Sewing machine question

[Lady Caroline]

Does anyone know if I can still sew, if I removed that pedal/foot thing that surrounds the needle, and presses down on the fabric?  Please excuse my ignorance, I literally took the machine out of the box 15 years ago and started sewing without reading the instructions.  Now, that I am seriously getting into sewing, naturally I have no idea where my instructions are.....

I am attaching the bottom skirt to the bodice, to make a new dress/garb, but it is a heavy fabric, plus pleats, and won't fit under that presser foot.  Can I sew without it?  Or will it hurt the machine somehow?

If it matters, it is a Kenmore 8, and is a nice little machine, never given me a problem.  (Despite the fact that I oiled it for the first time, last month!)

Oh!  I just remembered another question for you wonderful experienced seamstresses......if I am sewing through thick layers on the machine, should I use stitches that are close together, or farther apart than normal.  For 15 years, I've always used the same stitch for everything!

Ok, I'm on my way to get a book on sewing techniques, but if you could answer these two questions for me, I would appreciate it tremendously!!!!

[gypsylakat]

uhmmm I don't know all the answers to your question, I do know, that the thingy, is called a presser foot. And i'm pretty sure you can sew without it... at least that's the impression that the sewing machine man gave me...


and i looked on google, and found this
http://www.sewingmanuals.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/Kenmore.htm it doesn't have the kenmore 8 but it has the 6 and a few after, that might be of assistance..

[DonaCatalina]

It depends on your machine. Mine won't go without the presser foot. It it does run, you may find that your bobbin thread knots up on you. So I wouldn't recommend trying it.

[gypsylakat]

i'd go with her answer... she knows way more than me about it... lol

[PurpleDragon]

I'm in agreement with Dona Catalina on this one.  You can try and run it without the presser foot, but I wouldnt' recommend it myself.

As to the stitch used, if it is going to be in a "visible" area, you might try a smaller stitch to hopefully give more strength to the garment.  However if it is thick enough to not be able to pass under the presser foot when raised up all the way, umm... are you sure your machines needle will penetrate through the entire thickness?

[Lady Caroline]

, umm... are you sure your machines needle will penetrate through the entire thickness?

Nope!  I'm not sure of anything! lol  I bought some new needles that say "Heavy weight", so I assumed I was good to go.  I guess I will try it without the presser, on some scraps of the fabric in question........if that does not work, I can always pop in the dvd's of BBC's "...Six Wives..." and get the old thimble out.  (please, please, please, let the machine work....)

[Lady Caroline]

and i looked on google, and found this
http://www.sewingmanuals.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/Kenmore.htm it doesn't have the kenmore 8 but it has the 6 and a few after, that might be of assistance..

Oh thank you!  You are a sweetheart   I never even thought of seeing if the manuals were online.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

When in doubt, take your machine to a store that specializes in sewing machine sales, classes, and repair.  You may be able to trade your machine in for one that you will be happier with.

Good Luck!!!

[gem]

This may be an instance where it will cause less grief to just sew it by hand.

[Elennare]

Well, you can sew without the presser foot, it will just be a lot harder.

The presser foot keeps the fabric in contact with the feed dogs (little things that pop up from under the fabric and push it forward), so that as you sew, the fabric advances.  How far they move is what controls the length of the stich.  If you don't have the presser foot on the machine, the feed dogs will be much less effective, if they work at all.  Since you are sewing so much heavy fabric, the weight of the fabric by itself may be enough to allow them to work, but they won't work as well.  Thus, you are in charge of advancing the fabric.  If you're going to try it, I would recommend sewing very slowly, so you can try to move the fabric an equal amount between each stich, without getting it snagged on the feed dogs.

[Randal]

Your machine may work without the presser foot, as that's what you would do for free-form embroidery or machine felting, but you'll never get the nice even stitches that you would with the presser foot down, or by hand sewing.

Perhaps even more importantly though, without the presser foot in place, it will be extremely easy to sew through your hand/fingers. Try this at your own risk.

You'll also run an increased risk of breaking needles.

Randal

[Lady Caroline]

Thank you all, for your wonderful  advice!!!

I ended up solving the problem, by leaving the top edges of the pleats, and the bottom edge of the bodice unhemmed, or raw.  (this allowed all of the fabric to fit under the presser foot) Now that they are together, I will cover them up inside with some basting tape or ribbon or something.  I don't mind hand sewing that in, since I'm not looking for strength and durability, just cover.

This is the first noble outfit I have made (making a matching twinkie one for hubby) and I just tried it on over the hoop skirt that arrived in the mail today.  It looks great! (at least I think it does   )  2 months ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself in one of these dresses, let alone sewing one myself!  Thank you to all of you, that take the time to answer questions from inexperienced newbies, such as myself. 

I will post finished pics in the completed projects thread, in the days to come.

Thanks again!

[Alison - Not Caterina Anymore]

Looks like I'm too late on this one. But my recommendation is to buy a walking foot. It's meant to "walk" over thick fabrics and makes doing so much easier. It's a MUST for any renaissance sewer.

[Lady Caroline]

Caterina, thank you!  After you posted that, I started reading a sewing book I picked up, and they list all kinds of different feet that are available.  There is one that applies bias tape for you, and another that folds over and hems your raw edge, all in one step!  Who knew?  (Well, certainly not me!)

[Kate XXXXXX]

Does anyone know if I can still sew, if I removed that pedal/foot thing that surrounds the needle, and presses down on the fabric?  Please excuse my ignorance, I literally took the machine out of the box 15 years ago and started sewing without reading the instructions.  Now, that I am seriously getting into sewing, naturally I have no idea where my instructions are.....

There are some techniques where you need to remove the presser foot, but it isn't advisable for most sewing processes.  There are special feet available for processes and techniques that the standard presser foot doesn't do well.

I am attaching the bottom skirt to the bodice, to make a new dress/garb, but it is a heavy fabric, plus pleats, and won't fit under that presser foot.  Can I sew without it?  Or will it hurt the machine somehow?

What you need to do here is adjust the presser foot pressure.  Generally speaking, however, if it won't fit under the presser foot, it's too much for the machine.  You could burn out the motor forcing it.  Taking the presser foot off is NOT going to help.

If it matters, it is a Kenmore 8, and is a nice little machine, never given me a problem.  (Despite the fact that I oiled it for the first time, last month!)

Shame on you!     You should clean and oil the machine after every project, and before using it again if there is a gap of more than a month between uses.  You also need to give the poor thing a nice new needle of the right type and size for every project.  Do this more often on tougher projects.  For proper oiling, you need the manual.  SewUSA has quite a few available: http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Instruction_Manuals.htm
HOWEVER!!! If there are NO oiling instructions in the manual, DO NOT try oiling the machine!  You will end up with oil where it isn't supposed to go.  Take the machine in for servicing, and they will lubricate where needed.  Many machines these days have sintered bearings, and the only way to oil those is to take them out and put them in a pressurized oil bath for several days!

Oh!  I just remembered another question for you wonderful experienced seamstresses......if I am sewing through thick layers on the machine, should I use stitches that are close together, or farther apart than normal.  For 15 years, I've always used the same stitch for everything!

Generally speaking, the thicker the fabric, the longer the stitch - but there is no hard and fast rule,.  Do what works!   

Ok, I'm on my way to get a book on sewing techniques, but if you could answer these two questions for me, I would appreciate it tremendously!!!!

Sewing books you might like to consider:
   
New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step by Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories (Readers Digest) by Reader's Digest (Hardcover - 25 Jul 2003)

Sewing for Dummies (For Dummies)  by Janice Saunders Maresh (Paperback - 13 Aug 2004)

Couture Sewing Techniques  by Claire B. Shaeffer (Paperback - 1 April 2001)

101 Ways to Use Your First Sewing Machine  by Elizabeth Dubicki (Hardcover - 27 Oct 2006)