Machine Stitching Issue Tight Turns

[WMages]

Looking for advice. I'm using a Seiko CW-8. Sewing with 138 thread and appropriately sized needle. It will sew belt after belt 1/4" - 5/16" just fine. When I'm building holsters with layers of 5/16" a few slightly more, I'm having issues. I don't know if this is called a skipped stitch or not. I understand this machine will handle 3/8" thick veg and I'm not having to force the material under the foot so I think I'm less than that. It will be stitching beautifully but sometimes when I'm making a tight radius turn literally a stitch at a time, lifting my presser foot with the needle down, the top stitch will ride on top for a few stitches showing the bobbin thread. It will then resume sewing perfectly. Unfortunately, I can't see this until it passes out from behind the Presser Foot.  I'm not thinking this is a tension issue as it's sewing perfectly at other times. Is there something I'm doing in these tight turns that is somehow lessening the top thread tension to allow this to happen?  Thanks

[Deanr]

I had problems with my machine skipping stitches when sewing veg tan. I switched to a good quality poly thread and I haven't had problems since.

Also make sure when you stop your needle to make sure it has started coming back up.

[AlZilla]

On a tight turn, let the needle rise up off bottom about  an 1/8th  to 1/4 of an inch. It sounds like what's happening is you're turning the top thread away before the hook has a chance to grab it.

Pretty common problem, actually.

To quote @kgg's more precise explanation:

Quote

when you stop to do a 90 degree turn:

i) bury the needle to the bottom and then raise the needle about 1/4"

ii) raise the presser foot up slight to take the tension off the material and the turn the leather.

iii) drop the presser foot back down and continue.

And a 90 second youtube video:

 

[kgg]

3 hours ago, WMages said:

Sewing with 138 thread and appropriately sized needle.

The "appropriately sized needle" doesn't tell anyone anything. What size of needle??

Depending on the toughness and thickness of the veg tan a minimum size needle probably will not work.

kgg

 

Edited 1 hour ago by kgg

[bladegrinder]

I had that problem when I started making holsters too, I mainly make knife sheaths. When I want to make a sharp turn I leave the needle at dead bottom, slightly raise the presser foot and turn the pulley by hand, as the needle rises you will see the thread at the needle tighten, indicating the hook has caught the thread. At that point it’s safe to make a sharp turn without dropping a stitch.

[WMages]

Thank you all who responded. I had suspected that I might have been rushing the turn. I'm actually aware that the needle needs to be partially on the upstroke but this reminds me to make sure before I make that turn. Sometimes I can excel very complicated things only to be tripped up by the simple stuff. I will make a deliberate point to pay better attention.