Thank you for the tips, just finished my first jeans jacket on 14 weight denim. I gave it to my mom for her 90th birthday. She loved it. Looks fantastic on a small frame no matter your age.
These tips are amazing! The top tension and the lighter bobbin thread has just SAVED MY LIFE! It would have never occurred to me to use a completely different thread in the bobbin! Thank you thank you
Very good tips. You have really given invaluable information for not only the new sewist but the the more experienced. My additional tip: I have found that "patience" is a necessity when doing top stitching. It is so easy to try to rush at this point but going slowly and being mindful results in a better product. I have learned to take my time and enjoy the process along the way. Much happier results. Thanks for the info.
💯 Patience is soo important and can sometimes be lost in all the tricks and hacks, when a lot of our struggles could be fixed with just being mindful about how we sew!
Thank you!!! Right off the bat you mentioned the solution I needed. I am using the same Machine and my tension was being horrible. I cranked the top tension up to a 9 and it worked. Yay! Thank you!
This came in very handy when I was trying to figure out why I was getting loops from my topstitching thread. I'd tried some changes in the thread tensions for the needle AND the bobbin, but just couldn't figure out the right combination. Your video helped me immediately. Thanks SOOO much!!!!
Love these tips. I’m looking forward to trying them all. And I agree, the multiple threads work just fine. On my first pair of jeans I wanted to have lime green top stitching! 😳 I was too impatient to go looking for top stitching thread in my preferred color so I wound multiple bobbins, just like you showed. The result was really fun.
Get OUT!....4:14...that IS the definition of improvising....stacking bobbins....I would've NEVER thoughtof it.....you just saved me money...im trying that tomorrow...maybe tonight. I love it.
I loved your idea of multiple threads in a topstitch needle! After watching your video I immediately had to try it and the results were great! Tip #5 is spot-on; if you want to play with bobbin tension invest in a bobbin case for specialty threads and you will always have your regular one to work with for regular sewing.
Yay, that's awesome to hear that it worked for you too! And yes that extra bobbin is gold, I learned that the hard way by messing with my original bobbin before I saw the light 😊
Hey Johanna! Does the book include an actual jeans pattern or instructions on how to draw one? Or do you need to have a pattern from before, that you can alternate according to instructions?
Thank you so much for this video. I was up late the other night trying to finish a project I was making for my 3 year old grandson. I tried several times to topstitch with topstitching thread. TI have a newer Bernina and have not topstitched with it before. The thread kept getting knotted up under the plate. It was so frustrating. After watching your video I was free to sew again!!
Many thanks for the tips!!! Did you know there are " double eye" topstich needles from Schmetz, they make it possible to use 2 Threads in different colours. Looking forward to your Book!
That's awesome to hear! I always try to keep the beginner perspective in mind when I make my videos, thinking about the things I wished someone had told me as a beginner sewist 😊
That's such a great tip! I forgot that myself last week and was so annoyed when I ran out of bobbin thread in the midst of a long topstitching sequence!
Great tips Johanna! 🤗 I have a question for topstitching, a lot of times you’re putting your jeans together at the same time as having to topstitch… Do you have two machines set up one for normal stitching of your jeans and another for top stitching?
now, I want to try topstitching with 4 threads haha. Gutterman has made a denim thread for topstitching which is way easier to use than the thick topstitch thread, and there is no need for a special topstitch needle. My tip for securing topstitches without doing back stitches, I start and finish the stitch with 10cm extra thread, I pull the thread of the bobbin so that the top thread makes a loop on the wrong side, I pull it and make a knot by hand with both threads
I do that too. Especially when topstitching and something goes wrong and I have to stop halfway through, just pull the thread to the other side, tie a knot, and continue topstitching where I left off.
Hi there, just want to start by thanking you for the tips. Is it possible to share with me your Sewing machine specifications if it's ok with you. Many thanks
I keep a vintage straight stitch only machine, slightly geared down and adjusted for heavier thread, for top stitching and thicker materials. It's of course mainly a pretext to own one more sewing machine though...
Great idea about stacking bobbins etc but i have a Brother machine and it is extremely persnickety. It will not sew, it just gets jammed. Its really annoying, and i regret this purchase but it is what it is. So i do appreciate the suggestions about topstitch needles etc.
Newbie question: is topstitching supposed to be a single stitch with thicker thread? I have often used the two-stitches-forward-one-stitch-backward stitch in my machine to achieve that heavier look. These tips are very helpful because I am making a denim shirt dress and the topstitching is giving me fits. Thank you!
Thank you so much for that information Johanna. Do you use that edge guide presser foot (No. 5 ) to edge stitching a collar stand? I have a problem getting a nice edge stitch curve on the front of a collar stand and am looking for something to improve that.
I have a pair of cotton chinos that i need to taper. On the outside seams, there is top stitch which am not a fan of. Can i totally remove the top stitch or will that weaken the seams ?
The crafty Gemini said to lower tension because it’ll break the threads instead. But you’re saying one has to increase the tension with thicker thread just like my repair/service fellow said.
If you don't have a "hump jumper" use an empty needle case. It works just like the store bought model and you have them laying around your sewing room.
The jean-a-ma-jig is worth its weight in gold, helps so much. If you cannot find it in stores there are 3D printed versions: www.thingiverse.com/thing:1816985, I have a few printed out at different heights for different weights fabric.
Awesome tip, having different thickness is so helpful, I have one from Bernina which are three separate pieces that one can stack which is also very helpful
