Sounds like it's principally a problem with friction, and if sewing as slowly as possible doesn't help then unfortunately it probably means the machine is just too fast at any speed. Is it possible to get more slippery needles? Stainless steel or chrome plated perhaps (I don't do much machine sewing)? Or to oil the needle? You'd probably have to stop frequently and reapply more oil as you went. Acetone is probably not helping as it may be eating into the needle a bit, making the surface of the metal rougher. You should try brand new needles, with as small a diameter as possible (ie fine ordinary needles, not ballpoint/stretch needles). Another suggestion is to make the fabric as taut as possible while sewing (eg put it in an embroidery hoop) as this will reduce the contact time between needle and fabric and may lessen the friction.
Claire
Message: 4 Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:31:34 -0800 From: Cin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [h-cost] plastic fabric conundrum To: h-cost <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Gentle costumes, I got a note from a friend about an odd fabric, and, hmmm, I dont have any help to offer at all. I've never seen this strange phenomena before. Perhaps someone on h-cost can make a suggestion? I'll be sure to pass your words along. --cin Cynthia Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Here is a picture of the fabric that's melting on my needle... http://oort.com/goddess/temp/temp.fabric.jpg I bought a nifty fabric that shimmers, intending to make a shower curtain or curtains. It's a background of stretchy thin knit, with 1/2 cm squares of plastic all over it. (If you cut thin slices and pull them, they turn into the interesting "snakes" pictured in the foreground, which might make cute cat toys.) But when I tried to sew a simple hem, the thread kept breaking. Turns out, the plastic is melting on my machine's needle! I tried sewing slower, with bigger stitches, but that didn't help. I can sew about 5' when the machine is cold, before the needle is irrevokably gummed up. I tried sewing slowly, and occationally sewing through linen soaked in acetone to clean the needle, but met with limited success. Besides, I'm afraid I'll damage my new Singer. This puts a kink into plans I had to sew interesting things out of clear shower curtains, too! Does anyone have experience sewing plastic-y things who can give me advice on what to do? Otherwise it looks like hand-sewing is tne only answer! Best wishes, Renee (or Wendy) ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume End of h-costume Digest, Vol 6, Issue 76 **************************************** __________ NOD32 2056 (20070212) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com
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