baste before you sew lond stretches. place pins together closely perpendicular to the edge and keep checking alignment. It's worth it.

When you pin, keep the pins in the seam allowance or you will not get the pin holes out--I used my hair roller clips and metal pincurl clips to eliminate the while problem. Also use a longer machine stitch and lighten the presser foot pressure, use a roller foot if you can, or you will have puckers and misaligned seams. Most of all, keep simple lines with as few darts as possible. When you dry press, you will need a needle board or thick towel to press seams.

What are you making from the silk velvet?

i would think a roller foot would cause more sliding?

I am making a child's dress.

I have heard about the walking foot but have never used one. Would this be a good option? I'm not sure what a roller foot is.

Thanks for the responses :)

Bernina recommends a walking foot for velvets, velveteens, corduroy, satin, sateen and silk...all pile and slippery fabrics. Plus it's great for quilting and matching plaids so they don't slip.

Roller feet are used for plastic, vinyl, and leather. Bernina makes two types; one resembles a regular presser foot but has rollers on the underside, the other is one large roller on its side or vertical. This one is to the left of the sewing area and gives better visibility of the stitching area.

Mary

Thanks so much. I will give that walking foot a try.

I did not have a walking foot either when making a dress for my daughters either. I basted perpendicular to the edge, around 1/4 on side of the seam line. I did this twice, once a straight stitch then like a zigzag going from side to side (this I did from each side). No more problem. I have used this for many slippery fabrics and plaids and stripes. Hope this helps.