Thread: Hoping someone can help me with a little confusion...

Originally Posted by LUANNH

What kind of machine do you have? I backsitch on mt 14 yr old New Home Memory Craft 9000 while using the walking foot all the time and never had a problem with my machine. Maybe it's the newer machines, I had not ever heard this before. Worth checking with your local dealer for his advice on your machine. JMHO

Thank you, I have a newer Singer that I purchased as a Today's Special Value on HSN....it came with a ton of feet, but not a Walking foot, so I purchased it separately from a LQS. It didn't come with any information other than attachment. But I think I will check with Singer. Thanks again...

Originally Posted by candi

Regarding the walking foot, why not check with the insert that came with yours? Mine says if my stitch length is at 3 or below, I can reverse stitch. I think it all depends on the brand you are using. I personally won't take anyone's other than the manufatcurer's words for what I can or can't do with my sewing machine and accessories, lol.

A friend was telling me about doing the binding completely by machine, and I tried it on a small quilt for the first time and it worked nicely. Attach the binding in the back of the quilt, turn your quilt over and use a washable glue to glue down the binding on the front, then use your favorite stitch to secure it down.


Good luck.

ooh, I also meant to say that I don't reverse stitch when quilting, rather, I take a few very small stitches at the beginning and end.

Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by oatw13

I cannot reverse with my walking foot because of the gears inside of it. Instead, you can use locking stitches. If your machine doesn't have a locking stitch setting, just set the stitch length to zero and sew several stitches in the same place. This creates a knot that holds the thread in place. When you are ready to move forward, just reset the stitch length. When you get to the end, repeat the locking stitches in the same way.

This sounds great, thank you so much!

The walking foot is not designed to work backwards. That is correct. However, you can decrease the stitch length at the beginning of your seam to 4 or 6 mm and sew about 5 tiny stitches. Then change to the regular length (or actually a little larger for quilting) and sew to the end of the line where you secure the end with tiny stitches again. Works like a charm!

As for the binding - that is personal preference. I still like to sew mine down by hand in the back.

Originally Posted by MadQuilter

The walking foot is not designed to work backwards. That is correct. However, you can decrease the stitch length at the beginning of your seam to 4 or 6 mm and sew about 5 tiny stitches. Then change to the regular length (or actually a little larger for quilting) and sew to the end of the line where you secure the end with tiny stitches again. Works like a charm!

As for the binding - that is personal preference. I still like to sew mine down by hand in the back.

Thank you! This is my first quilt, and I may discover I prefer hand stitching to machine to finish my binding as well!

Even though I can backstitch with the accufeed (Janome) I don't because it
adds bulk. I prefer to use smaller stitches. Never had a problem.

I don't use a seperate walking foot, mine is built in so it works either way.

on the binding, if I am machining both sides I sew it to the back fold it to the front and sew it down, if I am hand sewing one, I sew it to the front and fold it to the back and hand sew it down, depends on the quilt and what it is being used for to what I do.

I have a Babylock and I backstitch with the walking foot. Knock on wood, I haven't had any problems so far. If I have time, I like to sew my binding on the front, fold to the back and handstitch it down. However, most of the time I am trying to finish by a 'date' (wedding, shower, birth, etc.) so I sew to the back, and then stitch to the front also. Sometimes I straight stitch and sometimes I try out the decorative stitches. This method works for me, but I think it is a personal preference..

I sew my bindings all by machine. I sew it to the back first, then bring it over to the front and top stitch close to the edge. Works great for me, and saves bunches of time!

Originally Posted by MadQuilter

The walking foot is not designed to work backwards. That is correct.

Yikes! For real?

I go backwards all the time with mine (Bernina) because I'm too lazy to turn the quilt. My entire bee does it - Pfaffs, Janomes, Vikings.

I'm going to hope (fingers crossed ) that if it were a problem for a particular machine, it would make some horrible noise in warning.

Maybe it's just the generic feet?

Yikes!