Thread: Best foot for FMQ?

I use an open toe darning foot. It is metal.
I also use the plastic big foot one. I took a small round file from my DH tool box, slipped it through the hole and gently 'sanded' off some of the plastic, going around the opening. This made it wider. I keep a glass emery file in my sewing supply drawer. It is tapered on the end for getting into small spaces. I also have the nail files with the buffing side. This finishes off smoothing out the repairs I have done on the plastic feet. No sharp edges were left on the plastic. Very smooth. I then tested the needle widths on my machine to make sure the needle wouldn't hit the plastic. I haven't had a problem with the screw loosening up, or any other part of the big foot.

Originally Posted by AliKat

I actually had a friend cut out the front part of my embroidery/fmq foot. I can see what I am doing much better.

I was told in an embroidery class that I couldn't/shouldn't do this because it wouldn't work. I used it without any problems but the instructor was really out of shape and upset with me. Hmm. Maybe she is in the 'quilt police.'

That's really funny you were told not to do that. Do what works for you!
I took a class at the Des Moines quilt show and we were told that the whole reason Bernina started making their open toe foot is Diane Gaudynski (who is one of their spokespeople, or was?) was cutting off the front of her darning foot. They realized there was a need for it.

For embroidery (if not free motion) I can understand the need for a closed foot. With such a high rate of speed, it helps the needle hit in a more precise places, by pressing the fabric around it down.

I have mainly used an open toe darning foot. My wonderful Janome dealer suggested that I go to the sort of foot youare talking about and SLOW DOWN. I had something similar happen when I had a Bernina, both because I was quilting fast and because with my fast quilting, the foot had worked loose. Check with your dealer about what he/she would reccommend for your particular machine.