Zipper Foot

Inexperienced at Sewing…need some tips when it comes to zippers?

I am making myself a halloween costume and everything has been fine until now…I have basted the zipper in place and now I am try to stitch it in permanently. I have the zipper foot on and I am using a medium sized stitch but when I start to sew the threads get all jumbled up and the machine starts to stick and I have to cut it out. The machine won’t go any further than a few stitches without messing up. Any ideas of whats going on??

Are you hanging on to the thread ends as you start to sew? Are you putting the presser foot down? Did you thread the machine with the presser foot up to allow the thread enter the upper tension.

The snarl you describe is characteristic of an improperly started seam, or a sewing machine that has not enough upper tension. MY guess is that you’re not starting the seam correctly.

Take all the thread off of/out of the machine.

Give it a basic cleaning and oiling, per the manual. Use a vacuum
and lint brush, not canned air, and use real sewing machine oil,
not 3-in-1 or similar (it gums up) or WD-40 (solvent, not a
lubricant).

Using your manual, rethread the machine from scratch. Make sure
the bobbin is in the bobbin case correctly, and make sure you
thread the top of the machine with the presser foot UP — this
opens the top tension and allows the thread to actually enter the
top tension. Floss the thread into the tension. Top tension (if
you’ve been messing with it) should be set to 4 (normal range:
3-5; when you’re down to 2 or up to 6 to get normal straight
stitching on a piece of muslin, it’s time for a trip to the
sewing machine shop.)

Fetch up the bobbin thread and, with the take up lever (the thing
that bobs up and down) fully in the upper position, pull out
about 4″ of both top and bobbin thread.

Now you’re ready to sew — start each seam in the following
sequence:

1) Put the fabric under the presser foot and use the handwheel to
lower the needle into the fabric.

2) Put the presser foot down.

3) Hold the ends of the threads in your left hand, behind the
presser foot, and take a couple or three stitches, using the handwheel.

4) Drop the thread ends and sew the seam.

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There is nothing worse than finding a pair of stylish boots that fit your feet perfectly but not your calves. As a woman with fairly muscular calves, I know firsthand that boots small enough to suit my feet probably will not zip up below my knee. (And I am sure you skinny-calved ladies out there hate finding a gorgeous pair of boots that gape around your lower leg!)
Altering boots to fit your calves can be costly. Before handing over money to a shoe repairman to fix boots that most likely cost you a pretty penny in the first place, consider these alternative solutions.

First of all, be smart (and flexible) when shopping for knee-high boots. Certain styles of knee-high boots are more easily adjustable than others. For example, look for boots with straps, laces or buckles that allow you to cinch them tight or loosen them in order to find a fit that is perfectly suited to your body. Certain russet-style boots (think: “ruffles” of leather) are meant to be worn a bit loose, and they look attractive that way. These looser-fit styles may give you a little extra wiggle room without looking like you have squeezed your calves into them. Look for boots made out of soft, stretchable leather. When in doubt, ask the shoe salesman if the material is likely to stretch. Often you can loosen boots made of soft leather simply by wearing them a few times in a row.

Another practical way to make your boots fit is to modify your wardrobe. If you fall in love with a pair of boots that are too big around your calves, consider wearing them over pants or with thick socks. Tight boots can be worn with dresses and sheer nylons.

When all else fails, visit your friendly neighborhood shoemaker who can expertly alter the boots to suit your needs. Be sure to tell the cobbler exactly how you intend to wear the boots (with pants, nylons, etc.) to ensure that you get the precise, custom fit you are hoping for. Most of the time, shoemakers will expand the calve-area of the boot by adding elastic gussets. This extra material can stretch so the boots achieve a precise fit. It is a little trickier to “take-in” big boots; you will need to talk to your local cobbler for details. The possibility of such an alteration will depend entirely on the way the boots are made. For example, it is easier to take in boots that fasten with a zipper rather than boots that close using laces.

About the Author:

Jane Barron works for OddShoeFinder.com,a free online website that helps people find mismatched footwear.Get more information on club foot, club feet or corrective shoes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Adjusting Boots to Fit Your Calves