Evy

I hope someone can help me with this. I have a basic Kenmore sewing machine that has always been a very good machine. Now I am sewing microwave cozys and my machine is not sewing smoothly through the batting and fabric thickness, especially when sewing the two sides together. It sounds like a shopping cart with a bad wheel! I have changed needles, I tried a #11 and a 14 and cleaned the bobbin area and it's still noisy. The tension is fine. The stitches look nice and flat. It sews fine and quietly when piecing two layers of cotton. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
evy

selm

Try increasing the presser foot pressure. I didn't have noise issues but when trying to sew through thick fabric I got skipped stitches. When I increased the foot pressure it solved my problem. May work for you.
A bigger needle is probably a good idea too.

Cheryl7758

I would use an even feed/walking foot, there are generic ones you can purchase if you don't have one.

Tartan

The foot needs to be completely on the same thickness of fabric . If only half of the feed dogs have fabric, it will not sew well.

Evy

Thanks for the suggestions. I took it apart as much as I could and cleaned really well. I did put a larger needle in and it isn't quite as noisy.

Rhonda K

Is there batting in the seam line? Trim the batting down next to the seam line.

Is there batting on both pieces of fabric? Try just one piece of fabric with the batting.

youngduncan

I've experienced some of the same problems on a couple of my machines. I tried using a denim needle and it worked just fine on both. The denim needle is size 18 -- I think it's actually a small nail with a hole in it!! I have to remember to change the needle back to a regular one when I go back to regular piecing.

Jordan

I think a walking foot would help a lot.

quiltedsunshine

Those old Kenmores are great machines!

The hook sits on the race, and the driver pushes the hook around. I've seen a lot of old Kenmores with an extra wide thread passage (that's where the hook and driver "kiss" each other at the top or bottom), or a loose driver, which can make them very noisy. The good news is, that the thread passage can be closed, and the driver can be tightened. Your local sewing machine tech. can do that, and those old machines are worth repairing.