Does anyone know if you can do decorative stitches using a walking foot. I need to sew the binding on a quilt for my DD and want to use a decorative stitch. There aren't any instructions in my manual about how to use it. Thanks for your help and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

YES YOU SURE CAN

I just did a vine/leaves stitch with mine, but I found I had to help it do the backwards stitching to do the leaves. I didn't have to do much, just kind of guide it back gently. You could probably do a little practice on a layered square of fabric and try it out. That's what I did first to see if mine would do it at all.

I have, but the stitches weren't even. Apparently, you aren't supposed to go backward with a walking foot. I think Viking's new one is supposed to work, but I haven't tried it myself (too pricey). It does work well on some of the stitches though. I love the serpentine stitch and use that often.

I think it depends on the walking foot and the machine. I have a Pfaff with the built in walking foot (enough said because I'm spoiled). If the needle clears the foot I don't see why not. I would think playing around on a practice sandwich would be in order. Things that will work just fine in some areas of your quilt might not work on bindings, etc due to thicknesses.

I did it and loved the way it looked.

Thanks. I'm going to try it and see IF I can figure out how it works.

as long as the pattern does not have any backward motion. Them feet don't like to go backwards.

Just make sure the hole in the WF is big enough

I have a Huskvarna machine, and the walking foot DOES go backwards! (one of it's special features)

Mine works really well for decorative stitches.
The ones I use take a stitch or two back and then most forward and to the sides. :D:D:D

I use mine all the time with decorative stitches. I even sewed a zipper in with the walking foot when I forgot my zipper foot while on retreat. It might not work on the conventional method of installing a zipper but I wanted the tape to show as I was using it as a pop of hot pink color on a black and white quilted duffle bag.

Nice to know I have one with my machine and never used it before.

According to my Pfaff dealer you are not supposed to use the walking foot or the Pfaff even feed with any stitch that requires going backwards.

He said the the whole idea of the walking foot/even feed is to move the fabric forward evenly so doing anything the requires backing up is not good for the foot or the even feed mechanism. He said if you do it, the stitches are often distorted and you risk causin it to not work properly.

I have a Pffaf and it tells me on the LDC display when I choose a decorative stitch whenther I can can use the even feed or not.

Careful! I have a Baby Lock and ruined my first walking foot by going backwards. The lady at the store said that some of the decorative stitches go not only backwards, but sideways, too. If your manual says OK, then OK, but if it says don't, then DON'T!

Thank you for posting this. I too have a Huskvarna and recently purchased the walking foot and didn't even know it would go backward. There instructions are in so many languages and not very clear so thanks...

No! You definitely shouldn't use a walking foot for decorative stitches as they will become distorted! A walking foot is designed to only take the fabric in one direction but, for decorative stitches, the fabric is generally moved in several directions . The only time you can guarantee it to work is if the stitches move forward towards you - I hope that makes sense!

My Babylock walking foot instructions say you may use with
zig-zag stitches, but never backwards.

So I guess the answer is: it depends on the decorative stitch. Not all of them go backwards. I have feet for my Pfaff that are designed for the IDT and for decorative stitches. I think it depends on the foot in that case.

:lol:
I have only used mine for the basic. NEVER EVER thought of decorative stitching.
Thanks everyone for reply.
This is what is so lovely about this site, you are NEVER TO OLD to learn.
Am going to give this a go also

I finally found the instructions in the manual. It says I can use it for forward and zig zag stitches. I'm going to try it on a scrap for a simple decorative stitch that doesn't have any backward stitching. I have a Brother ES600, nothing fancy but it does almost everything I need. I do wish it did embroidery though.

Thanks everyone for your input. Everyone is so helpful here.

I had a machine like that once and did more embroidery on it than I do now with a fancier machine. You should look into Free Motion Embroidery. All you need for that is to drop (or cover) your feed dogs and use a zig-zag stitch. That is still my preferred method of embroidery. It takes a little practice like FMQ but is similar in process. If you can't find any information give me a PM and I'll help find some.

thanks for the info. I'll have to try it.

Yes you can with a lot of guidance.