Sewing Techniques
Simple Pin Tucking Techniques
Standard Pin Tucks
Pin tucks are often associated with heirloom sewing especially children’s clothes and christening gowns. However they can give a whole new dimension to other aspects of sewing as well, such as bed linen and other home furnishings.
Pin tucks are tiny ‘false’ tucks which can be created by sewing parallel rows of stitching using a 2 mm twin needle.
Making Standard Pin Tucks
- Insert a 2 mm twin needle
- Select straight stitch – centre needle position
- Stitch length - 1.8 – 2.5
- Tension approx. - 7 Pressure - 2
- If available, attach a 7 groove pin tuck foot.
1. Thread the machine for twin needle sewing making sure that each thread passes through the corresponding thread guide on each side of the needle (see Twin Needle technique for more information).
2. Mark the fabric for the placement of the first row of pin tucks.
HANDY HINT: Make sure that the first row is perfectly straight as this determines the accuracy of the following rows.
3. Stitch the first row of tucks with the centre of the pin tuck foot on the placement line you have marked.
4. Stitch the second row of tucks in the same direction and so on for the remaining tucks. Use the edge of the foot alongside the previous row of tucks or allow the previous row to sit in a groove in the pin tuck foot depending on the distance apart that you require.
Corded pin tucks with tuck guide
Corded pin tucks are more distinctive and add an extra dimension to pintucking. They are made by twin needle stitching over perle cotton to create a more raised effect.
HANDY HINT: Making corded pin tucks is simplified by using ‘Pin Tuck Cord Guides’. These are clear plastic bobbin covers with guides attached to them which help to feed the perle cotton through as you sew. Pin Tuck Cord Guides are only available for top loading / drop in bobbin machines. For further information see below.
- To use them, remove the plastic bobbin cover on your machine and replace with the chosen pin tuck cord guide.
- Place the cord into the guide.
- Insert a twin needle as before
- Set the tension of your machine to approximately 7 and select centre needle position.
- Check that the cord is in position between the needles. Hold the thread at the back of the sewing foot and sew slowly, it couldn’t be easier.
Presser Feet
Using a ‘Pin Tuck Foot’ with the twin needle helps to space the tucks an equal distance apart. It has multiple grooves on the underside through which the pin tucks can ride as you sew the adjacent rows.
Further information
Janome Pin Tuck Foot Set - contains two feet. One is a 7 groove shallow pin tuck foot and the second one has 5 deep grooves. Both are suitable for standard and corded pin tucks.
Janome Pin Tuck Cord Guides - there are two guides in the set, one for cord up to 1.5mm in diameter and one for cord from 1.5mm – 2.5mm in diameter.
To check availability of Pin Tuck Feet and Cord Guides for your make and model of sewing machine, contact your retailer or manufacturer.
This article was prepared by Janome UK Limited, tel: 0161 666 6011, www.janome.co.uk
