My machine hates stretch fabric but I often find if I use a decorative stitch for seams & hems it works fine. xx

Stretch fabric is a 'bit--' to sew on a regular sewing machine, usually a serger does the trick. If you don't have a serger an easy fix is to either lay a thin strip of stablizer under your seam to be sewn or iron on a strip of fusible (they sell it in rolls) along where you will stitch your seam, make sure this side is down and sew away. Your problem is the fabric, not the machine. Hope this helps.

I also have this problem. I have found that if I have the stitch on a VERY SLIGHT zigzag it works better than a straight stitch. Use a piece of material and play around. Hope you come right. Sarah.

Thanks so much for your replies. I ended up getting my 'fix' by picking up a cross stitch I haven't touched since I got my embroidery machine last March!

Will give your ideas a go tomorrow :)

Use some strips of wss on both sides of the seam and then when it washes out, voila, nice stitches left behind.

Have sewn on knit material with little problems. After I wash and dry the fabric and get it all shrunk I use heavy spray starch or dip in a starch solution and iron without stretching. It not only cuts out better the seams don't curl. On the thinner knits I've used strips of tissue paper on each side of the seam and they just rip off. On some machines there is a built in stretch stitch that goes forwards then back one and have good results with that stitch with a longer stitch length. Do some samples to see what could work best.

Check to see if it's skipping on regular woven fabric. If it is, the machine is the problem.

I have no problem with stretch material because I use a stretch stitch needle. It works better than a ball point one, try it.

My machine has stitch, made for stretchy fabric(knits) Look in your manual, It should tell you about each stitch it performs. Grannieannie

My machine has a special stretch stitch and I use it with iron stabiliser or wws. Hope you find your solution. Have a lovely day and hopefullly you can finish your cross stitch hand embroidery.

Buy a stretch needle...sounds funny but they do have them. This should take care of any problems.

All tips are in here; stretch needle, starch your item and stabilize oh and the serger! tissue can work in place of stabilizer, use the stretch stitch - 2 stitches forward 1 stitch back! Live Laugh Download Stitch! christine

Thanks so much for your replies!! I have a funny feeling that my machine has a stretch stitch (just can't lay my hands on the manual right now - will google it)
Will try and get a stretch needle tomorrow
Thanks so much
Lisa :)

Thanks so much everyone - I bought a stretch needle as soon as the shop opened on Monday, and it sewed like a dream!! Yay!