Problems sewing oilcloth pvc fabric

[sandybay]

Don't know if anyone can help with this problem.

I've got an old piece of Laura Ashley PVC cloth and wanted to make a shopping bag and some tablemats from it.

I tried sewing the mats the other day and the sewing machine stitiches have gathered and pulled very tight, Looks awful. I've tried altering the tension, length etc on the machine [an old Elna] but still no good.

I wondered if it was the needle size. I am using a 9 at the moment but don't have any other sizes in my sewing box. Also wondered if the surface of the pvc is catching on the needleplate ?

Advice much needed please if you've sewn successfully with oilcloth/pvc.
thanks

[lily]

Haven't tried it myself, but there is a web site sewmamasew, which advises sewing on the reverse and using a size 16 needle, long stitches, decreasing on curves. Worth a look/try?

[sandybay]

Thanks for the tip Lily, I'm going to our nearest town tomorrow so will get some size 16's and try.
Thanks also for the web site name, will have a look at it.

[bluebell]

Just found your post about sewing pvc, my sewing machine has a teflon coated foot for pvc, plastic etc. it worked a treat when I used it to make a rain jacket. Ask your Elna dealer if there is a foot able to cope with these fabrics. My machine is 15 years old,so you never know. Well worth the investment I should say, hope it works out.( I should say the teflon coating,stops the fabric slipping).

[sandybay]

Thanks Bluebell, I looked the teflon foot up this afternoon on the internet and I realise that I did have one originally [machine over 25 years old]. But where the heck is it ?
Probably lost in our moving house.

[sandybay]

Lily & Blubell- mission partly accomplished. My cat now has a smart new mat under her food bowls. Found a plastic embroidery foot in my box and that with 16 needle and a bit of pulling the fabric worked well.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Late to this thread, but I use a large jeans needle (comes in up to size 18) and I always used a heavier than normal thread (not always easy to come by in Wild West Wales) and the largest stitch that I can get away with.