Soft and Stable: How do you sew through so much thickness?

While some machines struggle to sew through thick layers, most household sewing machines should be able to sew any of our projects. Here are a few things to keep in mind before sewing:

• We recommend using a sharp 90/14 top-stitch needle and suggest changing your needle frequently.
• Check to make sure you're using the correct tension settings for your machine.
• Let your machine move the fabric. Do not tug at it.
• We suggest using ByAnnie's Stiletto and Pressing Tool to help press down the layers and feed it through the foot. 
• Our new technique, introduced in the Add-on Video for our Out and About pattern, mentions that you can use a small hammer to help "smoosh" down the layers. 
• Be mindful of the type of fabric you are using. We suggest using quilting cottons for our patterns, so be aware that there will be added thickness when using cork, denim, home dec, fabrics, etc.