Using a "Hump Jump"

There's a tool in my sewing machine kit called a “button shank plate”. It is designed to use when adding buttons to thick fabric, so the button doesn’t pull on the fabric.

However, I discovered another use for it: as a “hump jump”. This has been very handy. 

“Hump jump” refers to when you come to a seam that is higher than the rest of the fabric around it and you need to get your needle and presser foot over it.

I've been using my button shank plate as a hump jump when sewing on binding, especially when I get to the corners where the fabric layers are thicker, or in art quilts when I have several layers of fabric in an area.

In these instances, the fabric layer is thicker and thus higher on the front side of the presser foot, causing the presser foot to lay at an angle.

Using the hump jump to raise the back of the presser foot so it is on an even plane with the front side of the presser foot helps to catch the stitches and, even better, not break your needle. Your stitches will catch more easily and the presser foot will glide over the seam (or “jump the hump,” if you will).

Don't have one of these tools in your kit? A needle box like the kind that machine needles come in can help do the trick. However, you do have to keep it far behind the needle otherwise the needle will hit the box and can snap or damage your machine. The advantage of the button shank plate is that it has space for the needle.