Sewing question

[Doug Coe]

I’m getting close to finishing v2 of my backpack and I’m wondering about how to improve my sewing technique.

1. Sewing tips always stress balancing the top and bobbin thread tension to get a balanced stitch. OK, I can see doing that for two layers of fabric. How about when you add a layer or two of webbing to the sandwich? Do you need to change the tension, and, if so, which way?
2. How to more smoothly ride the presser foot up onto webbing and back down on the other side? (It’s hard to explain why.) Use a scrap of webbing next to the piece of it you’re sewing to even things up?

[Jerry Adams]

I never change tension, even when sewing on webbing.  But I check it to make sure.  Occasionally I screw up something, like feeding the thread through the machine wrong.

Sometimes when I go over a piece of webbing the stitch length will vary.  Oh well.  The first row of stitches is trickier because I have to position the webbing, but after it’s sewn into place, another row of stitches at normal speed will turn out better.

[Dave @ Oware]

As far a tension, as long as the connecting threads are inside the fabric/web you should be good to go.

[Doug Coe]

That makes sense, just having the thread connection inside the fabric/webbing.

[PaulW]

Doug, there are a number of good videos on Youtube regarding tension. I don’t often change my tension, but it’s good to know what’s going on and why I might need to at some point. Regarding smoothly riding the presser foot up, I use a piece of thicker material to smooth out any large transitions in thickness. However, I was recently turned on to something called the Dritz Jean-A-Ma-Jig. I don’t own one yet, but I can see it being useful at some point.

[Doug Coe]

Paul—I like your idea of using thicker material to smooth out transitions. That Jean-A-M-Jig looks to be very specialized. Good for a jeans seam but not so much for 3/4″ webbing.

(Off topic: about four days till my new-to-me Singer 403a arrives. I’m excited to see how it handles webbing and such—after I get it up and running properly.)

[Adam G]

I change the top tension all the time, using a test piece of fabric. I never touch the bottom tension. Getting the presser foot over webbing can be a bit tricky. What I often do is stop just short of the webbing. I then gently lift up the presser foot front and slide the edge of the webbing underneath. I then hand crank it a few times and then sew as normal. If you’re really good, you can do this without even stopping sewing. The other thing that really helps is having a straight stitch foot and plate. Fewer things to get caught up on.

[Doug Coe]

Adam G—Great tip on getting onto the webbing.

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