PatchouliMoonStudio

Jingle~ I don't have a problem quilting with the foot that came with my Brother, just a problem seeing where I am quilting. If I keep moving the quilt and quilt going toward me I can see well enough, but if I change directions and go back or to the side, I have trouble seeing. There is more wrestling with the quilt to always be moving toward myself.

bigsister63

This machine takes a long shank foot for any kind of foot. Check with Ken's sewing center they carry a FMQ foot for this machine (also the bobbins) Be aware that the part number for Ken's is different then the instruction book but according to Brother's customer service it is the correct number. Another reason for cutting out the plastic is that it can get burrs in the whole causing thread to fray.

PatchouliMoonStudio

Thank you everyone for responding to this. I emailed Brother to ask them if they made an open-toe FMQ foot or if a generic foot would work. Their response was they do not make this foot for the PQ 1500s, but they would forward my suggestion about this to the department in charge of such things. They also told me using an open-toe FMQ foot that is generic or meant for another brand of machine could damage my machine. Okay maybe that is true and maybe not, but I don't want to take that chance. Besides, the feet I have tried obviously do not work and do make noise and do not quilt well. They didn't answer me about if I were to cut out the Brother FMQ foot I have and convert it to an open toe, if that would work. I didn't think they would respond to that.

So if they do indeed create an open-toe FMQ foot in the future, how long would it take? A few years? If I altered the one I have and it didn't work, I would have to buy a new foot. If it works I'm good to go. If they start selling an open-toe foot I would buy one. So if I ruin the foot I have I would buy a new foot. If I wait and see if they make this foot in the future, I would buy that foot, either way I would be spending money for a foot. I do not have a saw for cutting the foot properly, so I think I will start by taking the suggestion of popping out the plastic disk first and see if that's all I need. If not I will ask a friend of mine if she can cut out the front metal portion to make it open.

If I alter this foot I will let you know how or if it worked.

nygal

I also own the Brother PQ1500. I wish it gave a signal when you are running low on bobbin thread. I am so use to seeing when my thread bobbin is getting low on my every day Brother machine but with the PQ you just "run out" without out notice.

Emma S

Patchouli: Will be watching for your update. Thanks for introducing this topic and for your work with the Brother company. As a group we certainly have forced changes in machines in the past.

Cindy V

[QUOTE=PatchouliMoonStudio;6041877]I love my Brother PQ 1500s sewing machine for free motion quilting and piecing, but I have a question. The free motion foot works great while FMQ, but it's so hard to see what I am doing. I feel somewhat like I quilt sight-impaired because I cannot see because of the way this FM foot is designed. I went on ebay to find an open-toe FM foot and even found one that looks exactly like foot that came with my Brother machine, only it does have the open toe. I was so excited to buy it and try it. It did fit my machine, but it would NOT operate as smoothly as my FM foot. It sat up a bit higher too and made a bit of a racket when I tried to use it and the bottom line it didn't work or quilt with good stitches. I returned it and explained my reasons as I am explaining here.

I tried other open toe FM generic feet too and they did not work either. Doesn't Brother make this foot in an open toe for THIS machine? I cannot find answers anywhere. I don't understand why the foot that comes with the machines quilts beautifully, yet no other foot I have tried will work right. I would even be willing to buy a new foot and take the foot I have now and have someone cut out the opening to make it and open toe if that would mean that it would work, but I am a bit afraid to try this as it might not work or be a pricey experiment. But the plastic on my FM foot is getting rather scratched and even harder to see what I am doing.

I DO NOT have a quilting frame. I have my machine in a table my husband built. I suppose if this were set up in a frame I would be able to quilt without as much of a problem, but I do not have the space for a frame and I use this machine for every kind of straight stitch sewing and quilting of course.

Has anyone else had a problem seeing while quilting with this foot? Has anyone purchased an open toe FM foot that worked with success? Does anyone know why other FM open toe feet do not work with this machine?

I really appreciate any responses and answers to these questions.

Hi - Hopefully I am not too late to add to this post. I bought a generic open toe foot for my Brother PQ-1500 and had the same issues. The foot cost $11.99 so I tossed in a drawer. I decided to give that foot another whirl. Finally success and I mean I cannot get a skipped stitch or a knot ball or any of the other issues I had been having. I am not an expert at free-motion but give it my best. This is what I found worked at least for my machine: 100/16 Universal needle, tension set at 2, 1 7/8th's stitch length (one click left of 1 1/2), dogs down and Coats Surlock 100% Polyester thread (3,000 yd roll $2.49 Walmart) top and bottom. The PQ-1500 has become my go to machine. Economical, semi-industrial and oh so handy. I love the machine.

Peckish

The Brother 1500 and the Janome 1600 are essentially identical machines; you might check to see what the Janome's quilting foot looks like.

DOTTYMO

After watching Leah Day free motion u tube I cut out the front section. Never looked back so much easier to quilt.

ManiacQuilter2

I understand your concern about not being able to see with your foot but you should be focusing on the area you are going next and lining it up. I hope this makes sense. Yes, there is a little plastic piece that can be removed carefully with pliers but tape it to something so you won't lose it. I saw Patrick Lose do it on a quilting show.

Onebyone

I bought the free motion foot Leah has on her website to modify and kept the Brother foot original. Never know when I will want to do a technique and will want it whole.