I am having a hard time sewing around the curve of the fascia while attaching the inside arm fabric. I use a consew walking foot machine and I am using the double welt foot to sew with. The thread keeps popping out of the needle, I am wondering if I am not turning the fabric quickly enough and if the welt is coming out of the groove of the foot. http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m42/elsavanbever/Wildwood-20140405-00100_zps2f1d4b57.jpg
If the thread is breaking "popping out of the needle", it might be to small of a needle. Also a dw foot is kind wide for curved work. Try a single welt foot and snip the inside arm fabric about 1/8" when going around the curves.
You will probably have better luck with a single welt foot set. Is the thread actually coming out of the needle? Or is it snapping off?
The double welt set has a tighter tolerance, and may be pinching the thread as you round a curve.
Make plenty of snips in the welt hem as you tackle curves. And try a single set of welt feet.
Single welt foot for sure. Also, I usually sew the cord to the flat piece first (example; sew the cord to the flat inside arm first then sew the panel to the front). Also, before I pick the old arm apart to use as a pattern I would cut several notches in the seam for reference points as your sewing along. This helps to make sure your starting and stopping in the right place. This type arm can be difficult to upholster.
Another idea would be to skip the sewing altogether. Wrap the inside arm around the front, add 5 or 6 pleats where it curves around the top and add an upholstered cardboard or plywood panel to the front. This changes the look of the sofa a little so if your reupholstering it for a customer you will need to run the idea buy them first.
Like this,
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/elsavanbever/media/Wildwood-20140406-00104_zps860079c2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m42/elsavanbever/Wildwood-20140406-00104_zps860079c2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Wildwood-20140406-00104_zps860079c2.jpg"/></a>
Thank you all so much for your advice, I used the single welt foot and a larger needle #21 and I finally did get both fascias attached to the inside arms this weekend. There was a lot of starting and stopping on the sewing because the thread continued to pop out, I did check how the machine was threaded and rethreaded it to see if that was the issue, also I noticed some irregular stitch lengths happening.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/elsavanbever/media/IMG-20140406-00103_zps6039c7b0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m42/elsavanbever/IMG-20140406-00103_zps6039c7b0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG-20140406-00103_zps6039c7b0.jpg"/></a>
Here is a photo of the thread
What system needle are you using? The photo is a little distorted, but it looks like the needle either doesn't have a scarf, or it's turned wrong. It might just be an optical illusion.
Are you using 135 X 17 system needles?
The label on the needles has this information:
DPX17 135X17
2167
#21 (130)
The groove on the lower part of the needle is facing left
I just took a good look at the needles and they don't have a scarf
It really looks like the thread is breaking not popping out. There could be many reasons for it breaking. Sew a scrap piece and watch very closely the thread run through all the parts and see if you can see it start fraying.
The way you're skipping stitches, it looks like you have timing issues.
If your needles really don't have a scarf, that would probably explain the problem.
QuoteThe groove on the lower part of the needle is facing left
About,turn! there are two grooves on a needle---The one runs the length of the needle for the thread to lay in [faces away from where ever your hook is] , the other only runs from the eye part way up. This is what causes the loop in the tread on the upstroke just before the hook arrives. It needs to face the hook,obviously.
I have bought needles that were defective. I've had needles for my patcher where the groove was a spiral like someone was wringing it out as it was being made. I've had missing or burred grooves as 135X17 's.
Take a close look with a magnifying glass, and try turning your needle 180 degrees. Also make sure that it is fully seated. I just had one fall out vibration last week LOL, that could mess you up.
Is your bobbin on the left or right of the needle bar?
All needles have a scarf. They have to because if they don't the machine cannot be timed to catch the loop that creates a lockstitch (as with your machine) or a loop (with chain stitch machines that use a looper instead of a bobbin; as on an overlock or blindstitch machine).
I checked every needle in my stock, including the needle system you're using (DPx17), every one of them has a scarf. From what you've written above I'm with Darren and think you've got your needle in backwards. The long groove (the top thread runs in this groove) should face away from the bobbin. The scarf (the little flattened area just above the eye of the needle) should face the bobbin, so the hook can pass over it and catch the loop created by the top thread.
When I was supervising new stitchers the most common mistake made was putting the needle in incorrectly. And it resulted in thread breakage and perpetual unthreading of the needle.
In this photo you can see that the scarf is facing the left.
http://s101.photobucket.com/user/elsavanbever/media/Wildwood-20140405-00102_zps4c9c0269.jpg.html
Bobbin is correct. Turn the needle around if your bobbin is on the right and you'll solve a lot of problems. The machine might still need some timing adjustment. And don't feel bad, we all make tons of simple mistakes. Goes with the territory. There's a lot more going on in upholstery than the masses realize.
June
If his bobbin is on the left side the needle is in the correct position. I see no drop in bobbin on the right side so I'm guessing it is on the left. Hence the bobbin hook will also be on the left.
The only industrial machines I've ever seen with bobbin cases on the left were double needles.
Most consews are on the left. My phaff was on the right.
Quote from: MinUph on April 10, 2014, 09:12:12 am
Most consews are on the left. My phaff was on the right.
The access door is on the left (on any bottom load machine), but technically isn't the vertical bobbin case still to the right of the needle just like a top load? So the scarf is still facing right?
Yeah, that's how it is on both my vertical axis (duh!) Jukis, my Singer 31-15, and my W&G rotary take up. Ditto all my old household machines, except the zig-zag... that one the bobbin case is behind the needle and it faces the front.
Hello all, I went to a local sewing machine repair guy today and sure enough, the needle does have a scarf, and I had it turned the wrong way! He is coming out next week to check the machine for any timing issues given the skipped stiches and for any burrs that might be making the thread fray. Thank you all so much for your comments, especially yours June nice to see another lady on the forum, I am learning so much from my mistakes and from all of you, very grateful for the help.
I'm a girl, too!
Quote from: sofadoc on April 10, 2014, 09:51:15 am
Quote from: MinUph on April 10, 2014, 09:12:12 am
Most consews are on the left. My phaff was on the right.
The access door is on the left (on any bottom load machine), but technically isn't the vertical bobbin case still to the right of the needle just like a top load? So the scarf is still facing right?
Hmmmm I guess another look is in order.
Well I just di look at my Consew and the hook is on the right so I guess I was just talking through mu A*# there. Sorry.
Quote from: MinUph on April 10, 2014, 06:24:45 pm
so I guess I was just talking through mu A*# there. Sorry.
No need to be sorry. We often discuss these things at night when we're away from the shop, and sometimes I can't picture the simplest things in my mind until I go back to the shop and look the next day.
Hi there Bobbin! Nice to meet you
Bingo on that, Sofa.! I have always struggled with "right" and "left", lol. I operate more efficiently with Port and Starboard... just seems easier for some reason.
Evan., it takes a long time to really understand the mechanics of a sewing machine. If you are "fresh off" the home machine that does a zig-zag stitch the scene is a little weird. And that's why knowing how to identify the scarf of the needle is important. Once you now where (what!) the scarf is you have taken a big step toward "self-sufficiency" with respect to machinery. The sisterhood thrives here (Dede, Jojo, Grebo, June, Bobbin, and several others who pop in periodically), welcome to the "club".
QuoteThe sisterhood thrives here
Speaking of which---Has anyone heard from Karen (BCKC) , our little Oklahoma whirlwind, since she lost her husband Buddy? I see she hasn't posted here--maybe over on Carr's site or a PM to someone???