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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: CHRISTINA19
Date: 01-09-2005, 12:31 PM (1 of 15)
 Hello everyone, I wonder if anyone can help? I am just staring to learn how to quilt however the problem I have is that I have so many feet with my sewing machine I don't know what a 'walking foot' looks like. I have mislaid the manual that came with the machine so I am at a loss. Could anyone put a picture on the site or e-mail it to me? I really would be very grateful if anyone can help and hopefully I will have a reply very soon.Many thanks, Christina .................A Mothers Love Is Unconditional...........
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User: CHRISTINA19
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 4 
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From: susies1955
Date: 01-09-2005, 01:33 PM (2 of 15)
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Christina, I might have been able to find you what yours looked like if I knew what machine you had but they basically all look similar to this: Walking Foot (http://tinyurl.com/3tcr2) Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124 
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From: CHRISTINA19
Date: 01-09-2005, 08:39 PM (3 of 15)
Thanks for the picture susies, I have a 'Newhome' sewing machine (similar to the 'Janome') still trying to figure out what all the feet are for. Whilst I don't have a foot that looks like the one in your picture I have something fairly similar, just need to figure out how to put it on and how to use it....  Is there any chance you could explain to me why I cannot use the ordinary foot for quilting, why does it have to be a 'walking foot'? Is there something special about it? Any feedback would be gratfully received. 
.................A Mothers Love Is Unconditional...........
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User: CHRISTINA19
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 4
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From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-09-2005, 10:16 PM (4 of 15)
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Hi Christina, This is another Susie not the one that orginally posted to you with the pic. A walking foot had teeth that grab the fabric from the top side while the feed dogs pull from the bottom. When you quilt the fabric with the batting is thick and would have a hard time feeding through your machine without a little help. So that's why you use a walking foot it helps pull the thick quilt on top while the feed dogs move the fabric through on the bottom as you sew. I have a Janome 9000 and my walking foot doesn't look exactly like that one in the pic she showed you but similar. You have to make sure the little lever on the foot rides on top of the screw for the needle. As the needle goes up so does the little lever and it causes the foot to pull the fabric back under the presser foot. Usually what you have to do is take off the regular foot and the part that hold the snap on foot on then install the walking foot. Hope this helps |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: susies1955
Date: 01-10-2005, 03:40 AM (5 of 15)
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Christina, Susie (mother-in-law) gave you a great answer. Wish you the best, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: Margaret Mary
Date: 01-10-2005, 07:12 AM (6 of 15)
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Hi There. Try Google to find a "Newhome" walking foot.  You may have one and not know it. Once you see the actual pictue you will know. Blessings, Margaet Mary |
User: Margaret Mary
Member since: 01-02-2005 Total posts: 5 
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From: CHRISTINA19
Date: 01-10-2005, 08:03 AM (7 of 15)
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Well a very big thank you to 'susie 2' , you have explained it beautifully and now i understand. thank you also to 'susie 1' and 'margaret mary' for help and advice. It was very much appreciated. You are lovely people.
.................A Mothers Love Is Unconditional...........
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User: CHRISTINA19
Member since: 01-09-2005 Total posts: 4
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From: wghmch
Date: 01-10-2005, 09:55 PM (8 of 15)
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"As the needle goes up so does the little lever and it causes the foot to pull the fabric back under the presser foot." [COLOR=Navy]Actually, this is a common misconception. The walking feet that we use as add ons for domestic sewing machines, have no feeding ability whatsoever. All that a walking foot does, (and very few people understand this) is to eliminate the resistance of the standard foot dragging on the fabric. The walking foot has two surfaces that are capable of holding the fabric down. The fabric needs to be held down for two reasons. The first reason is so that it will stay in place while the needle makes the stitch. One of the surfaces holds it at this time. The second reason is to hold it against the feed dogs so they can move it. The second surface (section of the foot) does this, but IT IS HINGED. As a result, when this surface is on the fabric, it will follow along with the motion created by the feed dogs without sliding (dragging) on the fabric. When the fabric gets to the end of the stroke, the other surface (section of the foot) comes down to hold it in place, and the hinged one rises and is pulled back to its starting point by a gentle spring. So now you know............the rest of the story! Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-11-2005, 12:07 AM (9 of 15)
I'm so glad you explained that to me Bill.  I really thought the way I explained it was how it worked. That's the way it looked like to me anyway. LOL I really don't care how it works I just know it makes my life a little easier when I use it on thick fabric and that's good for me. If you work on machines could you gives us some tips on how to use other things for the machine that would make our machines work harder for us. Like short cuts. Any wisdom  you might have would be appreciated.
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User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: wghmch
Date: 01-11-2005, 12:28 AM (10 of 15)
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Thanks for the kind words Susie. I'm long retired, and usually only jump in when a subject comes up on which I have specific knowledge. My specialties are the older US built mechanical machines (circa 1930-60) and Husqvarna built mechanicals from 1960-80. My opinions about the plastic wonders of today and the ethics of the industry in general, do not win me any popularity contests in quite a few circles. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: Mother in Law
Date: 01-11-2005, 02:47 AM (11 of 15)
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My step Dad was a Singer Sewing Center repair man. He had a Sewing Center from the 70's until somewhere in the 90's when he retired but he repair machines in his home earlier than that. He died last year in Feb but he was forced out the business he said by the Discount stores of today like WalMart. They could sell the machines for less then he could get them. He also so said the machines were getting far too sophicated for him to work on, another words the new computer age came along and he couldn't work on those machines. I bought a Singer from him before he retired and I wore a part out on the machine and he told me he didn't know where I could get that part from now a days so I purchased a new one and through the old one out. I didn't know you could get parts on the internet like you can now,  I should have keep it and maybe I would have had another machine as a back up. Thanks for the info. |
User: Mother in Law
Member since: Total posts: |
From: ripoutartist
Date: 09-19-2005, 02:29 PM (12 of 15)
| I notice that you are all talking about using the walking foot for quilting. Can it also be used for other items that don't require any easing of seams, such as pillows? |
User: ripoutartist
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 5 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 09-21-2005, 09:07 AM (13 of 15)
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Yes...you can use it to sew plaids and silky fabrics or napped, specialty fabrics such as velveteen, corduroy and fur. It will help keep stripes and checks matched, and can be used to sew pucker-free seams when working on large projects such as draperies that require long seams.
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: ripoutartist
Date: 09-21-2005, 01:33 PM (14 of 15)
| Thanks, Judy. I assume that since I have a Singer machine, it would be best that I get a Singer walking foot. The reason I mention it is that another kind that I saw was much cheaper. I saw it at a sewing seminar and my impression was that it would fit any machine if you know whether you needed a long or short shank. |
User: ripoutartist
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 5 |
From: esrun3
Date: 09-21-2005, 10:23 PM (15 of 15)
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get the one that goes with your machine...others might fit but at least if you buy from your dealer you don't have to worry about the shank length, etc.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
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