walking foot necessary?

It's possible to make anything without any tools, but truthfully, the tools are there to cut down on problems, and no one wants problems. To buy one you have to know whether your machine has a high or low shank, though (I think I said that right, someone correct me if I said it wrong, as it's been so long since I thought about it). Anyway, it's job is to keep the material from edging around and shifting, creating bunching. It's possible to do a good job without one depending on your personal skill and attention to the smallest detail in problems, but if you can get one it will remove more of the risk of doing a bunch of work and finding out it really is a 'bunch' and will now need to be taking out or ditched. They are a blessing, and remove a lot of the risk of problems.

Reply to
cozyhomelife
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I'd like to machine quilt the quilt I'm working on now (my second), as I don't have the time or patience to hand-quilt and hand-tying doesn't really go with the way the quilt looks so far. I don't have a walking foot for my sewing machine. Are they really necessary for machine quilting? I have a Pfaff Hobby, which I'm happy with, but it isn't the fanciest of machines.

Reply to
Sara Lorimer

Well, my mom did it on her first quilt and it turned out great - no wrinkles, tucks or pleats on the back.

You need to really, really, really baste your quilt well.

You should loosen the pressure on your pressure foot to help with the thickness of the quilt.

Also, if you have a darning foot you can drop the feed dogs, and free motion quilt. You control the stitch length with that technique. With your Pfaff, you might have to put the foot in the mezanine position though. I know you do for some Pfaffs in order for them to free motion correctly.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

You only want the walking foot for the long straight lines. And no, it isn't essential, especially if you baste very closely (I use 1" brass safety pins.) My Pfaff has a built-in top transporter (= walking foot), doesn't yours? Pfaff makes a big foot, like a giant darning foot, for free-motion quilting, and it can't be very expensive. Go try one out in the store and see if you like it. In any case, if this is your 1st venture into machine quilting, make yourself a small practice sandwich about 12" square to try out thread tensions and free motion. I find that I reduce the top tension quite a bit, especially if using invisible thread. Roberta in D

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Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Um... I don't know. I'll dig out the manual and find out. I'm new to this all, very new...

Good idea.

I'll do that.

Reply to
Sara Lorimer

I've been basting with safety pins. How close would they have to be, do you think?

Will do, thanks.

Reply to
Sara Lorimer

About a 4 inch grid. Pretty close but it will really keep things from shifting.

Also, a walking foot (or integrated dual feed that some Pfaffs have) can be used for many, many more things than straight lines. Without having to turn the quilt in circles and drive yourself crazy you can do all manner of continuous line patterns like cables with curves and pivots. Don't limit yourself! ;-)

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

If you're going to do straight lines or gentle curves, a walking foot will be worth its weight in gold to you, Sara. :) The problem is that the feed dogs under the quilt sandwich tend to pull the bottom layer along, but the presser foot on top will push the top layer toward you a little. That causes shifting and puckers over the course of quilting each section and will lead to major frustration on your part. The walking foot actually adds "feed dogs" to the top, so now your quilt sandwich will move along evenly, avoiding those puckers if you've pin basted well. HTH. Best of luck!

Reply to
Sandy Foster

Walking feet aren't complete necessary, but they sure do make life easier! How I wish I would have had and known about walking feet back when I was making down coats from Frostline kits. My sewing life sure would have been easier then!

Reply to
Donna in Idaho

I know that I heard that the walking foot was originally designed for garment sewing to match plaids, stripes, patterns.

Bonnie, in Middletown, Va

Reply to
Bonnie Patterson

I love my walking foot - it's great for straight lines or for putting binding on ... but if you plan to just stipple or free motion quilt (like any design you please), an embroidery foot will do the job - just lower your feed dogs and create - it's great fun.

Sharon (N.B.) ..............................................................

Reply to
clancyc

I agree with you on the stipling. Lowering feed dogs and using a foot that looks like a tiny embroidery foot was what I liked best for that technique. I can't remember, how much, or if I released the pressure off the pressure foot completely, what do you do about that when stippling? I can't even imagine doing stipling with a walking foot, I think it wouldn't work, but maybe I'm wrong.

Reply to
cozyhomelife

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