OMG! I am making a gymnastics leotard for my granddaughter and the machine ate the four way stretch fabric. So annoying! It took about 15 minutes to take the face plate off and I carefully used a seam ripper to remove the stitches without tearing the fabric. I practiced on scraps before my project, no worries. I was able to sew four seams before this happened. I added my walking foot and it is feeding better. I will add the header too. Thank you for the tips!
WOW!! The leaders are going to SAVE me, my fabric, and my sanity!! I have a TERRIBLE problem with the machine EATING my fabric when I start sewing. I've been through numerous feeder feet trying to find one that prevents my fabric from being sucked into the machine. THANK YOU
Hi thanks so much for this advice. I had always thought that using headers and footers was about saving thread but I now find (after getting fabric stuck in my machine). I shall certainly implement this hack. Thanks so much
Yes I do use headers and footers. But your video has pointed out good points. I never thought about the damage it could cause on the bottom of my feet. I’m gonna go check mine now thanks so much 😊
Thank you, I do use headers and footers in quilting but I found it most interesting about the one stitch past the fabric. I did not know that before. Have a super sewing day.
I was hoping you could help. I use thrifted fabrics for clothing. I have some pieces of very stretchy fabric. My machine keeps jamming after sewing fine for about a foot. Ive changed needles several times. Ive rethreaded several times. Used different bobbins. I am afraid to mess with the tension. My stitches look fine. The bobbin race keeps going cockeyed. I have replaced it about a dozen times. The needle freezes and fabric catches under and in tge feed dogs. I have to open the bobbin area and remove the bobbin and case. Pull threads out and usually then can get the fabric out. Sometimes, I have to snip right up to the needle. I clean out any lint. Replace everything...it happens again soon. I think the fabric is possibly ITY or something like scuba.
I'm not very familiar with stitching with knits as I mostly work with cottons but...are you using a ballpoint needle? Also, you might try using a presser foot made for knits, such as a roller foot or walking foot. I found this article that you might found helpful at www.croftmill.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-sewing-with-scuba-fabric. Good luck!
I absolutely use headers and footers. Someone recently suggested that is use scrap 2.5" squares and piece two each time I start and stop. Neat bonus block strategy.
Also saves some thread!! I have used headers and footers for years. It was hard to remember to use them in the beginning but now it seems weird if I don't.
I am here because I am working on a quilt that has flying geese and my fabric is getting bunched up and not pulling through correctly I definitely am going to have to try this because I'm getting very frustrated! Thank you for a very clear and logical explanation!
Yes my machine has been really eating my fabric and I could not figure out why, along with having a mess of thread on the bottom of the piece. This worked wonders, thank you!!
Never used headers and footer myself, but your explanation makes so much sense that I will start! I haven’t had a problem with the fabric getting “sucked in” with my machine however, when I did a lot of garment sewing it was a real problem! Thank you for the information. ♥️🤓
I use headers and footers. I always have to use them if I have to stitch with a point (like in HST). Sometimes I forget though if it is a straight seam starting at a corner that is not pointed. All it takes is one time for it to "gather up the material" for me to remember to go back to using the headers and footers.
I use them occasionally, especially if the fabric is thin. My Brother sewing machine is really good about not sucking the fabric into the hole. Still, good to know about the footer- have never heard about wear and tear in the presser foot.
I have an old "Spartan" machine, (just sews forward and backwards... it was my Grandmother's then my Mom's), that requires leaving a fairly long "tail" of thread, (if not chaining), causing a lot of thread waste. I use a scrap piece of fabric at the end of sewing something to eliminate the need for the long tail of thread. I just clip my fabric off it and leave the scrap in the machine for the next project.
Usually you don't need to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitches if you are going to add another piece of fabric that will be going across those stitches and this "new" stitching will lock everything in place. I only backstitch if I'm not going to be adding another fabric to that piece.
So when I stitch with my extra crepe back satin, even in the middle of the fabric, it just gets sucked into the hole and it’s so hard to remove too. I’ve tried a parchment paper trick and the tissue paper trick, I JUST got a new needle today and used it and it still happened. I don’t know what to do. 😭
As a quilter, I work with cotton fabrics so can't really help with this type of fabric. You might find this article helpful www.moodfabrics.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crepe-fabric/#tips-for-sewing-with-crepe
I don't think you need to worry about this as you will be starting and stopping on the pants' fabric but I'm a quilter, not a sewist so you might want to check with someone who is a sewist and might have more knowledge in this area.
As a quilter, I don't work with these fabrics so I don't have any other tips for you other than the leaders and enders as in this video. You might ask Laura at SewVeryEasy about this as she also does some garment sewing.
Don’t bother with scraps to start..on a janome show this method was shown but i had already adopted it....just use anything handy to slide the thread out from under the presser foot before you begin to sew ...keep your index finger on the thread...begin to sew.. voila No birds nest..no leaders that always seem to be on the floor when you need them. Lol ❤️❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦
This is to avoid running the presser foot over the bare feed dogs which can eventually scratch or even score the bottom of your presser feet making them less effective.
I also like that headers/footers usually eliminate any "nests or thread mess" on the back side of the block plus saves thread.
OMG! I am making a gymnastics leotard for my granddaughter and the machine ate the four way stretch fabric. So annoying! It took about 15 minutes to take the face plate off and I carefully used a seam ripper to remove the stitches without tearing the fabric. I practiced on scraps before my project, no worries. I was able to sew four seams before this happened. I added my walking foot and it is feeding better. I will add the header too. Thank you for the tips!
WOW!! The leaders are going to SAVE me, my fabric, and my sanity!! I have a TERRIBLE problem with the machine EATING my fabric when I start sewing. I've been through numerous feeder feet trying to find one that prevents my fabric from being sucked into the machine. THANK YOU
I never used them, I have the problem of my work being swallowed up . Thanks for the tip. this is my go to saver now.
Very useful information. I will definitely start using headers and footers. Thanks for the tip.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi thanks so much for this advice. I had always thought that using headers and footers was about saving thread but I now find (after getting fabric stuck in my machine). I shall certainly implement this hack. Thanks so much
Excellent explanation especially protecting the foot .
Makes soooo much sense! Thank you, thank you , thank you!!😊
Thank you thank you i have been asking why this was happening couldn't find anyone who knew i thought there was something wrong with my machine.
I have seen in quilting videos but never an explanation as to why, Thank you for this.
Yes I do use headers and footers. But your video has pointed out good points. I never thought about the damage it could cause on the bottom of my feet. I’m gonna go check mine now thanks so much 😊
Yes I use headers and footers and find them to be very helpful.
Thank you, I do use headers and footers in quilting but I found it most interesting about the one stitch past the fabric. I did not know that before. Have a super sewing day.
I was hoping you could help.
I use thrifted fabrics for clothing. I have some pieces of very stretchy fabric. My machine keeps jamming after sewing fine for about a foot. Ive changed needles several times. Ive rethreaded several times. Used different bobbins. I am afraid to mess with the tension. My stitches look fine. The bobbin race keeps going cockeyed. I have replaced it about a dozen times. The needle freezes and fabric catches under and in tge feed dogs. I have to open the bobbin area and remove the bobbin and case. Pull threads out and usually then can get the fabric out. Sometimes, I have to snip right up to the needle. I clean out any lint. Replace everything...it happens again soon. I think the fabric is possibly ITY or something like scuba.
I'm not very familiar with stitching with knits as I mostly work with cottons but...are you using a ballpoint needle? Also, you might try using a presser foot made for knits, such as a roller foot or walking foot. I found this article that you might found helpful at www.croftmill.co.uk/the-ultimate-guide-to-sewing-with-scuba-fabric. Good luck!
I absolutely use headers and footers. Someone recently suggested that is use scrap 2.5" squares and piece two each time I start and stop. Neat bonus block strategy.
Also saves some thread!! I have used headers and footers for years. It was hard to remember to use them in the beginning but now it seems weird if I don't.
I'm going to try this stat! I'm new to sewing and quilting (2 years) and just struggled with so much "fabric eating" on 2.5" blocks! Thank you!
I am here because I am working on a quilt that has flying geese and my fabric is getting bunched up and not pulling through correctly I definitely am going to have to try this because I'm getting very frustrated! Thank you for a very clear and logical explanation!
No I never thought of that 😀 What a great idea. Thx.
Yes my machine has been really eating my fabric and I could not figure out why, along with having a mess of thread on the bottom of the piece. This worked wonders, thank you!!
Never used headers and footer myself, but your explanation makes so much sense that I will start! I haven’t had a problem with the fabric getting “sucked in” with my machine however, when I did a lot of garment sewing it was a real problem!
Thank you for the information. ♥️🤓
Great tips. Thank you. 😊
Good things to know. Thank you ..
Thank you I just recently heard of these. I’m using them now. Thank you for sharimg.
Wonderful tutorial- thank you so much!
Thank you Kim I have used the headers but not the footers can't wait to try this.
Yes, I do use leaders and enders. Happy to learn that I am also protecting the foot. Great tutorial.
Thank you for the information!
Any time!
I use headers and footers. I always have to use them if I have to stitch with a point (like in HST). Sometimes I forget though if it is a straight seam starting at a corner that is not pointed. All it takes is one time for it to "gather up the material" for me to remember to go back to using the headers and footers.
I use them occasionally, especially if the fabric is thin. My Brother sewing machine is really good about not sucking the fabric into the hole. Still, good to know about the footer- have never heard about wear and tear in the presser foot.
Thank you
I haven’t been using headers and footers but I’m going to start!
No I don’t because I use the single hole plate when straight stitching. Never thought of wearing down the presser foot. Good point!
So helpful! I get so frustrated when my material gets jammed in that space.
Yes, I use them without fail, mostly to stop any bird nests at the beginning of my project pieces.
I have an old "Spartan" machine, (just sews forward and backwards... it was my Grandmother's then my Mom's), that requires leaving a fairly long "tail" of thread, (if not chaining), causing a lot of thread waste. I use a scrap piece of fabric at the end of sewing something to eliminate the need for the long tail of thread. I just clip my fabric off it and leave the scrap in the machine for the next project.
I need you to be my personal sewing mentor!
😂😂😂
I do use headers and footers.
Yes, I use them.
Perfect timing, just cut out 100 flying geese. Wondering if I should use the single needle plate too.
I do use the headers and footers but I didn’t know about scratching of the base of the foot. Sometimes i stitch way beyond the 1 stitch off. 🥺
In addition to the grooving on the presser foot, it will also take some of the tooth out of your feed dogs.
Use pieces for other projects, as in a scrappy quilt block for headers and enders , 2 projects at once, or pieces for crumb quilting-
I am curios about the back stitch process at the beginning and ending. if there are no rules, so to speak, will it unravel?
Usually you don't need to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitches if you are going to add another piece of fabric that will be going across those stitches and this "new" stitching will lock everything in place. I only backstitch if I'm not going to be adding another fabric to that piece.
So when I stitch with my extra crepe back satin, even in the middle of the fabric, it just gets sucked into the hole and it’s so hard to remove too. I’ve tried a parchment paper trick and the tissue paper trick, I JUST got a new needle today and used it and it still happened. I don’t know what to do. 😭
As a quilter, I work with cotton fabrics so can't really help with this type of fabric. You might find this article helpful www.moodfabrics.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crepe-fabric/#tips-for-sewing-with-crepe
Headers and footers also help me to save on thread, imo. ;)
How does this work when you work with a hem of a pants?
I don't think you need to worry about this as you will be starting and stopping on the pants' fabric but I'm a quilter, not a sewist so you might want to check with someone who is a sewist and might have more knowledge in this area.
How would you do keep your machine from eating Jersey/Knit fabric?
As a quilter, I don't work with these fabrics so I don't have any other tips for you other than the leaders and enders as in this video. You might ask Laura at SewVeryEasy about this as she also does some garment sewing.
I have tried many times but it doesn’t seem to work for me. I keep forgetting.
Don’t bother with scraps to start..on a janome show this method was shown but i had already adopted it....just use anything handy to slide the thread out from under the presser foot before you begin to sew ...keep your index finger on the thread...begin to sew.. voila No birds nest..no leaders that always seem to be on the floor when you need them. Lol ❤️❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦
I don't but will noe
I can definitely see the advantages of using a header piece of fabric but I don't understand what a footer piece accomplishes.
This is to avoid running the presser foot over the bare feed dogs which can eventually scratch or even score the bottom of your presser feet making them less effective.
Ahhh, that makes sense. Thank you for enlightening me.