Carnivorous Sewing Machines and What To To About Them
Sewing machines like to eat fabric, which can, unsurprisingly, cause a lot of problems.
You may be asking yourself: Why is it happening?, How can I prevent it?, and Is my sewing machine possessed???
The answer to the first is easy: Sewing machines are dicks. They’re very particular about how you do things, and it you don’t do them right then they’ll eat your fabric out of spite.
Which leads us into the second: Preventing Fabric Catching.
Make sure your machine is threaded properly. This is the “Turn it Off and On Again” of the sewing world. If your machine is causing you problems, rethread it and see if that fixes it.
Make sure you’re using the right thread for the fabric. If the thread is too thick or too thin, or even the wrong material, it can cause problems by jamming or breaking, so make sure you check it before you sew. If you’re using heavy fabric, go for a sturdy thread. Thiner thread for shear fabric, and thread with some give to it for stretch fabrics.
Use the correct needle for the fabric. If you try to use a Stretch needle on a vinyl fabric you’re going to have a lot of trouble. Same with using a leather needle on spandex. It’s not a good time, and the machine will try to eat your expensive fabric at every opportunity.
Make sure the needle is sharp. Sewing machine needles need to be changed every 8 hours or so to ensure the machine performs properly. Blunt needles run the risk of damaging the fabric, and are far more likely to break than sharp needles.
Make sure there’s no dust built up under the bobbin or bobbin case (the thing the bobbin goes in on the machine), and check the feed dogs (they move the fabric forward) for bits of caught fabric. If stuff builds up or gets stuck in those areas it can cause the machine to catch your fabric when you sew, so make sure the machine is clean if you’re having issues.
Make sure the machine is oiled properly. A lack of oil makes stuff stick, and prevents the machine from running smoothly, so oil it regularly.
If you’ve done all that, but the machine is still being a dick, then you may need to do something to the fabric itself to keep it from catching.
Try putting a piece of tearaway or tissue paper under the fabric, then sew it. The paper will stabilize the edge of the fabric a bit and make it harder for the machine to eat it. Just sew as you normally would, then tear off the paper when you’re done.
Use a scrap of fabric to start off. Take a scrap of fabric, preferably of the same type you’re already using, and place it immediately before the fabric you’re trying to sew, so that the two pieces are basically continuous. Start sewing on the scrap, then just keep going right on to the fabric you’re trying to use. Cut them apart when you finish.
Use a Stitch Starter. A stitch starter is basically a folded over piece of scrap, used to help you start off a seam on very thin, or very thick fabrics. It helps prevent shear fabrics from being eaten and destroyed, and makes it easier to start off on thick fabrics that would get stuck under the presser foot otherwise. (more info: https://www.craftsy.com/sewing/article/stitch-starter/?_ct=rbew&_ctp=112389 )
Grab the tail ends of the needle and bobbin thread. Make sure there’s an inch or two of thread from both the bobbin and the needle trailing past the edge of your fabric when you put the presser foot down, grab the ends of the thread and pull a bit as you start off. This prevents the edge of the fabric from falling into the hole around the needle and feed dogs, and thus prevents it from getting caught. This trick is especially useful for starting on the edges of knit and stretch fabrics. (Thank you, Red Barn Sewing and Yarn Center in Merrimack, MA, for that helpful tidbit!)
Now, if NONE of that works for you, and your machine is still trying to eat everything you love, you may need to consider the unpleasant third option:
Ghostly or Demonic Possession.
I recommend seeking professional help with this one. Maybe consult with a sewing machine repair person, or an exorcist. Place a salt circle around the sewing machine while you wait for help to arrive, just to be safe.