Presser foot up or down?
#41
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 244
I always put mine down but never was told to put fabric under. I guess it goes back to when there were little ones around and I thought it would be safer to put the foot down. That was many moons ago but I just got into the habit.
#42
I find that leaving the foot down with fabric under it, I start my next seam like I'm chain stitching and I avoid the bunching up that can sometimes happen when starting sewing. I'm currently using my headers and Enders to put together a scrappy quilt while at the same time sewing a "regular" quilt.
#44
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 121
I didn't read all the replies, but I use to work in sewing factories. We always cleaned our machines at the end of the day and put fabric under the pressure foot. The fabric under the foot was to catch any oil drip so at the start of the next day when starting to sew, there would be no oil on the product.
For my home machines I don't put fabric under the foot, but I do put the foot down. I don't believe it is good for the spring to leave it up.
For my home machines I don't put fabric under the foot, but I do put the foot down. I don't believe it is good for the spring to leave it up.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Illinois...near St. Louis
Posts: 392
I know my mechanic leaves the foot down with fabric under it but the needle up. I leave the fooot down but have to admit I don't put the fabric under it.
Thinking about this while reading everyone else's replies I got to thinking:- When the foot is down the tension is on, when it's up the tension is off. Just a thought to ponder.
Thinking about this while reading everyone else's replies I got to thinking:- When the foot is down the tension is on, when it's up the tension is off. Just a thought to ponder.
#47
I know my mechanic leaves the foot down with fabric under it but the needle up. I leave the fooot down but have to admit I don't put the fabric under it.
Thinking about this while reading everyone else's replies I got to thinking:- When the foot is down the tension is on, when it's up the tension is off. Just a thought to ponder.
Thinking about this while reading everyone else's replies I got to thinking:- When the foot is down the tension is on, when it's up the tension is off. Just a thought to ponder.
#48
I was told many years ago in Home Ec class to put the foot down with fabric under it to catch any oil that might drip down. The purpose of the needle down at that time was for safety. There were small children around in the homes most of the time. Now days I don't leave the pressure foot down unless I am transporting my machine. The reason for this is also a safety issue. My machine won't work if the foot isn't down. So with the foot up if one of my grandchildren happens to try playing with my machine it won't sew their fingers. Also the fabric under the needle on older machines was because it could do damage to the machine if sewing was done without fabric in it. I have been told the newer machines aren't like that.
Last edited by sew_itnow; 01-04-2013 at 06:30 PM.
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