Sewing Felt onto Fabric by machine

deisebibo

Does anyone have any advice for me on this?? Basically I've been making personalised gifts for people with their names on them. Now they look great, but are taking forever because I have to hand sew all the letters onto the fabric. I asked advice from a dressmaker and she told me to use the buttonhole stitch on the machine to give it a good finish, but it just doesnt seem to be working for me. I'm still only a novice when it comes to machine sewing, so I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me. The biggest problem I'm coming up against is that the fabric won't "flow" underneath the foot freely enough, and I find I'm having to pull it through.


All advice appreciated.

Thanks,

nomette

Hi,

Use paper between the teeth on the needle plate and the bottom of the fabric.
sew with a straight stitch or a slight zig-zag. Rip paper off each side of your stitching after you are finished your seam.

Good luck

deisebibo

Thanks very much I will try that,

looksee

If it is felt on fabric you do not need to do button hole stitch, and it will be much easier to get a neat finish with straight machine sewing. Use a medium sized stitch, if the stitches are very small it will not sew tidily.

Pin the felt to the backing fabric with pins set at right angles to the stitching, heads out, so that you actually stitch over the pin before removing it, this stops the felt 'creeping' on the fabric. Use lots of pins, you might have to do a section at a time or pins will catch in the edge of the machine. It is better than tacking as they will hold the felt better.

Don't try to stitch too close to the edge of the felt, if the letters are big enough line the edge of the felt up with the edge of the presser foot. Be prepared to just ease the presser foot up to turn the fabric for sharp corners and curves.

If there is interfacing on the reverse of the backing fabric it will be easier, but depending on the type of fabric it may not be necessary.

wmpdd3

If you cant get the hang of it, just scribble all over the letters with free hand embroidery, it look really modern on felt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61bwvccv7dE

deisebibo

Thanks everyone for the advice, the paper on the back of the fabric seems to be working well, my stitches are a bit wonky, but I'm sure practice will help me.

stoneill

Instead of the button hole feature on a sewing machine, use the zigzag option.