How to Avoid Puckers When Sewing

You can easily avoid puckered seams if you keep these hints in mind whenever you sew.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sewing Machine Manuals
• Dressmaker Pins
• Fabrics
• Pin Cushions
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing Machine Needles
• Sewing Needles
• Thimbles
• Threads
• Scissors

1. Be sure to pin together the fabric pieces evenly. Place pins at intervals of approximately 1 inch.

2. Guide the fabric layers evenly through the sewing machine. Do not push, pull, or tug on the fabric.

3. Make sure that your machine stitch length is appropriate to the fabric. A stitch that's too short or too long will cause the fabric to pull or pucker. You'll find a stitch-length guide in your sewing machine manual.

4. Take care with very thin or single layers of fabric. Some very thin fabrics will pucker if the stitch length is too long.

5. Use the appropriate needle for the fabric and make sure that the needle is not damaged in any way. A needle that is the incorrect size may cause your fabric to pucker, as will a nicked or worn needle.

6. Make sure that the presser foot exerts the appropriate amount of pressure on the fabric. Most machines regulate this automatically; however, some older machines require you to make this adjustment manually.

7. Check the machine's tension. A too-tight tension device may cause puckers, especially with a zigzag stitch. Your machine's tension device may also be out of balance.

8. Make sure your bobbin is wound evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your machine serviced professionally on a regular basis. This should eliminate any balance problems with the tension- or pressure-regulation devices on your machine.

• Experiment with stitch length and tension on a sample piece or pieces of fabric.

• Check the sewing machine needle package for a guide to which needles are appropriate for which fabrics.