use a 16 or 18 denim needle (16 if they are a 12oz cotton and 18 if 14 3/4oz), also using #30 top stitch thread and a hammer to hammer out the double felled seams so they are softened up before sewing. 0. (Even better, knot the thread ends). it is NOT the tension (as you already know) - the stitch length and width are too small. The company is quoting us a price higher than the machine cost to repair it and it’s not even a nice machine, but we need to sew a few things urgently and so I’m on the hunt for a new machine. Oct 18, 2024 · A standard stitch length is the basic straight stitch used by every sewing machine for normal seams and joining two pieces of fabric together. 5 for top stitching and 5 for machine basting. 5-4. I got this tip from a hot air balloon maker. Standard advice: don't buy a machine for someone as a surprise. Problem solved! I'm in the middle of sewing a pair of jeans wider and while zigzaging over the open sides of the fabric my bobbin thread ran out, so I spooled a new one, put everything back in place and since then every seam I try to do is a mess. 5 mm stitch length my machine defaults to is way too short for decent looking results. For sewing cotton jersey fabric, you’ll want to adjust your stitch length to ensure optimal results. use a skinny jersey needle, increase your stitch length (at least) and also the width if you like the look of it, and the fabric will lie flatter. Try a 3. I assume you are using a jersey or ball point needle. Since we didn’t plan on buying a new sewing machine at all we don’t really have any money to spend on it, I’d say between 100-200€. 5 – 3. Stitch lengths: 2mm is the short stitch length that should be used for lightweight fabrics, for satin stitching, and decorative stitching. Posted by u/hilaryk25 - 3 votes and 5 comments Keep your stitch length around 3 stitches per cm. My machine has a blind hem stitch specifically for knits. 3 - increase stitch length, at least a half step but probably a full step above whatever the default is on your machine. My machine is set to 2. 5 - 3. If you move the tension down to 3 and slowly back up, might jolt it back into behaving. For the tension use scrap fabric after cutting something out and test it while keeping stitch length, width etc the same. It also helps keep curves smooth and corners sharp. While this primary straight stitch length may be adjusted to accommodate various fabric weights and types, it typically falls within the range of 2. For tension adjustments see youtube, there are plenty of videos stitch length - start with 2-2,5 for most seams, increase for heavy fabrics and top stitching, decrease for very lightweight fabric if it starts gathering See full list on threadsmonthly. The user needs to get a good feel for it. Machine: Janome Sewist 721 Presser foot: Standard/zigzag Fabric: 100% cotton Thread: Gutermann Sew All Needle: Standard needle that came installed on the machine Stitch width: My manual says it doesn’t matter for straight stitch, so to set either at 0 or 5. The raw edges will fray so use French seams or binding (Seams Great) or fold the raw edge under and zigzag the edge. When I was learning, I often sewed at 2. Also vary the stitch length or width of some of them to get an idea of what they look like and the capability of your machine. A thicker fabric will need a longer stitch length. Spend some time getting used to your machineget some plain cotton and sew a sampler with every stitch your machine has. For quilting the top, I like a longer stitch (3. ) Stitch - Zigzag or Three-step zigzag, Length 5, Width 1 Vinyl: Sewing for everybody and every body. The lever under the stitch length is for stitch width: You use 0 for straight stitch, all the way to 5 for the widest stitch, to be used for the zigzag and other width-type stitches. I'm much more familiar with sewing machines and reliably make the right choice of machine needle for seam type, fabric, and thread most of the time. 5 - 3mm is the average stitch length range that should be used for medium weight fabrics. Setting it to the maximum 4mm stitch length and doing 10 stitches, the forward straight stitch is around 39-40mm, which is fine, but the zig zag is closer to 34-35mm, and the reverse is consistently around 44mm. A shorter stitch length helps this not happen. A normal stitch for most sewing purposes is about 12 stitches per inch. For best results, use a longer stitch length for topstitching, especially with a heavier thread. I fold and zigzag the raw edges then put in the washer/dryer on hot 3x. I work with nylon canvas (cordura) but it'll probably be the same with cotton canvas. Stitch length is a bit inconsistent. Take the person to a reputable sewing machine dealer and let them try out a variety of machines. 5 to 3. Sewing machine: leave the tension alone unless seams don’t look good. 5mm. Otherwise the punctures from your needle will weaken the fabric if you use more stitches per cm. I do gathers several ways. 2 in a lockstitch seam (regular sewing machine). This length allows the stitches to securely hold the fabric together without causing it to pucker or stretch. Use #68 thread with a #16 denim needle. I’d sew denim seams using 3-3. A 4 or 5 was a basting stitch. It was a 2 on my machine. ) -ironing after sewing Sewing for everybody and every body. For lightweight fabrics, I do 2 rows of the longest stitch on my machine (4 mm) and pull from the bobbin side. I've spooled another thread, took everything out and out it back in, changed the thread tension, cleaned the bottom thing that mov Sewing for everybody and every body. I use a length of 3. 6. A tighter stitch works well on fine or delicate fabrics. A 1 or smaller (very tight) was for stay stitching. I have a Singer Heavy Duty and I’m very pleased with it, but I wouldn’t really mind to work on a computerized machine. Paper piecing go down to 1. - don't use cheap thread - and make sure its 100% polyester or a poly/cotton blend (no 100% cotton or nylon) - increase your stitch length; the default is too short for this job good luck and happy sewing! I use a 1 mm zigzag stitch 2 mm long and never had a problem. This comes from my experience as a longarmer. 5 and top stitching 3. The 2. If using a thinner denim, you can shorten the length. This basic straight stitch length may change to suit different weights and types of fabric but is commonly 2. Because it's so thick you will need to ease off the tension on the presser foot until if feeds smoothly, which is Standard advice: don't buy a machine for someone as a surprise. I never had a problem with the thread breaking. Start with thread tension all the way up and back off if necessary. I think the silver disk on the right must move to the right in order to make a wider stitch. 6, especially when doing strip piecing. It's quick and easy, but the thicker your fabric is, the more likely the stitch is to wobble. It’s at 0 here. 5 to 4) and use a top stitch needle, because I like the way it looks. 2. You might want to take a look at Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine and Singer 4423 Sewing Machine, they’re the most popular and top-rated machines on Amazon right now, and both work well with different types of fabrics. The Stitch width is for zig zag and decorative stitches etc. Instead of a straight stitch between the stitches that catch the hem, it uses a small zigzag. This is a community specifically for the hobby of sewing including, but not limited to: machine sewing, hand sewing, embroidery, quilting, mending, garment sewing, fitting/alterations and help/suggestion threads. For topstitching, quilting and decorative stitching use a longer stitch length (2. 5 or 4 mm stitch length on scraps first so you can see which one you prefer. This is a community specifically for the hobby of sewing including, but not limited to: machine sewing, embroidery, quilting, hand sewing, tapestry, patchwork, and help/suggestion threads. com Dec 24, 2023 · A standard stitch length serves as the fundamental straight stitch employed by all sewing machines for typical seams and fabric joining purposes. At my wits end sewing with this micro velvet. Stab stitch means that you do one stitch at a time, with the needle pointing straight up or straight down. If i need it, every sewing book I own has charts that make it simple, and some fabric sellers even state the size and type of machine needle needed for specialty fabric. Top Stitching May 10, 2023 · For basting stitches made by sewing machines use the longest stitch length 5mm (up to 7mm on some machines) so they will be easy to remove. A sewing machine is personal - like buying a car. Serger thread is usually a tex 27 regular sewing thread is often tex 40 - so the diameter of the thread is smaller, breaks more easily in the tex 27, the reason is you're putting a lot more thread into the seam with a serger - 3 or 4 (or 5 or 6) strands of thread in a serged seam vs. Depends on what you're sewing. 0mm. It comes out looking very similar to a straight stitch. The ideal stitch length for cotton jersey fabric is around 2. I have had this machine for years, I keep the stitch length at zero. The first few are “triple straight” so the machine will stitch ahead three then back two, then ahead 3 and back 2. If I’m doing strip piecing, where I’ll be cutting pieces from strip units, I may go as small as 1. No matter what I do the seam ends up wavy. but I would give it a good clean, oil and change the needle if you can. Because it's so thick you will need to ease off the tension on the presser foot until if feeds smoothly, which is Sewing for everybody and every body. Top thread and bobbin seem to be correct. I also think the suggestion of going over a stitch twice every 2-3cm (~1") to help guard against breaking is a good one. The higher the stitch length the longer the stitch. Stitch - Zigzag, Length 5, Width 2 Minky: Needles - Universal 80/12 or 100/16 Tension - A little lower than your faux fur setting. For heavier weights, I do a narrow, long zig zag stitch over a thin cotton yarn (like Aunt Lydia's 20 weight fine cotton crochet yarn). To some extent, stitch length, needle, and potentially stretching during sewing can be contributing, but those aren’t the biggest issue… The shape of the pant is slightly flared (not as in they are flares, but as in the width across at the place you’re hemming is narrower than the width across below that point. " That being said, I just use the default on my machine which is 2. 5 stitch length by default. Before sewing anything, it always helps to sew a scrap first. Thread - Standard cotton (I find that upholstery thread pulls too hard on the backing of minky and can cause rips in it. 4 - make sure you are stitching on the right side of the fabric and have positioned the stitch close to the raw edge of the fold but not OVER it The company is quoting us a price higher than the machine cost to repair it and it’s not even a nice machine, but we need to sew a few things urgently and so I’m on the hunt for a new machine. To start or end a seam, it's better to start at a small stitch length for a few stitches and then increase the stitch length for the rest of the seam - ditto at the end - that locks the stitches without the potential issues that reverse can cause. SS in this case stands for Stretch Stitch and is meant to be used with materials and seams that require the stretch to remain in tact. 4 - 5mm is the long stitch length range that should be used for basting and topstitching. I’ve had to fix client quilts where they used a longer stitch length like 2 - 2. This in turn causes some thread tensioning problems that basically make the backstitch useless. 5 because the pieces were coming apart at the intersections. Standard stitch length = 2. I also do not necessarily agree with using the smallest needle. 5 to make the stitches easier to remove. Any ideas? Things I tried: -Less pressure on foot -walking foot -long and short stitch length -serging edges first (this also yields some waviness even when changing the differential feed. For machine piecing, I go for 1. Sep 18, 2023 · Ideal Stitch Length. Linen shrinks a lot and frays a lot. The shorter stitch length helps your piecing to not come apart when you cut across the stitch lines in the strips to get your smaller piece units. Sewing for everybody and every body. For sewing swimsuits, bras, and knit dresses to illustrate my book How to Make Custom-Fit Bras & Lingerie I used a 1mm zigzag and a 2 to 3mm stitch length. 8, sometimes even as small as 1. 5 depending on the fabric thickness) Stitch Length. itknb mxmvrc udgbe aef fijdjh untdg bdbhn iopp sda aaizdl