hand sewing

okay. so my sewing machine went all crazy on me. it keeps eating my thread and sticking down in the bobbin.(hay if anyone knows how to fix this it would be awesome Happy ) but my question would be how to hand sew a dress. i have something i was trying to make but i cant figure out a good hand sewing stitch to keep it together. the straight stitch and the overcasting type stitch wasn't working out too well on a i guess i should add STRETCH material. any suggestions??

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6 replies since 18th May 2013 • Last reply 18th May 2013

Reply #1:

You'll want to sew in a zigzag pattern like the sewing machine would create.

If it's eating your thread, it could be a number of problems. It might need to be oiled, the tension might be too high, or some lint might be trapped under the feed dogs. Consult your machine's manual on how to properly oil it (if you don't have the manual, you can usually request or download one from the manufacturer's website). The manual should also show you the proper tension and stitch settings for various types of fabric.
To check for lint under the feed dogs, you'll need to take the sewing plate part off carefully and check around with tweezers.

Also always check to make sure the machine is threaded properly, both for the bobbin and the top thread. Improper threading can cause a lot of problems.

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Reply #2:

your bobbin is wound backwards Tongue

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Reply #3:

i don't think it is wound backwards because i was sewing with it like that quite a bit and haven't changed it since it was pretty full(no it isn't running low) i sewed a whole belly dance outfit with it like it is now. all i have done is replace my needle because my old one was VERY old and the tip broke off(like 3 years old Tongue ) but maybe the tension did get knocked off >.< do i need to turn it to a higher or lower #. also if i do sew by hand do you know an online site that shows how?

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Reply #4:

Check the manual for tension settings, but it probably needs to be a little lower. I typically keep my machine's tension in the middle.

There are probably decent sewing tutorial videos on Youtube.

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Reply #5:

i don't have a manual its an OLD sewing machine. ill jus fidget with it and see what i can do.

i tried youtube and it kept telling me to straight stitch like a sewing machine but straight stitches aren't the best lol

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Reply #6:

what exactly are you trying to sew? and what kind of material?

get a sample of your fabric, fold in half and just start sewing a couple inches of a straight stitch, repeat in each increments of your bobbin tension to see which one works best. That should give you an idea of the tension you need once you figure out what kind of stitch you want.

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