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Messages - Pixie

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1
Overlockers & Coverstitchers / Re: Babylock or Juki
« on: January 30, 2018, 19:15:15 PM »
Agree with bodgeit....just upgraded my Janome for the Babylock coverstitch....and no more skipped stitches hooray!

2
In the wardrobe / Re: Still stash busting
« on: April 26, 2017, 19:58:34 PM »
Well done Holly Belly....I like your pattern and may add it to my pattern stash!

3
Embroidery Machines / Re: Free Standing Lace
« on: April 22, 2017, 00:19:18 AM »
Success  :toast: Floriani stabiliser has solved all my problems....used one layer and had no problems...no thread breaks just sewed right through like it is supposed too. Thanks for all the advice...great forum  0_0

4
Embroidery Machines / Re: Free Standing Lace
« on: April 13, 2017, 15:10:16 PM »
I make FSL on my Janome and have never needed more than one layer of stabiliser. I use 'Floriani Wet n Gone' from Lords.
I use a slow speed and don't have many thread breaks. Some designs do use cotton thread but they are digitised for it.
Re: Number of layers, depends on the pattern. If it is quite dense then i would use 2 but with the heavy duty stuff i have found 1 is enough for most projects. Most of what i have done has been from Urban Threads.

Thanks for replies...I will buy some Floriani Wet n Gone from Lords as they advertise that you only need one layer  :)

5
Sewing Machines / Re: Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 13, 2017, 15:01:02 PM »
Reply received from Pfaff:
Unfortunately we do not have anything like those. I will send your last message to our development team so they can consider making something to help with the buttonholes.
!

6
Sewing Machines / Re: Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 13, 2017, 14:38:07 PM »
Back to the device  to help get over the ridge of a seam when doing buttonholes.

I eventually received the necessary e-mail from Bernina regarding this, they had misheard my e-mail address – as simple as that.

So this nifty little gadget is called a Bernina Buttonhole Leveller very reasonably priced at  £4.25.

However what was confusing me was the other gadget which looked a bit like a torturing device and is the gadget in question on the link that B15erk has put up and that is called  Fabric Feeding Aid for Sewing Buttonholes and wait for this it costs £33.75.

So now armed with this information please do go and look  for these on the internet, then at least you know what you are looking for to help you find something similar for your particular make of machine.  I am sure that some people will find a way to overcome this ridge that is caused by the facing seam when sewing buttonholes, perhaps some cardboard strips or plastic in  different thicknesses  may work.

Marniesews has mentioned her humper jumper there is a flat one called a Jean-a-ma-jig but whether there is enough space for the swing of the needle is another matter, as some machines can have quite a large swing.

Thats interesting Elnnina....I have written to Pfaff to find out if they sell something similar  :sew:

7
Sewing Machines / Re: Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 09, 2017, 20:51:30 PM »
I'm not overly happy with my Pfaff Performance 5 either!  it seems to do lots of things not terribly well, however i can get it to do a very nice satin stitch,(seriously narrowing the stitch)  and can do buttonholes the very old fashioned way.

I also have a problem when threading the machine (the needle threader no longer works anyway - the little hook has broken).  the thread guide just above the needle has a very sharp edge, and cuts the flipping thread as it goes through the needle eye!

It also had a bad moment as it decided to sew everything in reverse!- so £100 spent on repairs and i still don't like it that much!!


Sorry to hear that you have had problems with your Pfaff KayK....how long have you had it?
I bought mine last summer and so it is not even a year old yet and so I havent had the problems you have... so far!
Until the buttonhole debacle I was very happy with it....I particularly love the IDT system as it so much better than a walking foot plus I have fun using the fancy stitches.
I had done buttonholes successfully with the Pfaff on a shirt dress and so I was disappointed. However Morgon (on here) has kindly explained to me that a lot of machines have problems with buttonholes on jackets because of the different thicknesses by the seam. In fact because I was so frustrated and panicky I did not realise that I could do manual buttonholes on it...and these were successful.
It is an expensive machine and so I hope that you change your mind about it .....but I must admit that I have a secret desire for a Bernina even though this machine is so new and it was meant to be my last ever machine  -<

8
Embroidery Machines / Re: FREE STANDING LACE
« on: April 09, 2017, 19:59:50 PM »
I too have the V3 and did quite a lot of FSL stuff for Christmas pressy' I use a heavy duty water soluble film and the extra large cones of Marathon Thread as i find it very expensive using the small Madeira bobbins as FSL does tend to use a lot of thread. I also use the gold tipped embroidery needles.
Have you tried reducing the speed rather than altering the tension?
i get the film and thread from BSK
http://www.bsk.co.uk/a060-heavy-duty-wash-away-backing--stabiliser-3mtrs-x-76cms-278-p.asp
 
Hi V3 owners  :sew:
The vilene solufleece arrived and so I started sewing some FSL with one layer....and after 5 mins I got holes. It might be because I forgot to turn the speed down and so I will try again when I get time. Just wondering if you both use more than one layer?
Thanks for the link to bsk....I have bought some accessories from them but I had not noticed the heavy duty soluble....off to buy some!
Pixie

9
Sewing Machines / Re: Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 05, 2017, 20:31:43 PM »
Oh Pixie, I had exactly the same problem last year with my Pfaff Ambition.  There was a long, long thread on TSF with so many people trying to help me with my woes.  I just couldn't work out what was causing it to return before time.  Sometimes it would do a perfect buttonhole but only 1/4 inch long!  Mostly it would work ok on a sample piece of fabric but not on the jacket - it was a wool tweed.  I don't know how many I did but I must have unpicked more than 20.

Initially I thought it might be the weight of the jacket dragging and I can drop my machine down into the cabinet so I tried on a completely flat bed with no encumbrances around - still didn't work.

I managed in the end by literally forcing it to continue in the direction it was supposed to be going until it reached the correct length (sometimes it would truncate on the first side, sometimes the second).  I did this by wearing a pair of rubber gloves to get a good grip.  On the first side, which is in reverse, I kept pressure on the fabric, pulling it towards me and watching the lever on the side that makes it change to the next step.  I didn't let up the pressure until it had hit the tab (I presume that yours works the same way).  I did the same on the second side, pushing the fabric away from me and not letting up until it had returned to where it was supposed to be - no way to do buttonholes I know but it did work, I still had to unpick one or two but got them done eventually.  Three buttonholes and I was exhausted.

I love my Pfaff and wouldn't change it for anything but I do so wish there was a manual buttonhole option.  I was talking to the dealer who had sold me the machine & he reckoned that I should have been able to do it manually. I had tried but when the machine is set for a zig zag stitch you don't have the option of changing the needle position.

It just happened that later last year I broke my Pfaff and while it was being repaired a friend lent me a 1970s Dutch machine and then let me keep it.  Hooray, it has a 4 step buttonhole and I have just used it to do buttonholes on a narrow band of a sweatshirt cardigan as I knew the buttonhole foot (if you can call it that) on the Pfaff wouldn't play ball.

Thanks for your reply....I have had a very frustrating and wasted day trying to sew just 3 buttonholes!! Nice to know its not just me...
After throwing the Pfaff out of the window <not really but felt like it>....I tried my Toyota which I bought to sew through jeans and tough fabrics. I managed to do 2 of the buttonholes...hooray...but the 3rd one went wrong again.
After reading your reply I got out my 40 year old Bernina which has manual buttonholes. It was soooo nice to feel in control again. However although I did the buttonhole it is not as nice as the other two.
Still feeling upset because I was so pleased with my jacket until now.....

10
Sewing Machines / Re: Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 05, 2017, 20:24:45 PM »
grrrrrrr - YET AGAIN a reply with links etc lost when submitted.  Soooo frustrating, annoying, and time wasting.
Don't have the time (or the will) to find the links again and re-type it all as now I have to go and run a session.
Sorry for the rant Pixie - not your fault, it's the way the process works here.  Hope someone comes along soon to explain what's happening with the long foot losing traction because it's not staying completely level and ways to either fix the issue or consider alternatives.  It's not your machine - it's to do with the different thickness levels.

Thanks for trying to help Morgan.....so annoying that the system let you down  :devil:

11
Welcome Lounge and Information / Categories
« on: April 05, 2017, 16:09:21 PM »
There doesnt seem to be a section for people looking for immediate help when they encounter a sewing problem like on TSF ....or am I so stressed that I am missing it?

12
Sewing Machines / Buttonholes on Pfaff Performance 5
« on: April 05, 2017, 16:05:37 PM »
Very happy with my Pfaff Performance 5 ....until today!

Spent all morning practising buttonholes ready to make 3 on my tailored jacket which took me over a year to make.

Every one has been a disaster....the machine keeps doing one side of the buttonhole or getting stuck grrrrrrrrrr

Anyone else had this problem?....any advice?

13
Embroidery Machines / Re: FREE STANDING LACE
« on: April 02, 2017, 21:03:02 PM »
I've been learning a little about FSL as it's made me think I should consider getting an embroidery machine - I've discovered I have lots of potential applications for FSL. I found this video with lots of information on the basics including different stabilisers etc and she also recommends the type that Ohsewsimple mentions.

It's here if you're interested although you may want to fast forward through some sections.

Hi Marnie, thanks for the link...it contains lot of useful information....making lace is more complicated then I thought but I am sure that once mastered it will be worth it :)

I love my new machine (Brother Innovis V3) and I would recommend it. However I am sure that the other makes like Janome are good as well....I chose mine because I am familiar with Brother and the model has the biggest hoop size in my price range.

You are right to do lots of research as machine embroidery seems to be an expensive hobby!

14
Embroidery Machines / Re: FREE STANDING LACE
« on: April 02, 2017, 20:54:36 PM »
The V 3 is a lovely machine and you shouldn't really need to mess around with the tension unless you're doing something with metallic thread.  I would put the tension back to where it should be and then try the other stabiliser. Make sure you are using embroidery needles and embroidery thread.  FSL on these machines will work with embroidery thread top and bottom as long as it's 50 or 40 weight.  But I'm sure you know :).  I have used cotton before and that didn't work well as it's too thick and then I got breakage problems as the design was digitised for the finer thread. Of course, the design itself can sometimes be a problem if it's poorly digitised.

Hi Ohsewsimple...yes I am unhappy that I had to change the tension so much.. on the V3 the tension returns to default when you switch it off so that is good. I think my problems must be caused by the stabiliser as I am using a Schmetz embroidery needle 11 and Madeira 40 thread on the top and bobbin.
I have been using a product called Solvy which is like a plastic film. It does say that it is suitable for lace work but now that I have looked closely at the instructions (!) it refers to lace made with netting.

I have bought a product called "Vilene Solufleece" online and so I am hoping it will be suitable. When it is delivered I will try again and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again

 

15
Embroidery Machines / Re: FREE STANDING LACE
« on: April 01, 2017, 23:31:32 PM »
When I do FSL i use a water soluble like Vilene or Floriani.  Some resemble a fine fabric and some look like a Vilene interfacing.  These work better than the plastic film type.  They aren't always good for this type of work and can tear.  If you're using multiple layers then it's the wrong stabiliser for the job.  It could be that the extra layers are putting tension on the thread.  What thread are you using?  Are you using embroidery needles?

Thank you for your reply ohsewsimple.
Well I finally managed to solve my problem by reducing the tension every time the thread broke until it got to a magic number where it didnt break anymore  :)
However I think that you are right....I was using the plastic film type of stabiliser and when I used 2 layers I got holes spoiling the design. It said use 3 layers in my machine manual so that is what I did...no holes but yes it could be the cause of the tension problems that I was getting. I dont think that I should have to reduce the tension so much. So I am going to purchase a different type of soluble as you suggest and try that.
Thanks again for your help.

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