Re: "squiggly" threads - Help!

Two more suggestions for you---

1) sharp/microtex/jeans needle (I'm guessing you want the jeans needle) --
if this is denim weight, and it's going through several layers, I'm going to
guess size 14. Yes, the points do make a difference, sometimes a major
difference. If you 'd like to see what a whole lineup of sizes of needles,
usual varieties of needle points, etc. looks like, here are some photos I
took last summer.
<http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=17206792>

2) you may be running into an issue called "flagging", which means the
fabric deflects as the needle goes through, and can cause all sorts of
funny problems. This can be as simple a cure as moving the stitching over
to the right or left side of the needle slot, putting some paper or stabilizer
below the fabric, using a different needle, or changing the presser foot
pressure so the fabric can't hop up and down like a trampoline being bounced
on by a little kid. Universal points on wovens have more problems with
flagging than sharps on wovens.

Then play with the stitch balance. And like Kate says, watch those bobbin
screws -- they're very short and like to hop out, never to be seen again.
I put the bobbin case and the screwdriver in a closed, ziplock bag for
bobbin screw adjustments.

If you're worried about adjusting a bobbin screw, get a very fine Sharpie
pen and put a mark on the bobbin case that continues the slot across the
screw head. Bobbin screws are adjusted in tiny increments (I use "5 minutes"
of a clockface as my standard trial adjustment). But I have a funny feeling
that a #14 jeans needle will improve the stitch as is.

Some good stuff on thread problems:
http://www.coatschina.com/problem.php
http://www.amefird.com/technical_bulletins_flyers.htm

Though these are meant for people doing "factory sewing", there's still
a lot of good stuff in here for folks who sew at home.

Oh yes: http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa102100a.htm

.

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