brandeesmom

I have never heard of having to drop the feed dogs when using a walking foot. Does the walking foot work better if the feed dogs are down?

quiltjoey

You can piece with a regular foot just so you know where your 1/4" seam will be when the needle is in the down position. You can also purchase a 1/4" pressor foot. A walking foot is used with the feed dogs in the up position. The feed dogs move the fabric from the underneath side and the walking foot moves the fabric on the top side. It is used mostly for quilting, sewing through the 3 layers of fabric known as a sandwich; top, batting, backing. I use it all the time, even for piecing...
I would suggest you find a LQS (local quilt shop) or fabric shop that teaches basic sewing. Also You Tube has tons of videos about quilting, sewing, rotary cutting, all types of sewing/quilting tools and how to use them.
I wish you well with your new endeavor of entering the wonderful world of quilting! You will love the Quilting Board for there are so many wonderful people here ready to do their best to answer questions and give encouragement. God bless...

Painiacs

Take your time! Read the direction few times before cutting! Dont get discouraged, ask questions! Most of us have been through it, experienced it! Make friends with ''jack the ripper'' your seam ripper! '
Show us what you make!!!!!

Jannie

If you bought your machine at a dealer, ask to see if they offer lessons for your machine. If you didn't buy it from a dealer, I would check to see if there was a Brother dealer in your area that would give lessons.

jeanharville

Brandi, I live in SW Arkansas on Millwood lake. Do you live anywhere near me? I would be glad to help you with the basics. Plus we have quilting guilds close by.

vondae

I know you have gotten tons of good advice, so I won't add mine. But, I will make a suggestion, yes watch lot's of youtube videos but I would also suggest you buy or get at the library a quilting book for beginners. They have several that is very easy to understand with lot's of good pictures. I'm a newer quilter (almost 2 yrs.) & I use mine all the time. Also, there are lot's of good magazines geared for newer quilters. I like "Quick Quilts" & "Quilting Quickly". Lot's of easy patterns & easy instructions & help. There is tons of good help out there, but, you will find the most help right here on the QB. Welcome to QB & Quilting. You have set sail on a great adventure. Ahoy!!!

SimpsonFrances

One of the best things I did was to take a rotary cutting class. I also advise you to join a quilt guild or group and take classes if you can. One thing about quilters is that they love to share knowledge. You will really enjoy your machine and hobby more. Quilting is one of those hobbies that has many facets and many techniques. So you will learn forever. The youtube videos are great too.

rilene

I use my walking foot for piecing, sewing on the binding, and for quilting straight line. You`re going to love it!

ktbb

no - you need to keep feed dogs engaged with a walking foot. with a darning foot/free motion foot they're disengaged.

QUOTE=feffertim;6159155]I use my walking foot for piecing but you do not have to drop your feed dogs before using it. Look on Facebook , there are hundreds of videos that will answer all your questions. Just put in 'walking foot' or 1/4 foot and you will get all the help you could ever need.[/QUOTE]

happyquiltmom

I use my regular foot for piecing and follow the 1/4" mark on the bed of my machine (which happens to be the right edge of the feed dogs). I use the walking foot for straight line quilting and for putting on the binding. You must use the feed dogs with the walking foot. The feed dogs move the bottom layer and the walking foot moves the top layer at the same rate. The only time I lower the feed dogs is when I'm doing free motion quilting with my darning foot. This allows me to guide the quilt under the needle with no interference from the machine.