Getting darn right violent with my sewing machine. I'm trying to match up 2 like pieces to the bottom of a hammock and sew them together but my machine is fighting me every step of the way.

Straight stitch .. top looks good and straight -----------
bottom looks like /-//---\\\--- .. What is that all about?

Zigzag stitch top looks great /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
bottom is all goofy .. lots of curved edges. Any ideas? I know this is not a sewing forum but figured I would start here for help.

Taking a shot at making a Warbonnet Blackbird clone hammock.

Thread tension. No doubt in my mind.

Look it up online, I'm sure I would get it wrong explaining. Also the type of thread might make a difference. Light thin synthetics are a bear to deal with. Sometimes I will add a thin cotton strip on seams to make it easier to sew.

I also tossed the fancy modern machine. I use a 1954 Singer machine. Ask around, I bet someone in your extended family has one gathering dust somewhere. If you do find one, oil it before use, and you will be one happy camper!

Yeah I was sure it was thread tension but I have tried everything from lowest to highest setting and get the same results. I'm getting ready to take your approach and go with something made back in the day when stuff was real quality in America.

It's depressing when the best stuff you can find to get jobs done were made in the 50's- 60's. I just bought a meat slicer from ebay from this time period and works better than anything I've ever tried. Half of my kitchen appliances now are from the 50's. Pathetic.

Try re-threading the machine - both bobbin and top thread. Also some times a new needle will help. Sounds to me like the bobbin might be in the bobbin casing backwards. Careful messing with the tension. If it was fine before this project - it should still be fine.

Like I said - re-thread everything, carefully!

My old Viking 6440 machine is the best - 1970's model. It even has a low gear for sewing "tough" stuff.

My mom does all this stuff by instinct. I still have to stop , think, screw it up, rip it out, start over.

Some other stuff to try...

Make sure you have the same tread top and bottom. Try a different thread. Go slow. Try addin a strip of stiffer material to make it go easier.

If you can, try raising or lowering the feed dogs (the metal teeth under the foot).

Thanks for the feedback guys. I managed to get the double layer of the hammock sewn together and now I'm waiting on grosgrain and no-seeum netting to finish it up. The stitch is still messed up but will be under the grosgrain hems so I'm hoping once thats in the equation things will work better, if not, I'll be doing a lot of seem ripping.

If this were to be my final hammock I'd rip it all apart and start over but I doubled up 1.9 oz coated nylon and its too heavy for what I was looking to accomplish. I'll probably make this one my test / car camping rig and go with 1.1 oz stuff for the final project. That said, this baby should be bomb proof and shed dew like a champ :)

quote ECpizza: "My mom does all this stuff by instinct. I still have to stop , think, screw it up, rip it out, start over.


Some other stuff to try...


Make sure you have the same tread top and bottom. Try a different thread. Go slow. Try addin a strip of stiffer material to make it go easier.


If you can, try raising or lowering the feed dogs (the metal teeth under the foot). "

I'm using Coates & Clark extra strong upholstery thread (nylon) for both bobbin and top thread. It seems to sew fine on 1.1 and 1.4 oz nylon but when I go with the thicker stuff its all messed up.

I've re-threaded the machine several times and changed needles 2 times with the same results. I'm also using as thin a needle as I can that lets the thicker thread feed through. Maybe the eye in my needle is too small and is getting caught up?

Looks like you are over doing it on the thread. I'd switch to 100% polyester thread. Use the smallest needle that you can get the thread through. Did you try using a walking foot? Sometimes the fabric is too slippery for the machine to grab it. Having a walking foot above helps keep the top and bottom traveling the same.
Did you read the sewing machine manual?
Be sure to test on scraps until you find the problem.

quote PortageKeeper: "Looks like you are over doing it on the thread. I'd switch to 100% polyester thread. Use the smallest needle that you can get the thread through. Did you try using a walking foot? Sometimes the fabric is too slippery for the machine to grab it. Having a walking foot above helps keep the top and bottom traveling the same.
Did you read the sewing machine manual?
Be sure to test on scraps until you find the problem."

I think PortageKeeper is correct. The "heavy" threads will cause havoc with the tension, needle flow and thread feed. I also suggest a good 100% Poly or Nylon thread. When I use a heavy thread for fancy top stitching, I have to use a regular thread for bobbin or it gets messy. The heavy threads work better in the commercial machines.

I think we need a sewers wingnight or even weekend to share our projects and knowldege. Too bad we are all live so far apart.

quote Grandma L: "I think we need a sewers wingnight or even weekend to share our projects and knowldege. Too bad we are all live so far apart."

Have it next to a fabric store. I could send some of you in to buy my fabric. I get tired of all the comments I get. Always positive comments, but I'm a man, I sew, get over it.

I went a bit nuts this evening and ordered 300 dollars in materials from DIY gear supply. Included in the order was 4 rolls of Gutermann Tera which I hope will run better through the machine.

I get tired of waiting on shipping so figured I would order everything I need for the next couple of years and get it over with.

I'm really looking forward to some nice 1.1 oz tarps and hammocks. Shave that weight .. shave that weight. :)

quote ECpizza: "

quote Grandma L: "I think we need a sewers wingnight or even weekend to share our projects and knowldege. Too bad we are all live so far apart."

Have it next to a fabric store. I could send some of you in to buy my fabric. I get tired of all the comments I get. Always positive comments, but I'm a man, I sew, get over it."

LOL I know right? It's like we are in a foreign land and we don't belong there. Thats why I've just started ordering my stuff online. I'll be honest, the most informative videos I have watched have all been from men so we're not alone brother!

quote okinaw55: "

quote ECpizza: "

quote Grandma L: "I think we need a sewers wingnight or even weekend to share our projects and knowldege. Too bad we are all live so far apart."

Have it next to a fabric store. I could send some of you in to buy my fabric. I get tired of all the comments I get. Always positive comments, but I'm a man, I sew, get over it."

LOL I know right? It's like we are in a foreign land and we don't belong there. Thats why I've just started ordering my stuff online. I'll be honest, the most informative videos I have watched have all been from men so we're not alone brother!"

Now you know how I feel in Menards, the hardware store or the lumber yard.

quote PortageKeeper: "Looks like you are over doing it on the thread. I'd switch to 100% polyester thread. Use the smallest needle that you can get the thread through. Did you try using a walking foot? Sometimes the fabric is too slippery for the machine to grab it. Having a walking foot above helps keep the top and bottom traveling the same.
Did you read the sewing machine manual?
Be sure to test on scraps until you find the problem."

I have to thank you PK. It was the thread ultimately that was giving me issues. I picked up some Gutermann 80 tera thread and coupled it with a 80/11 needle and things are working so smooth I'm in the process now of removing 8 billion stitches to start over. Thanks again. :)

Cool! Always a good feeling when things are running smoothly again.