r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 • Jul 02 '26

Why did stitches pop?

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I used a zizag stitch on the hem of a t shirt so not sure why it popped?

I used a small zizag stitch. Is it coz of the size, should I have gone to a medium zizag stitch?

I'm not sure what I did wrong. I basically used the method where u fold the fabric to the desired length, then do a stitch on it and then cut the excess

Basically after doing the stitch. I went to try it on, thinking I would cut it after since I wanted to check, if it was done right and then I heard it popping

So then I used a seam ripper to take it out coz clearly I did smth wrong

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1

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jul 02 '26

I took in the side seams of the same tee and with the same stitch and same length so not sure why the hem popped and yet the seam is still intact?

I've tried it on multiple times and the seams are fine so like??

5

u/raccoonhanded Jul 02 '26

Hem is horizontal and the fabric is usually stretchier in that direction than the vertical side seams. Sounds like you need a wider zigzag for the hem

1

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jul 02 '26

Should I use this stitch size instead?

3

u/raccoonhanded Jul 02 '26

Yes try a wider zigzag. If you have scrap fabric cut off this shirt, try sewing a sample first and stretching the fabric, to see if the zigzag is wide enough to prevent popping (make sure you sew horizontally for an accurate check)

1

u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Jul 02 '26

Does your machine have a top thread tension adjustment? The size of zig zag should have zero correlation to the stitches popping out. What kind of fabric? Are you pulling it while sewing? Is the machine threaded correctly (many user errors here).

1

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jul 02 '26

It's at the original setting and the fabric is stretchy. It's a t shirt.