help! sewing costume for the school play. flimsy glittery material on a machine. why does the thread keep snapping?

[INeedALieIn]

On Friday we were to told to make dd an outfit to bring to school on Monday!!!

I am using glittery flimsy material and the thread keeps snapping. What can I do???

Is the thread snapping as you are sewing or once you've finished a seam? Is it new thread? What is the thread made of (cotton, polyester, something else)? Is the fabric stretchy?

Along the bottom hem the thread was fine. Along the side seam, where I have to sew through the ssequins (kind of sparkly stickers, not real sequins) the top thread snaps after about 1 inch of sewing.

The fabric is quite see through, very fine and a little bit stretchy.

The thread is polyester.

I have finished the dress now, sewn by hand, it looks great. But I would still like to try to work out where I'm going wrong as the same happens with voile curtains.

Thanks for your help.

Hmm (stumped). Try reposting in Art and Craft and see if someone there has a brilliant idea?

I'll call in at the fabric shop, bet they'll know where I'm going wrong

Try running the thread through a candle or beeswax.

Blunt needle?

I do that all the time

Sounds like the tension is too high. Loosen off the tension on the top thread (manual will tell you how) and try it on some scrap fabric (same as you're sewing). Also, use a fine needle, that might help.