quilting with decorative stitches and not using a walking foot
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Originally Posted by davidinportland
hi there, i'm a new quilter. i've made a few small ones and am about to quilt my first large one (queen sized). I have sewn all the squares together, pinned the batting to the front, and am ready to machine quilt (on a Brother Innov-is 40). The machine has a very cool decorative stitch, but the manual specifically says you cannot use the walking foot on that stitch (i think because there is some reverse action). will this be a disaster or if i'm careful, can i manage without the walking foot (if it's well pinned)?
much machine quilting is done without a walking foot- walking feet are used for straight stitching- stitch in the ditch, cross hatch ect. using anything but a straight stitch with a walking foot you risk the needle hitting the foot, breaking and causing any number of problems.
you should use the foot the machine tells you to use for the selected stitch or a free-motion(darning foot)
if your (sandwich is thick) you may need to (ease up) on the pressure from your foot- that's where the free-motion foot makes a difference.
if your quilt is not real (lofty) you should not have any problems----
PRACTICE ON SMALL BEFORE ATTACKING ACTUAL QUILT!
thank you!
-David
much machine quilting is done without a walking foot- walking feet are used for straight stitching- stitch in the ditch, cross hatch ect. using anything but a straight stitch with a walking foot you risk the needle hitting the foot, breaking and causing any number of problems.
you should use the foot the machine tells you to use for the selected stitch or a free-motion(darning foot)
if your (sandwich is thick) you may need to (ease up) on the pressure from your foot- that's where the free-motion foot makes a difference.
if your quilt is not real (lofty) you should not have any problems----
PRACTICE ON SMALL BEFORE ATTACKING ACTUAL QUILT!
thank you!
-David
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mountains of Montana
Posts: 558
Welcome from Montana. About the walking foot-well, I've used mine for the fancy stitches without any problem. I just make sure that the needle doesn't hit anywhere on the plate of the walking foot. With that being said I also have a Brother that uses a generic walking foot. I think that they have different types for the other machines. How else does anyone get cool looking stitches on their projects that have more than one layer?
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 2,201
Good morning and welcome from Arizona, about the Walking foot, take it for a test drive on a scrap, be careful, there probably was a reason for them telling you not to use it. Let us know what happens, too!
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