sewing frustration
 

Anyone who sews please help!!!!! I am having the WORST time trying to sew on velcro and make it look neat! I keep breaking the thread!!!!!!!!!! Anyone have any ideas?

Maybe loosen the tension a little or lengthen the stitches. And go slowly, even if you have to turn the wheel by hand.

I'll try but I'm starting to think that I need to just hand sew it

Try hard to sew just on the very edge of the velcro, where there are no hooks - that very TINY, NARROW edge - and good luck! It's tricky but can be done, you'll have fewer broken threads and a lot less frustration:) I have been known to turn the wheel by hand too.;)

Oh Lord is it that hard to sew on Velcro? I got an outfit cut out but I don't have any Velcro...so it is just sitting...Anyways Girl we got to see it when you get done!!

Ohhhhhh my...I had/have the same problem also.....I bought some of the self stick velcro and thought that if I used that and sewed it also it would be extra sturdy...........well all it did was mess up my needle/needles and kept leaving the sticky residue.... so I have learned...you can't use self stick velcro and try to sew it also..... :eek: :eek: :eek:

what size needle are you using?

I can't think of the size of needle but I'm using the ball tip needles. as much velcro as I use:rolleyes: turning the wheel by hand will take forever. Oh well

LOL...I just went through this also, I learned an important lesson....I can't sew through sticky goo.....

My old machine was just not cut out to sew velcro, no matter the tension nor the needle size. When I got my new machine, I haven't had any problem at all (I only spent $120 on my new machine). Ballpoint and Mettalic needles sew the best on most of your standard fabrics, including velcro.

When you use self stick velcro it helps to put a tiny bit of machine oil on the needle every inch or so. I put the oil on a Q-tip and that way it doesn't drop on the fabric you're sewing.

Here's some tips I found.

Sewing Velcro
When sewing the hook side of Velcro to clothes, it tends to grab the thread
and break it. In order to avoid this problem, I am using little leftover
pieces of water-soluble plastic (the kind we put on top of the fabric when
embroidering on fleece fabric) and once the job is done I simply pull it
out or leave it until the item is laundered. You can also use tissue
paper.
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Is the needle old? That will cause all kinds of trouble.

Check to see that the needle isn't for light fabrics. A denim needle is a good idea...

How about your tension - is it set for medium or heavy weight fabric?

And use heavy thread (nylon, poly or cotton-coated poly)
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Save old needles (such as 90’s) to use when sewing on the Velcro. Stitch around the four edges and a little into the middle, back stitching at the beginning and end. One lady suggested using a small stitch when sewing Velcro.
If you had problems with the machine skipping stitches when sewing on it. Using nylon thread to solve the problem of shredding and using a different needle a heavier weighted like for denim or leather.

Have you tried a heavier thread?

Thanks for the tips Rosey I wrote them down!

i use size 14 and not ball point. I have never had a problem with thread breaking. make sure your needle is new and it might even be bent if you are having problems.

I gave up on velcro. I use snaps now. The ones with the tool to bang them on. I like them cause they come either plain so you can see the meterial through them. or the ones with pearl heads and different colors. I just make sure I put them where Romeo can't get them. Like at the neck, or the back.

YOur Welcome...:D

I will attempt it again tonight but I am armed now with some tips and insight.



About the snaps, do you use those on any fabric? I work with alot of flannel and that isn't very thick. I just don't want to have them rip through the fabric when opening and closing them

Last night I made Furgie her first home made shirt. I use Velcro too and I put a coffee filter over it cause after reading here I was concerned about it being a problem but it worked just great!!!

Also any machine embroiderers you can use coffee filters when in a pinch!!

Don't use ball point needles. I use jeans needles. Use a polyester thread. NOT cotton. Try using quilting or buttonhole thread. When sewing thru stick on velcro, use some "sewers magic" on the needle. If you don't have any a small amount of sewing machine oil will work

That's what I do...although I have sewn it with the machine you can hide the stitches (if the fabric is doubled)

I did it!!!!!!! I used Jean needles, thicker thread, zipper foot and I set the stitches and tension for sewing a zipper and it came out beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!! Your tips and ideas helped me to calm down and realize keep trying till you get it right

can't wait to see the finished product.
congratulations

Ballpoint needles are for stretched materials. I use practically a 10 or 9 on my sewing and it goes okay over the velcro . . . I just go slower than the normal speed. I think if you got the self adhesive, that is what is causing it maybe?

Good luck and can't wait to see the finished outfit

So where is that picture ... lol....Congrats feels good to comple a project don't it!!!

You have had some good suggestions! Good luck! Please post pics of the finished product :)

Can't wait to see some pictures!!

I will do my best to try to find my sewing table. We decided yesterday that we were going to move furniture around, 6.5 hours later we were pretty much done, just one more room to do

chattiesmom did you draw that cutie in your avatar?