Needle and Foot Needs for Sewing Vinyl

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NSC Question

I just love this tutorial for making a great-looking zippered vinyl bag. Makes a great gift for any occasion. Are there any special types of needle or sewing foot needed to make it easier to work with vinyl?

Submitted by Juanita

NSC Answer

Hi Juanita! When working with vinyl the fabric can actually stick to the bottom of a regular presser foot. To avoid this you can either cover the bottom of your presser foot with tape or buy a Teflon presser foot – both work well.

If you plan to do a lot of work with vinyl I would suggest getting the Teflon foot, as it is much easier to change it out when needed than to continually reapply tape.

Generally you can stitch through vinyl with a universal needle. However, if you are using a heavier weight of vinyl I would recommend using a wedge point needle or a needle meant for working with leather fabric. This will help ensure even stitching and eliminate any puckers or thread breakage.

Hope this helps!

Ashley

You might also be interested in:
Sewing Vinyl: Make a Zippered Bag
How to Sew Vinyl Windows into a Fun Project Bag
How to Iron Vinyl
Common Sewing Machine Feet and When to Use Them
Specialty Sewing Machine Feet Options

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7 Responses to “Needle and Foot Needs for Sewing Vinyl”

  1. bobbi

    needle and foot need for sewing vinyl

  2. Penny Greene

    Thanks

  3. Christina Way

    This is so timely for me. I just started sewing bags. While I have an older Pfaff sewing machine that should be able to handle this task, my #69 nylon thread keeps breaking and I don't think the bottom tension is correct. I've been looking at needle types and decided to see if I have a leather needle. One problem at a time. Thanks for the helping hand.

  4. Barbara Lemon

    Place a thin layer of Tissue Paper over or under vinyl, where it touches your presser foot or sewing machine. Sew seams and then gently tear away the tissue paper. I use 3mm or longer length stitches, to avoid tearing the vinyl.

  5. Barba

    On your video about ironing vinyl, why not use a hair dryer?

  6. OrahLee

    Also lengthen your stitch length so your seam doesn't "perforate" a line to rip off. Additionally, if you choose to use tape on the bottom of the presser foot, use the frosted magic kind, and a roller foot can sometimes work. I loved putting a clear window or a clear patch pocket in several items I made. Don't be afraid to try vinyl, it is great! OrahLee

  7. Margaret

    You could also by a roller foot for this.