Thread: Getting skipped stitches on sewing machine

So I tried to put together a lycra skirt today, but the sewing gods wouldn't allow it! I first tried sewing some scrap fabric with a ballpoint needle, and I got a ton of skipped stitches. So I switched to a standard needle, and again, more skipped stitches. Am I doing something wrong here? What do I need to adjust? Or am I just not meant to have a gold holographic lycra skirt? ,f::

After that, I sewed some woven fabric and it worked just fine, so I know it's not a problem with the machine being dirty or anything like that.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I was going to say that it needed rethreaded, but since it worked fine on woven...
Did you try a narrow zig-zag stitch, and slightly stretch the fabric as you sew?

Here's some past responses on bhuz:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...sew-lycra.html

How old is the ball point needle?
I've had older ball points do that to me.

Also, sometime the needle gets glue from other fabric on it. Wipe it off with rubbing alcohol and try again.

I have two suggestions. 1.) Go out and buy a "stretch" needle. My local Jo-Ann's carries them. They are specifically meant for stretch fabrics. Use a new one every time you start a new project. 2.) Use some "sewer's aid". It's a clear liquid that you apply just a drop of to your needle and it helps with the skipping issue. One other thing you might try is adjusting the tension on your machine. Experiment with some scraps until you get it right.

Originally Posted by shahla

I have two suggestions. 1.) Go out and buy a "stretch" needle. My local Jo-Ann's carries them. They are specifically meant for stretch fabrics. Use a new one every time you start a new project. 2.) Use some "sewer's aid". It's a clear liquid that you apply just a drop of to your needle and it helps with the skipping issue. One other thing you might try is adjusting the tension on your machine. Experiment with some scraps until you get it right.

you just took the words right out of my mouth, thats amazing. i was also going to suggest the stretch needles, they come in a pack of 5 for $2.50 at JoAnne. Also, try adjusting the tension setter. you should be able to adjust it while your sewing your scraps. it would be a good idea to use some left over lycra pieces as scrap so you can get a feel for how much tension you need to put the setting on. I had no idea about sewers aid, im so glad you mentioned that. I will have to pick some up.

I'm with Shahla - use some needle lubricant. (That's what Sewer's Aid is.) You can find it in your fabric store in the Notions area, near where the sewing machine needles are sold.

Since you said your fabric is holographic, I would suggest re-lubricating your needle pretty often. I tend to do it about once every 8-12 inches when I'm sewing on fabric that has some kind of foil effect.

I agree with everything said above... and would add to try slowing sllllloowwwwwwly. A friend had a funky machine that would only sew those "coated" fabrics if she took it easy on the accelerator.

I just wanted to add, if you ever have a problem with looping, where the bottom thread coming from the bobbin is getting all knotted and loopy under the fabric that your trying to sew, it could be a problem with the thread that is on the bobbin. I had this problem today. The thread didn't wrap tightly enough around the bobbin so I was having a mess of thread under the fabric I was sewing, and even got caught up in the machine. I finally figured out it was because the thread wasn't tight enough on the bobbin. Thank goodness for seam rippers.

Clean and oil the working parts of the machine. Put in a new needle. Use a stretch fabrics needle. Put a piece of tissue under the fabric between the fabric and the feed dogs. Tear it off after you finishing stitching. Helps add some traction for slippery fabrics. User Sewer's Aid or similar thread lubricant.

Souzan

I finally got it to work! I went to Jo-Ann and bought two different kinds of stretch needles. It took me about 30 minutes of playing with the tension, stitch length, and needle position, but I finally got the combination right and was able to sew a nice seam. I'm glad I bought the two different kinds of needles, because I thought the one with the smaller eye would work better, but it was actually the one with the larger eye that put an and to the skipped stitches.

Now I have a beautiful gold skirt! Yay!

Thank you all for your help!