When attempting to sew rather thin material the main presser foot has not enough downward pressure to keep the material from sliding around. This is on a Singer 111W. Works fine on leather etc. I thought that the little cleats on the bottom should clamp against the main foot while the smaller foot lifts up and goes forward.

Check your owner's manual for presser foot pressure adjustment. Yours is probably set too lightly.

Some machines have a pressure setting for the presser foot. Check your owner's manual. If the fabric is slick, you can add tissue paper to the fabric to help keep it under control while stitching. When finished, the tissue can just be torn away. Also, check for a teflon foot, walking foot, or roller foot to see if that will help with the stitching.

Depends on your machine (which we do not know).

Adjusting the feed dogs is something you should not attempt to do. Instead, if your machine has the capability, you would adjust the presser foot pressure. Instructions should be included in your owner's manual. Loosening the pressure will allow the machine to handle thicker fabric.

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Check if your machine has a presser foot pressure adjustment. Most machines do. It sounds like the pressure on your machine is set to the minimal or it is malfunctioning.
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ADJUSTING THE PRESSER FOOT PRESSURE

Adjusting the presser foot pressure on your sewing machine

Are you saying the presser foot has very light pressure on the fabric? If so, most machines have the ability to increase the pressure the presser foot applies to fabric and feed dogs. It depends on your machine's make & model where & how that pressure is adjusted. Older machines usually have a large skrew or knob at the top of the needle bar that tightens down on a big spring, thus the tighter spring increases the pressure. Newer machines sometimes have a dial usually located on the top left or side of the machine head. (Consult your owner's manual.)

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The Best Kept Secret on Your Sewing Machine Sew Daily

Parts of Sewing Machine Pressure Adjustment

Under Pressure Adjusting Presser Foot Pressure

Do you guide the material with your hands while sewing?

Check the user manual. You can view, download, or print the manual free from the viking website - http://www.manuals.husqvarnaviking.com
See page 11.

Changing the Presser Foot ! Turn off the main switch

1. Make sure that the needle is in the highest position. Pull the presser foot towards you and slight pressure downwards.
2. Line up the cross pin on the foot between the spring and the presser foot ankle. Press back until the foot snaps into place

Not sure what machine you have. Sounds like there's so much force from the pressure foot that the feed dogs can't advance the material. Can you reduce the tension on the presser foot incrementally? If not, try releasing the presser foot but keep some tension on it manually.

Can you see the feed dogs moving?

un thread, raise the pressure foot then manually turn the flywheel towards you and watch the feed dogs (the teeth that move under the needle plate). If they are not moving around and coming up above the needle plate then one of two things:
either you've accidentially disengaged the feed dogs, check the manual for instructions to reengage, sometimes a knob, button or slide, often on the front base or around the back of the free arm.

If they are engaged but not moving up at all, then something has gone in the drive to them, usually a gear in the free arm area. In which case, take to the shop for repair.