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View Full Version : HELP! "Missed" stitches and blackout lining



cazh
31-08-2010, 02:33 PM
Hi to all you expert curtain makers...

Could really use some advice regarding sewing the blackout material to the face fabric of a curtain panel its been a bit of a nightmare. I managed it eventually after three attempts on one sideseam.... luckily the multiple attempts are not apparent from the outside of the panel... I managed to sew pretty straight and the extra pinprick holes in the blackout fabric are no more apparent than if I had got it right first time - all being on the inside of the curtain panel. My questions are...

First question -I did notice a very small number of missed stitches - will these weaken a whole run of stitching, or can I just repair them by reinforcing stitches over the top - these are stitches that cant be seen being on the outside of the curtain panel, so I am not bothered by the "cosmetics". Do I have to unpick the whole lot?

Second question - after three attempts on one part of a side seam have I significantly "weakened" the blackout material? - it doesnt seem so at this stage fingers crossed.

Third question - The final (successful?) attempt used large stitch setting, tension at 2.5, and face fabric uppermost... not sure which made the difference but I got both side seams done first time using this.. almost perfect except for the missed stitches. Does the approch sound right? My previuos attempts involved smaller stiches, face fabric lowermost, varying foot pressure. and is there any more advice anyone can give to help me make less work of what would seem to be a simple task?

The final result was nice flat seams and the panel looks great.. but what hard work.

Thanks for reading and any advice would be much appreciated.

Aileen
03-09-2010, 08:51 PM
Does the machine still miss stitches with normal fabric? it could be you simply need a new needle or try re-threading the machine.

cazh
06-09-2010, 10:59 PM
Hi
Thanks for your reply. It is a fairly new machine - I think the "missed" stitches are due to the way I am guiding the blackout fabric along as it is sewing... the fabric "gives" quite a bit and unless I feed it through carefully it rucks up ... I guess there I I have pulled the fabric throug too quickly. The machine sews perfectly well with normal fabric.