You might try sanding the hole with an emery board, it may make it smooth enough to use.

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.'

ali

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.

She doesn't remove the spring, but she does bend the bar at top backwards to keep the foot from "hopping." I did it to my quilting foot and I'm so glad it no longer "hops." You have to use a rubber band or some sort of band to keep the spring depressed enough to allow the foot to just hover over the fabric, or press down on it lightly. I find my stitches are a lot smoother since the foot no longer hops.

I knew you all would have some great suggestions and advice! The foot I was using was a generic foot because I was FMQ'ing on my vintage 15-91. The foot was advertised as fitting a 15-91 and it was doing a great job until the needle hit the rim. It went all the way through the rim! I guess I will be more aggressive with trying to sand off the rough places and see if that will work. It can't make it any worse...
I usually never hesitate to take back a product that is defective, but I am not sure if it was the foot or me that didn't work right! Plus, I can't find the receipt, either!
Thanks, everyone - you all are the best!

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.

I took a FMQ class at my LQS and the instructor brought his Dremel tool and cut the front off of everyone's that wanted it done. It worked perfectly and I really like the openness of it.