How do I stop my sewing machine from eating fabric?

Five Tips to Stop Your Sewing Machine Swallowing Fabric

Use a fine needle. Before you begin, check that the needle in your sewing machine is fine enough for the fabric that you’re sewing.
Cover the hole.
Don’t start sewing on the raw edge.
Avoid back tacking at the beginning of the seam.
Try chain stitching.

Why does my sewing machine eat my fabric?

1. It tries to eat your fabric. This most often happens when you are sewing knits and or if you start sewing too close to the edge of the fabric. If you’re still having issues, try placing tissue paper under your fabric – it tears off easily and will help prevent your fabric from getting sucked into the machine.

What should I do if my sewing machine is swallowing fabric?

If you’re sewing a seam, start a little way in from the edge – try 10mm (3/8in) on particularly tricky fabrics. Following on from the last point, don’t back tack when you start sewing a seam. The extra needle and thread action can push fine fabrics inside the machine, particularly at the beginning of a seam.

What to do if your sewing machine is too long?

If the fabric you are sewing is very soft or a sheer delicate one, use an underlay of tissue paper or two layers.You can also stitch slowly. If the stitch length is too long for the material decrease the stitch length. A long stitch can produce puckering on fine fabrics. The bobbin thread was wound very fast.

What’s the best way to sew lightweight fabric?

Lightweight fabric is delicate so don’t push or pull the fabric while sewing. Let the sewing machine do all the work. Also, hold the thread tails when you start sewing to prevent the fabric from being sucked down in the throat plate. A walking foot * to keep the top and bottom fabric moving through the machine at the same time.

What’s the best way to sew a seam?

If you’re sewing a seam, start a little way in from the edge – try 10mm (3/8in) on particularly tricky fabrics. Following on from the last point, don’t back tack when you start sewing a seam.

What can I do if my sewing machine keeps eating my fabric?

You can also use a walking foot attachment. If your fabric is being pulled into your sewing machine near the beginning of a new stitch, you can try using a paper starter. Sew a few stitches on a piece of paper and then feed your fabric into your sewing machine after.

If you’re sewing a seam, start a little way in from the edge – try 10mm (3/8in) on particularly tricky fabrics. Following on from the last point, don’t back tack when you start sewing a seam.

What should I use to test my sewing machine?

Use a scrap piece of fabric to test which stitch length and width works best with the fabric you are using. The needle plate that comes with your sewing machine has a wide opening to accommodate both straight and zigzag stitches. Some sewing machine manufactures also sell a straight-stitch only needle plate.