Does a teflon foot help THAT much??

[mrslevine]

Ok, so I'm going to pose this question to you ladies.

First of all, HI! I'm new here... I'm Jaymie. (Hi Jaymie) I've been sewing since I was, oh, about 10 yrs old.

So I found this material in the as-is pile at the fabric store, and I immediately thought how nice of a bag (like a purse kind of thing) it would make. It's a fabric-backed nylon, but it's water-resistant, machine washable -- it's just really nice.

I cut a little piece and started to test sew... well, let me tell you -- I don't even know how to describe it, but there were loops on both sides, it just wasn't sewing properly. The fabric was moving, so I didn't think that was the problem... but I dunno.

My MIL suggested a teflon foot -- one of which I'd have to get. Should I try something else? Any ideas? Has anyone worked with this kind of fabric??

Thanks for the help!

-Jaymie

[ItyBty]

It sounds like your thread tension is all messed up. Before I got my machine cleaned out and adjusted, it was doing that too.

[sabrinat]

My short answer is yes! A walking foot or teflon foot does really make a difference when dealing slick fabrics or things like knits

[RasJane]

I LOVE, love love Love love my teflon foot! I sew with PVC sometimes and it is a must. But then I was sewing on some PUL and slipped it on. What a dream.
Seems I had something else too it was magic on--can't remember what. I know some of them can be expensive, but sometimes you can find them for less. In fact at one point I had a teflon "sticker" thing that just stuck on the bottom of my regular presser foot. No idea where that came from, sorry. I went ahead and shelled ot the $22 at the Viking center in JoAnn's for mine.

[she]

if the fabric was moving properly under the presser foot.... I don't think a teflon foot will help much. I have to see it to know what's goping on there. I hear the teflon foot work well, for their purpose, but I find it a bit limited. I'd go for the walking foot, more versatile - works on slick/'sticky' fabric like PVC , extra thick and bulky fabric, as well as leather which has both issues.

[happyfrog]

if you don't have the cash for a teflon or walking foot initially, i'd say take some scraps and lay ordinary kleenex under the fabric and over it - so that it's 'sandwiching' the slippery fabric.

see if that solves your problem and you can stitch nicely.

if not, well, then it might be a tension issue or just plain old need a teflon foot.

gift wrap tissue paper works, too. i just usually have kleenex in my living room where i sew and if i'm feeling lazy and don't want to get up and break the sewing routine i'm in i try the kleenex first before giving in to get the teflon foot.

bettyann

[AMum]

I love my teflon foot too. A long while back I made several vinyl pocketed beany-baby holders and that walking foot made it a dream.