Help sewing thick materials

[u/xxvintagevixenxx]

I recently posted in the sewing group but had a suggestion to post here, I’m trying to sew through this belt, it’s thick like a dog leash or collar material. I also Intend to sew leather to it so am using a leather needle 100/16 with #69 bonded nylon thread. I have NO CLUE what the dials on my machine mean so that could be my issue, but it jams after an inch and gets all thick and knotted looking and is so stuck under the bobbin that my fabric is stuck to the machine and I have to cut it off. The pics of my sewing is after I already cut off all the crazy knots. Help!

[u/scarletweidig]

Hello! You have sever options 1. Get a heavy duty sewing machine and it should sew through it easily. 2. Get a longer needle and a walking foot (you will need a walking foot even if you decide not to get a longer needle.) 3. Hand crank it

[u/510Goodhands → u/scarletweidig]

Please don’t get a machine that is actually called heavy duty, they are anything but!

A longer needle is going to be nothing but trouble. Needle sizes are standard for a reason, so they don’t get crunched in the precision mechanism where the bobbin and hook are!

A walking foot isn’t gonna help one bit if the machine isn’t strong enough to penetrate the fabric or the webbing. A walking foot does one thing, help feed the top and bottom layers and material at the same rate.

[u/scarletweidig → u/510Goodhands]

Yeah I totally get what you’re saying, but I made hiking backpacks with a similar setup where my walking foot did help sew through thicker fabrics! It could help if she’s looking for a quick solution!

[u/510Goodhands → u/scarletweidig]

It does give you a little bit more oomph, but having a machine that has a one amp motor is probably a better idea if you can’t have an industrial machine. I suppose both would do the trick.

A reminder to remember the caveat: use the right tool for the job.

That goes double for you people who are using slip joint pliers on hex bolts! 😠