dojo36

retrogirl, if you're planning on stitching in the ditch to quilt your quilt then the walking foot is the way to go. the walking foot has little grippers on the bottom of it so therefore it helps to pull the material thru at the same pace as does the feed dog on the bottom piece of fabric. but if you're going to stipple or do meandering to quilt it, then you drop the feed dog and use a meandering foot or stippling foot as it is called. you probably already know all of that though. they even make a 1/4" walking foot too and i sure do like that, also a stitch in the ditch walking foot. high tech thinks of everything.

Quilting Aggi

Hi Retro... I use my walking foot all the time and not just on quilts. Lately I have been using them on my flip flop tote bags that I sell. Where I am sewing over multiple layers of fabrics and batting, that foot really helps to keep all my fabric evenly sewn and not puckering

Depending on your machine and foot, here is how it is assembled. Take a look at your walking foot. You will notice that you will more than likely have to unscrew the foot you have on your machine now, including the ankle. Align your walking foot so that you can screw it on your machine like your other feet with the ankle.

Now here is the important part. On the right of your walking foot you will see one of two things. Your walking foot will either have ONE arm, OR it will have TWO arms with a groove between it. If you have the foot with ONE arm, then that arm has to go over the screw that keeps your needle in your machine. If you have the TWO arm with the groove, then you need to position the arm so that one arm is over your needle screw and one is below it. (Basically the needle screw is tucked in between the two arms. I have a Husqvarna machine and that is how I put my foot on. If you don't have the arms where they are suppose to be, your foot will not work properly.

You will notice that the your walking foot has a moveable set of feet dogs, this works along with the feet dogs on your machine to guide the quilt evenly without puckers.

If this is your first time machine quilting, I would recommend that you don't do too much quilting where you have to twist and turn your quilt every few seconds to go around a curve or tiny blocks. Find a way to sew as many long straight stitches as you can. This will help you to get use to your machine quilting and give you better practice. Like hand quilting (my biggest love), it is always good to start your quilting in the center of your quilt. When you start your quilting, be sure to leave long tails of thread at the beginning and end. After you quilt it all you can then go back to thread those tails between the layers of the quilt. That way you won't have any backstitching marks.

I hope I didn't confuse you too too much. Perhaps if you need a visual, see about doing a search on Google, but use the Images feature instead of the web feature!!

I am adding a couple of images here. Take a peek at them... You can see (barely) how the arm I was talking about earlier is placed on this machine. This to me looks like a one arm and is over her needle screw.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/machine-quilting-1.jpg



I just did a google search "attaching a quilting foot" using the imaging feature. This is one of the images I found that had the two arm quilting foot. See how the two white arms are hugging around the needle screw.

http://www.brother-usa.com/usaimages/AccessoryImages/Large/sa132.jpg

I hope this helps :)

I hope we get to see a photo of your finished quilt when you have it all quilted!!! :)

Cheers!

retrogirl02

OH MY GOSH!! Thank you so much for the useful information. My walking foot is more like the picture in link 2 Aggi. I was planning to do a stitch in the ditch and prefer hand quilting but am trying to be realistic. I have projects lining up and know I'm so slow at hand quilting. Now that I know what it's really for, I wish I'd have tried it out on my minkee projects---sounds like it would have made life easier. I'll putz around with it a bit before I try it on a quilt....don't want to ruin ll this hard work, you know.
Thank you!

Quilting Aggi

Glad I could help Retrogirl. Its a very good idea to do a practice run first. I suggest the same thing to my students. Just remember when you do start on your full size quilt, to open out your stitch length a little bit more than you would when you sew regularly to accomodate the bulk under the foot. For example, I usually sew regularly around a 2.5 - 3 length. When I quilt I go to 3-3.5.

You are going to have to help guide your quilt through with your hands, but remember not to pull it through or you will get skipped and long stitches. Just take your time with it, relax your neck and shoulders and just have FUN!!!

Cheers

Suz

I also use my walking foot a lot. Just keep in mind, that the needle works loose. Ask me how I know this.

So take heed, every so often, tighten the needle screw or you will learn just like I did.

Suz

Butterflyspain

Hi Retrogirl, I just found this little "How to use" . This might help I have scanned it for you and just hope it comes out okay.

Good luck Elle :D

retrogirl02

Elle,
Came across great! Thank you for taking the time to do that. Aggi, awesome tips, thank you again! Suz, I will watch out for the needle. Sorry my typing isn't up to speed lately...broke my right ring finger and will take a bit to get back up to speed. All my best and happy sewing to each of you.

Butterflyspain

Great, Glad it came out good for you. Happy sewing and mind that finger doesn´t get caught up with your new gadget.

Elle