Great little, but powerful tool
- Bernadette Hoy
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
Good afternoon
We hope you are having a good weekend.
Have you ever heard of a hump jumper? No !! I am not swearing !! It's cool sewing machine tool talk. I wanted to show you a version that BERNINA make.
The Height Compensation Tool
An incredibly useful and often overlooked tool is the height compensation tool. This tool features several pieces of plastic in varying thicknesses on a swivel hinge. When sewing and approaching a thicker section of fabric (like a super bulky seam), stop with the needle down just before the bulky section, raise the presser foot using the FHS, the lever or your button, and place the height compensation tool under the presser foot but behind the needle. This will make it so that the foot isn’t having to angle upward to work across the bulk. Presser feet are not made to 4WD.
Once you’ve sewn through the bulk, again raise the presser foot using the method you chose above, with the needle down, place the height compensation tool under the presser foot but ahead of the needle. If you place it in front of the needle, your mighty machine might just sew into it. Hold it in place (not moving back with the fabric) until the bulky seam is completely clear from the back of the presser foot.
With these tools and tricks in mind, there’s no project too tough for you and your BERNINA!
This tool suits all brand sewing machines and is inexpensive. If you would like to own one, or gift some to your friends, you can purchase them in either or Lindfield or Sylvania stores, or online through this link
Now not to be forgotten BERNINA also have some cool tools to use on the overlocker
The Overlock and Coverstitch Compensating Tools make it easy to sew over cross seams and trims of different heights. With heights of 1.5 and 3 mm you can sew from fine fabric to heavy and stiff material over seams. Continuing to sew will move the height compensating tool away backward underneath the presser foot by means of fabric transport.
The purpose of this tool is
• For simple overstitching of cross seams and trims of different heights.
• For overlock, cover and combo stitches.
It has special Markings and Guides
A CS 1.5/3 mm Height Compensating Tool for Cover Stitches
B OL 1.5/3 mm Height Compensating Tool for Overlock/Combo Stitches
This is how to apply the tool when sewing over thick layers of fabric
Position the start of the fabric underneath the presser foot directly in front of the needles or, with thick layers of fabric, sew until the presser foot is at an angle. (Left image below)
Lower the needles into the fabric using back-kick, if you have it, or the fly wheel otherwise.
Raise the presser foot.
Push the height compensating tool underneath the presser foot from the rear at a suitable height. (Centre image below)
Lower the presser foot and continue sewing. (Right image below)
Continuing to sew will move the height compensating tool away backward underneath the presser foot by means of fabric transport.
While these tools will work across brands, we do ask that you make sure you read your machine manual and practice safety first.
To purchase the overlocker tools, you can purchase them in either or Lindfield or Sylvania stores, or online through this link. These are special order so please contact us by phone if you want to pick them up in store.
We hope you have learnt something new today
Regards
Bernadette, Ian, Crystal, Vicky, Sarah, Will, Lauren and Ray
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