mike'sgirl

I saw a lady on Youtube that was showing how she embroiders and sews applique without a foot on her machine. I don't mean for this to be a thread to bash her, just want to know others thoughts on this technique.

DebraK

dangerous, is the first word that comes to mind. that's not bashing, just an observation.

QuiltE

Ditto on the Dangerous comment!


Another thought ... what is she accomplishing by not using a foot?
Aren't our machines designed to function with a foot?

Holice

It was a technique used back in the days before we had the fancy feet. There is even a needle with a spring surrounding it that was used. the technique is the forerunner of thread painting. You used an embroidery hoop.

And you are correct about it being dangerous.

Greenheron

I thought this was going to be an inspirational post. Just didn't know why lacking a foot would be a big problem. (BTW I did embroidery without a presser foot or a free motion foot for a while--keep your fingers outside the hoop folks.)

Candace

Not something I'd even consider since I've gotten my finger 'needled' with a foot on. I'd be even more of a clutz without a foot!

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I've done it and amazingly didn't sew my finger. In some ways it is easier because you can really see where you are going.

Jingle

My Singer 328K we bought in 1962/1963 shows doing this for monagrams, in the manual. Just keeping your hands away from the needle will make it quite a bit safer. It is not that you need a ffot on the machine. You just must have the presser foot lever in the down position.

Tartan

I saw some amazing embroidery done without the foot on youtube. It looked like an old Singer and the man doing it was embroidering on silk with silk thread. Absolutely incredible!

Lori S

I gave it a try years ago to do some machine embroidery, I had my best luck when I used a stabilizer under it. Using and old fashioned hoop was also a big help. I traced on to the fabric with a light pencil mark the areas of design. I did get a free motion foot when they became available..