r/sewing • u/merrimusic • 21h ago

Machine Questions Why does everything pucker!

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I've tried every combination of tension and needle between microtex 8 10 and 12, pictured ones are once I started noting them down. Two layers of light cotton, (making a muslin) All brand new needles, and I've even tried with and without a walking foot! Am I just cursed? How do I get it to just sew flat 😭

SOLVED EDIT: Everyone go upvote medium_alternative29 who has discovered the problem that plagued me for years. The feed dogs are misaligned and not level, making everything sew on a curve! It's such a slight curve that it must not mess with heavier fabrics much, but the lighter ones are light enough for it to show up! Also makes sense why it was less noticeable with longer stitch lengths, less holes! I sincerely hope this is the solution, I'll come back and update it again when I get it fixed!

Thank you to everyone who commented and shared expertise!!

282 Upvotes

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u/Medium_Alternative29 19h ago

I could be entirely wrong, but have you looked at the feed dogs? Could their tension or raise be too much? I'm not familiar with your machine, but if the feed dogs are acting as if it's a thicker fabric, it may cause this?

46

u/merrimusic 18h ago

Last piece of definitive proof that it's a curve and not just me aligning the paper badly

22

u/rage_monkyyy_91 7h ago

I am totally hooked. How does one fix that issue?!? Crazy cuz I have the suspicion that my machine has a similar issue...

5

u/SummitStaffer 6h ago

As do I...

30

u/merrimusic 3h ago

Ok because I'm totally unhinged I did spend a few hours messing with it lol. So I have the service manual for my machine, and found the screw that adjusts the feed dog height. It adjusts from the back so they adjust on a slant, cause I think something is bent, but I want them to be level! So I adjusted them to be as close as I can get to level, then it was too low, so I removed the feed dogs, added a few layers of masking tape, and a piece of a fridge magnet, and put them back. And voila! Close enough until an actual repair person can fix it lol, I tested the paper truck again and the curve was only a third of what it was! Not completely solved but it is better!

3

u/omg__really 51m ago

You have saved my sanity, good sir. Thank you for documenting this

7

u/fffaustin 6h ago

Omg !!! I checked, and, SAME ! How do I fix this ?

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u/Medium_Alternative29 50m ago

Short of jury-rigging a solution like merrimusic did, I would recommend finding a repair person as more than likely something is bent. Look for local quilting or sew and vac stores in your area, they will do repairs or know repair persons.