Sewing one inch pleats with 3/4 sew foam. Problem I see is the stitch is pulling thru (cutting) the foam? My stitches are pretty tight. Do I need the stitches to be further apart? Would fabric behind the foam help? Thanks Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You either need fabric backed foam or put se fabric behind it.. Easiest way is to use spray adhesive and attach it to the foam so you have as little as possible trying to move around while sewing. Also might want to to a test piece for the stitch length and see what you like best and works best! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Glue or laminate cloth to the backside of the foam to prevent the stitches from cutting or pulling through the foam. You can use a soft old cotton bed sheet or go to the Fabric Store and buy a few yards of light weight cotton muslin cloth. I your sewing machine is adjustable (for stitch length) start at 5 or 6 stitches per inch. This will make your stitches just a bit over 1/8 inch per stitch. from experience 3/4 thick foam is a bit thick for 1 inch pleats and that is one of the reasons that your stitches are cutting the foam on the backside. If you are using the 3/4 foam trying to achieve a nice plush (thick) pleat you would be better off doing the roll and pleat method instead of the top stitch method. I could not tell from your picture what method of stitching you are using. Your pleats look fairly straight so hang in there !!! Always do a scrap test panel when adjusting your stitch length................. Good Luck, Jeff
Jeff, yes a top stitch. I want tight pleats so that why I chose 1 inch and 3/4 foam. I'm just starting out here so I'm keeping it simple as possible. I will try loosening the stitch and using fabric on the back side of the foam. Thanks for the input. I'm having fun with it.. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Yep I just use some calico or light cotton . I give the cotton and foam a light spray of contact adhesive and that stops foam tearing Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Check out the upholstery group in the "community" section. Great info there as well. Hang with it, looking good!
Use to help a friend that was a upholsterer. He would use different weights of material as a backing, quite often using surplus vinyl for a real pronounced pleat. Most of the work was back-sewen stuffed pleats. Canuck
Ok I will redue it with fabric backing and back off the stitches a bit (less per inch). P.S. I can't access that upholstery group from this damn app! Thanks everyone.. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
From what I can see your stitches look good. You must have a backing on the foam. With 1" pleats you could have used 1/2" high density sew foam http://www.yourautotrim.com/1thplfo.html.
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