Need Help with Knits

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-12-2007, 03:28 PM

Arggh! I sew a lot, but my actual skills do not extend beyond what I learned in Jr. High Home Ec. class - unfortunately, we were not permitted to work with knit fabrics.

I am attempted to make a tshirt for my daughter, as part of a set of pyjamas. I sewed a little picture on to the front and it puckered a bit, but not enough to warrant doing it over. Then I tried to put binding on the collar, but it comes out horrible. It is all misshapen and kind of sticks out - makes the collar look like it's folded down.

My camera isn't working, so I can't show exactly what it looks like, but hopefully someone will understand what I mean and tell me what I need to do.

Do I need less tension, more tension? Smaller or larger stitches? I changed the needle to the one that is supposed to be for knits (according to the directions on the needle package), am I supposed to have a special foot or something?

I'm getting a little frustrated. The pyjamas are for Christmas, so they can't look as bad as the ones I usually make

Just wish I knew what I was doing.

Hope someone can advise.
TIA

**sunshine** · 12-12-2007, 03:51 PM

What sort of stitch are you using? The stitch needs to be somewhat elastic -- I generally use a zigzag on knits.

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-12-2007, 03:57 PM

I actually was using a zigzag, I do most of the time because it's more likely to catch hold of something even when I stray off course

**wanderinggrandma** · 12-12-2007, 10:34 PM

I'm still laughing over straying off course!!! You are a funny gal.

I'm not sure exactly what is happening

--but try gently pulling the fabric from behind while stitching. Not lots just gently and see if that helps. Practice on a scrap. You may also need to adjust your tension a little.

Hope that helps.

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-13-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by wanderinggrandma

I'm still laughing over straying off course!!! You are a funny gal.

I couldn't sew a straight line if my life depended on it (also can't cut or draw a straight line, and everyone laughs hysterically at my picture hanging attempts)

Originally Posted by wanderinggrandma

I'm not sure exactly what is happening

--but try gently pulling the fabric from behind while stitching. Not lots just gently and see if that helps. Practice on a scrap. You may also need to adjust your tension a little.

Hope that helps.

Do you think a knit require less tension? I don't really know how to use the tension knob, my sewing machine was a Christmas gift years ago from my ex and he threw the box out before I had time to fish out the instruction manual, so I've never really known how to use it.

**wanderinggrandma** · 12-13-2007, 04:38 PM

You would need less tension if the seam/stitches are puckering (is that really a word??). Your seam should lay flat after you've sewn it. Does that make sense?

Light weight knits can be tricky if you are just starting to sew on them. Practice on the scraps until you think you have the hang of it. Not knowing what your pattern looks like, so this may not help, a crew neck with ribbing is really pretty easy to do, for future projects.

**wanderinggrandma** · 12-13-2007, 04:41 PM

You could try doing a search for the manual for your machine--I had to do that last christmas at my daughters house. I could not get that #%*!! machine threaded correctly. She found the manual on-line and saved my sanity. And I got to stop feeding the cuss jar my quarters.

**monkeywrangler71** · 12-13-2007, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by wanderinggrandma

You could try doing a search for the manual for your machine--I had to do that last christmas at my daughters house. I could not get that #%*!! machine threaded correctly. She found the manual on-line and saved my sanity. And I got to stop feeding the cuss jar my quarters.

That actually just occurred to me today. I got the machine before the internet was around, so it wasn't an option at the time, and I just grew accustomed to not having it.