Beginners Question

So I'm a beginner and very much self taught so as you can imagine, I have very little skill , so this most likely is a really basic question, but i'd appreciate any help
I've been making really basic things like ipod covers or coffee cozies but i've noticed that when what i'm stiching is too thick, the machine won't advance the piece so the needle goes up and down on the same spot. i've tried to remedy this by not lowering the foot but then my stiches are all different sizes and gross. So, I was wondering if someone could help me by telling me what kind of foot I can use to fix this issue or if theres some kind of other technique?
THANKS!!

A few things I would look at:
-  make sure you have the right size needle for your materials
-  adjust the tension on the presser foot (most machines have this option. I have the cheapest on the market and it does) On mine, it's a plastic screw like thingie on the top of the machine with an unintuitive +/- and two arrows.
- make sure the weight of the fabric isn't hanging off the side of your desk/sewing table. If the thick material is too heavy it won't pull through. help support the weight.

Hi there, I'm self taught too with few skills. I always find it easier to go over lumpy bits or thick seams very slowly or even just moving the needle by hand with the wheel, if that makes any sense? Check all of the other bits that Amy mentioned too. I always forget about pressure foot tension so I will be checking mine too, nice one Amy! x

The reason you lower the presser foot is to place the fabric against the feed dogs.  Those are those metal bars that move up and down in the squarish holes under your needle.  It's the feed dogs that move your fabric along.  If the fabric is too thick, the feed dogs can't move.  That's why your fabric is staying in one place. 

Some sewing machines do not handle multiple layers of fabric easily.  You can try lengthening the stitch all the way and lowering the tension as someone else here has suggested. A teflon foot might help, but not much. 

Maybe try a walking foot. It's good for use in sewing things that are thick, like quilts. You would have to purchase one for your maching as most don't come with one.

Good Luck,
Kerri

If the problem occurs right before or right after the material suddenly gets bulky (going over a seam intersection or something) then a jean-a-ma-jig might help.

What it is:
http://www.geocities.com/rugtalk/SewingThickHem.html

Here is one store that sells it. I'm sure you can find it in lots of places, or rig up your own from folded cardboard:
http://store.atlantathread.com/jeanamajig.html


Also, do you have adjustable presser foot pressure? Try loosening it, so the applique setting or something.

If those don't help, you can also:
* increase the stitch length
* loosen the upper tension
* press the area with an iron first and lots of steam
* take a hammer (seriously!!!) to the bulky area and try to flatten it

good luck!

Sometimes this happens to me and I deal with it a couple of different ways.  You can lift the presser foot and advance the fabric manually ever so slightly or you can start sewing in the middle of the thickness rather than the edge and just backstitch over what you missed.

Huh, I didn't know I could adjust the foot, lol.  I just gently pull my fabric as it's stitching over bulky seams, but I'm sure thats not the proper way and I'm at risk for snagging my material or breaking a needle.

Besides what others have already said about using a walking foot and adjusting tension, I would suggest using a new denim/heavyweight needle.  It really does make a difference.

I second the idea of the walking foot, which is great for quilting because of the thickness of the layers! Happy sewing

Thanks for asking this question, because I've had the same problems myself (I'm a newb to sewing too)