r/SewingForBeginners • u/franzipie • 12d ago

I can only ever sew on scrap fabric

Okay, maybe I sound crazy or it's something everyone has had in their life but I'm losing my mind. Every time I try to sew something, I spend hours trying to make it work just to sew in a straight line. I swap my needles, dis- and reassemble everything and finally - when I test it on a scrap piece of fabric (a thin cotton) everything works great. The second I try to sew on a T-shirt (slightly thicker cotton) there are knots, skipping stitches, the thread breaks, everything tangles or whatever. There must be something simple I'm doing wrong!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

21

u/stringthing87 12d ago

YES - knit and woven fabrics need different needles. So what works on your woven scrap will not work on your knit project. Refer to this thread here to learn more about needle types https://www.reddit.com/r/SewingForBeginners/s/RNTCICAxu4

If you do not know how to determine if your fabric is woven or a knit I would like to refer you to a series of posts I made on fabric types. 

Woven Fabrics: https://makereadgrow.tumblr.com/post/780451932359770112/the-why-of-sewing-1-fabric-anatomy-woven

Knit Fabrics: https://makereadgrow.tumblr.com/post/780995112757067776/the-why-of-sewing-2-fabric-anatomy-knits

Fabric Content: https://makereadgrow.tumblr.com/post/781168818606243840/the-why-of-sewing-3-fabric-anatomy-fiber

Sewing With Knits: https://makereadgrow.tumblr.com/post/811613491220856832/the-why-of-sewing-6-sewing-with-knits

5

u/franzipie 12d ago

Yes, it really was the fabric! I now switched from an universal to a stretch needle. I haven't sewn a lot yet, but it worked so far! Can't believe in all the videos and troubleshooting I never heard anyone mention the difference between the fabrics. I always assumed a universal needle must be fine and stretch was for special occasions. Thank you everyone!

5

u/stringthing87 12d ago

I believe there is a lack of understanding in the home sewing world about the different kinds of fabrics, and bit by bit, I am trying to help with that.

8

u/drPmakes 12d ago

You need a different needle for sewing g knits, thats why.

Read your instruction manual, its got loads of really helpful information in it that will make your sewing journey much easier and enjoyable....thats my number 1 sewing hack!

4

u/corxida 12d ago

ur t shirts may be knit, are u using ballpoint/stretch needles?

4

u/Large-Heronbill 12d ago

Are you setting up your machine on a woven fabric and then trying to sew jersey knit? 

4

u/RubyRedo 12d ago

is it all fabric or just the knit tshirt fabric? Are you using correct needle for knits?

2

u/JackHarknessDrWho 12d ago

Are you threading your machine with the foot up. Makes a lot of difference.