sewing machine help please

[Shanaynay]

Hey there,

I would like to make a nappy tonight, and it will be an AIO, and I will need to sew a later of flannel, 2 or 3 of hemp, and one of fleece, together, at the same time.

But how will I fit it all under the foot thing without it bunching up because it's so thick it won't move along smoothly? That happened today when I was just doing 2 layers of hemp with 1 of flannel, so how do I stop this?

I've fiddled with every thingo on the foot to try and lift it up a bit or something with no success. Can you actually do this? I've also lost my sewing maching manual so can't refer to that :o

[cheezelkat]

Do you have a quilting foot? I use that for thick fabrics.

[aardvark]

My machine has a thing for the presser foot at the top of the arm of the machine. Mine is an older Janome.

[cheezelkat]

My machine has a thing for the presser foot at the top of the arm of the machine. Mine is an older Janome.

I have a Janome too, but its a newer one. Can you take a pic of the thing you're talking about? It might make my life easier too LOL

[Shanaynay]

I have a Janome too. It's maybe about 8 years old.

I can find a dial for thread tension at the top fo the arm.... but that's it.

CK, I think changing foots might be what I need. I do have other foots, jsut have to work out which one is the quilting one :o

Can't believe I didn't think of changing foots :idea:

I'll let you know how I go!

[HoopDeeDoo]

The quilting one if you have one - not all machines come with one - is called a walking foot. You can't miss it it's huge and you have to take the foot holder off to put the walking foot on. If you don't have one you should be able to get one from your local Janome Dealer, you will need to tell them the model name, and they should be able to sort you out. They are a bit exy around $65

[cheezelkat]

Yes, its a pain too change it all over - I need to undo screws and get very stressed but it glides over thick fabrics. The only problem is that its even harder to sew straight :o

I brought a quilting specific machine and the quilting/walking foot came with it.

[Shanaynay]

Hmmm bugger.
I have no huge foots, only ordinary looking foots.
*sigh*

may have to work out a different way to sew my nappy!

do overlockers go thru thicker stuff more easily?

[Tea Lady]

How about if you make a kind of pad to go down the middle of your nappy, rather than making complete nappy shapes out of each fabric - that way you could sew the pad in (only a few layers) and then the sides would have only 2 layers, or you could keep one other piece the size of the whole nappy. Does that make any sense at all? I haven't had much sleep sorry :rolleyes: :p

Or keep most of your absorbency in a flip out booster?

[Zada]

How about if you make a kind of pad to go down the middle of your nappy, rather than making complete nappy shapes out of each fabric - that way you could sew the pad in (only a few layers) and then the sides would have only 2 layers, or you could keep one other piece the size of the whole nappy. Does that make any sense at all? I haven't had much sleep sorry :rolleyes: :p

Or keep most of your absorbency in a flip out booster?

was just going to say exactly that:thumbsup:

[Shanaynay]

Well that's what I was going to do....(and have a booster as well) but I think I would have to sew a line around the stuff inside anyway so it doesn't move around in the wash? So have to end up sewing all layers anyway?
Hmmmm........

[Tea Lady]

Why don't you split the layers then and sew each half seperately and then you can just sew the 2 edges together - make a pad down the middle of each half and sew like you suggested, so you never actually have to sew through all the layers. I think that would work :)

[Shanaynay]

TL, I have no idea what you are getting at in that last post!

BUT - I made the nappy!!! :smiliedance:
My second ever nappy! (My first was a VERY embarrassing pocket).

So I did the pad thing - so the outer is fleece, the inner flannel, with a pad of hemp and microfibre sewn into the flannel.
Then I did a booster pad of the same, but fleece side up to keep bubs bottom dry.
I will take some pics of it tomorrow to show you all :D

[Tea Lady]

Sounds great!!

I can't believe you couldn't understand my incredibly detailed and clear explanation Phineas...... :p :laughing: I can barely understand it myself and I wrote it! Sorry I'm a bit sleep deprived atm - I'm glad you figured out how to do it :)

[Shanaynay]

Here it is!
It's a bit dodgy along the leg lines as I only stiched in the elastic at the ends, instead of all the way along. So I think I'll have to sew along the other side to keep the elastic at the edges, iykwim. So that's why the legs look a bit funny.

White fleece outer- front (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050970459360606962)

Outer - back (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050970777188186882)

Flannel inner with sewn-in absorbancy layer (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050971176620145426)

Inner with booster (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050971584642038562)

Bub modelling back (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050972044203539266)

Bub modelling front (http://picasaweb.google.com/superstitiouspigeon/NewAlbum80407603PM/photo#5050972241772034898)


The sewn-in absorbacy is 2 layers of microfibre sanwiched between 2 layers of hemp each side - so 4 layers all up (not as thick as it sounds as I just chopped up an old, thin pocket insert)

The booster is 1 layer of microfbre with 1 layer (2) of hemp either side, with fleece on the up side and flannel on the downside.

[Tea Lady]

Hey very nice!! How did you do the outside edges - did you turn the seams? They look great :)

Your little girl is really cute - I love nice chubby bubbies! :)

[Jodiee]

:yelclap: OMG Phineas, very noice, well done..

You should be proud, what a great job. I cant even sew even just a little bit, so one very jealous person here....

Betchya have an itching now to make another, or maybe even another 20, lol.... (thats how I am with soakers, anyway, lol)

CONGRATS!
Jodie

[Shanaynay]

Hey very nice!! How did you do the outside edges - did you turn the seams? They look great :)

Your little girl is really cute - I love nice chubby bubbies! :)

I sewed it inside out :thumbsup:
But I'm not sure if that might cause wicking or something, not sure?

Jodiee, I know, I just want to do another one! I might have to go and see if Spotlight is open today, cuz all I have is boring old white polar fleece, I want to make something cool!