How to Use a Hump Jumper in Sewing
Are you tired of breaking your needle while sewing over that hump? Thick bulky seams can be quite problematic to sew over. Not only do they increase your needle cost, but they also cause issues like shoving and pulling of the fabric.
Have I mentioned missing stitches? You have probably tried sticking papers, rulers, and wads of material beneath the presser foot. And even then, they have only done as much as alleviating your frustration. But you haven’t solved your problem yet.
Well, not anymore. You have found just the right article and the right tool! A hump jumper.
The Hump Jumper, just as its name reveals, aids to jump over the hump. It is also called the height compensation tool. It keeps the presser foot level allowing the material to feed into the machine correctly.
That eliminates uneven and missed stitches. You also get to jump over the thick seam without crossing your fingers because you do not have to worry about the cost of another needle. What a way to go with your layered fabrics!
What Is A Hump Jumper?
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Sewers know humps. They are a typical encounter, especially while seaming. At some point, you can’t avoid the very fat bulky seams. That is the case, especially when sewing pants, drapery, craft projects, denim clothes, belt loops, zippers, to mention a few.
Without a tool to keep the presser foot parallel to the machine bed, your needle breaks, and your stitches come out as very uneven. Having to sew and re-sew those layers of fabric to achieve a perfect stitch can be very frustrating.
The hump jumpers exist particularly to end your frustration. In short, if you want to get rid of broken needles, skipped stitches, or even irregular stitch length, you should go for a hump jumper.
The hump jumper is a bent yellow plastic. It has two slots at the center, which hold the needle between the two sides. There is an additional little hole in one of the sides, which you can use as a needle inserter.
It is where you put the sewing machine needle and have it held in position by the jumper.
How to Use a Hump Jumper in Sewing?
As you try to get over that large thick seam, the presser foot tends to slant slightly. What causes this is the difference in levels between the single layer of fabric and the multiple layers of fabric.
The presser foot is no-longer level, and the machine will not sew properly. You use a hump jumper mainly to ease the presser foot up and make it level. Pass the jumper at the lower side of the presser foot.
The hump jumper will maintain the same level as the presser foot as you sew the seams. It will also keep it parallel to the machine bed. There will be an equal linking of the presser foot and the feed dog beneath it.
Therefore, if you have chunky layers, they will have similar feeding. Ultimately, you get agreeing stitches.
The jumper has two ends, each end having a different groove and thickness. It is to allow its use in a variety of applications. One of the sides is 1/8-inch-thick, whereas the other is 3/16 inch thick. The considerations to make while selecting the width include:
1. Check The Thickness of the Seam
Check the thickness of your seam before you begin to sew over it. It will help to select the right side. Once you have determined that, take your hump jumper and use the side closest to that thickness. Do it so that you can have as minimal slanting of the presser foot as possible.
2. The Part You Are Sewing
When sewing a bulky seam, the side with 1/8-inch thickness does a great job. You place it under the presser foot and on top of the fabric. Ensuring that the needle remains down, you lower the foot and sew. Use this at the seam start of sheer fabric and use the 1/16″ width to stop bunching up material at the edge.
When sewing a corner, the side with the 3/16-inch thickness is preferable. The process is straightforward, as well.
Step 1: Sew to the corner and lift the presser foot.
Step 2: Keep the needle down. Then, rotate your fabric 90 degrees to the other side of the material.
Step 3: Place the side with the 3/16-inch thickness under the presser foot.
Step 4: Drop the presser foot and go on with your sewing. It makes a perfect corner!
How to Sew a Thick Seam With a Hump Jumper?
Those very bulky thick seams don’t have to be problematic anymore. Here is a step by step guide on how to go over those seams with the help of a hump jumper.
Step 1: Sew your fabric until you approach a thick seam.
Step 2: Put the needle down. Then, lift the presser foot.
Step 3: Slip the hump jumper beneath the presser foot, making sure it is behind the needle and at the rear of the foot. It levels the presser foot such that it is parallel to the machine bed.
Step 4: Your machine can now easily sew across the seam. Stop sewing when you get to the other end of the seam to prevent the presser foot from slanting forward.
Step 5: Once again, set the needle down. After that, lift the presser foot.
Step 6: Remove the hump jumper and continue sewing.
Step 7: Place the hump jumper in front of the needle. Then complete sewing the seam.
Step 8: Leave the needle down and remove the hump jumper.
Your very fat seam is all neatly done!
How to Sew a Button With a Hump Jumper
Many of the world’s possibilities and particularly those of the sewing world, happen to be surprising. One of those possibilities is that of sewing on buttons with a sewing machine. Yes! You can sew buttons using your sewing machine just as long as it has a zig-zag stitch option.
What’s even better is that this little plastic tool will make it super easy. The hump jumper serves to elevate the button so that the long stitches will form a shank under the button.
Let us get started:
Step 1: Firstly, remove the presser foot. After that, lower the feed dogs.
Step 2: Select the zig-zag stitch on your machine.
Step 3: Select an appropriate width, ensuring that the grooves line up with the two holes on your button. Test and see if they match.
Step 4: Place the fabric on the machine bed.
Step 5: Put the hump jumper underneath the presser foot holder. The button follows on top. It is essential to position the hump jumper so that the needle can go through the buttonholes and into the needle slots without coming into contact with it.
Step 6: Your machine, sewing tool, fabric, and button are all set up. Begin to sew slowly, making sure you don’t hit the button or the hump jumper with the needle.
Can You Sew With the Presser Foot Up?
As thick as your seam maybe, raising the presser foot is not an idea you should consider. Having it in the up position while you sow will cause the thread to tangle and the bobbin to jam. Hence, it could just cause you more harm than good.
What Can You Use in the Absence of a Jumper?
You can use some suitable items to help your machine go over that bulky seam in the absence of a hump jumper. These are small items with similar thickness to your seam so that the presser foot is not slanted.
Your options may include a nail file, a folded piece of fabric, or a ruler. For convenience, however, and ease of the process, the hump jumper is your best bet.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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