Help! Try to use a sewing twin needle correctly?

Question

I am using an older Kenmore 30 Stitch machine, but it works great. I have purchased a ballpoint twin needle to use on knit fabrics. I have two spindles/spools up top and the bobbin all threaded normally, using a straight stitch. It looks fine on top when I'm sewing, but on the back of the fabric it's a little bit loose and falls apart when i tug on it a little bit. Shouldn't the back and front look similar? I am new to using this needle type! Please help!

Answer 1

Twin needle stitching will look like a pair of rows of straight stitch on top, and zigzag on the back.  

Will your machine handle the twin needle correctly?  The bobbin has to be in front (not on the side) of the needle.

You will probably need to play with the tensions, possibly both top and bobbin, or use woolly poly or woolly nylon (handwound) in the bobbin and stabilizer above and below the fabric if you're trying to get flat rows (instead of pintucks) and you're using one of the wider twin needles.

*The* book you want for this is Carol Ahles' Fine Machine Sewing -- there's a whole chapter on twin needle work, and tweaking the machine for various effects.  Your public library probably owns a copy.

imo, anyone who's got enough sewing experience under their belt that they want to try various presser feet and needles can probably benefit from Ahles' book.  It's one of the few sewing books that sits within easy grabbing distance of my machines.

Answer 2

this sounds perfectly normal for twin needle stitching with one bobbin - you could try tightening the top tension a tiny bit if you feel it is not right BUT if you tighten the top tension too much you will end up with the pin tucking effect.

Answer 3

No, it doesn't look the same on the front as on the back of the stitching.

A result that's "a little bit loose" will provide necessary "stretch" for hemming knitwear.  All 6 ends of the threads should be secured *before* any test-tugging is done.  If stuff falls apart even when the ends are secured, then there's a problem with the thread tension.

I just learned about the stretch-for-knits a moment ago.  I'd only ever used the double needle for decorative stitching before myself (multiple decades of use).