Sewing machine about to go out the window - tension problems.

[DonkeyTeapot]

Hi all, am hoping someone can help me before I throw this thing out on the road!

Basically, I can't get the tension right on my sewing machine. When I have the top and bottom tensions adjusted so that neither is too loose / tight, my fabric puckers. I've been tweaking the tension and sewing seams for hours now, I've wasted yards and yards of thread and don't have much baby-free time left before MIL brings DD home. I have been testing on scrap fabric, which is the same as the garment I'm making, but even when it looks ok on the test, it still puckers the garment. I've re-ironed it a few times, just to check it wasn't that. If I have to undo this seam many more times I will just wreck the fabric and have to cut out a new piece. Can anyone save my sanity please? What am I doing wrong?

For info, it is a Silver sewing machine, quite cheap and not a brand I had heard of but apparently they have been going 30+ years so thought it should be reasonably reliable.

I had this problem a lot.

I have had my very good quality sewing machine for many years now.

Had it serviced, still did it.

Sometimes it didn't do the puckering.

Mentioned it to my mum in passing, I said I think its about time for a new sewing machine as it does this puckering thing no matter now much I twiddle with the tension.

Mum (a retired dressmaking teacher) said, change the needle.

I did this and the sewing was perfect.

Turned out that in the past I probably had pucker free sewing when i'd changed a needle due to breakage. I never used to change them unless they broke.

The needle goes in sooo many times that it will blunt. If you hand sew with a blunt needle you can wiggle it a bit and give it an extra push to get it through. The machine doesn't do this. Its trying to push a blunted needle through at high speed, and the result is that either the tension will go to pot as the needle isn't going through the fabric just when the shuttle is expecting it OR the fabric will pucker, cause the needle isn't going through it cleanly. When I think of the heavy duty curtains, denim, layers of cotton etc that I used to expect the machine to sew - on blunt needles!

Since then I change my needle much more often and have not had a problem. The needles are cheap so why risk straining the machine motor and ruining fabric for the price of a new needle.

Also if the needle is good and sharp they are much less likely to bend or snap as they try to go through the fabric.

Some people I know put a new needle in for every project as routine, thats what I try to do now.

For thin fabric I agree with trying a new smaller size, sharp needle. With thin fabric I sometimes had problems with the needle pushing the fabric down through the hole in the needle plate. (My Pfaff has quite a large slot as it does a wide zig-zag.) I solved that by buying a needle plate with a small round hole in it. It can only be used with the needle in the centre position, but is a lifesaver for seams in light sheer fabrics like fine voile curtains etc..

Seems like sewing machines are as individual as people eh? With their own quirks and irritating endearing foibles... :)

A good clean is probably in order, I'll try that too. It is entirely possible that a tiny bit of fluff is stuck somewhere causing problems.

Another one supporting the needle theory. If the needle is blunt it sort of 'sticks' to the fabric and drags it back a little bit so you get a pucker.

Good luck

The type of needle is a consideration as well as its size. However, I am not sure what Is right, just that it makes a difference. For example when you do patchwork and quilting it is a good idea to use a sharps. Universal needles aren't the greatest. I would use the sort of needle you would use if you were hand sewing. Don't ask me what that might be though!!