Promise

Could someone please tell me what a hopping foot? Is it an open embroidery foot that is used with your feed dogs down to do free motion quilting on a standard sewing macine? Thanks

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I've always heard a hopping foot called a darning foot or a free motion quilting foot. I've never done machine embroidery so I can't say for sure if that foot is the same or not.

brushandthimble

yes, also know as a darning foot.

Promise

thank you for your feedback, that helps

SittingPretty

I would like to know one thing - why does it have to hop? I get kind of frustrated with it sometimes. Could it just sit there?

littlehud

What I understand is it hops to let you move the fabric and when it comes down it holds the fabric for a second for the needle to go in and out of the fabric. This way you are less likely to break needles by moving the fabric with the needle in the down position.

winter012

I've never heard of such a thing! Please tell me more........

tjradj

A darning foot on a regular sewing machine is not the same as a hopping foot.
On your domestic sewing machine, the darning foot just holds the fabric down with less pressure so you can 'freely' move the fabric while sewing.
A hopping foot is more common on the larger long arm machines. It actually goes up and down, or 'hops' as you sew. Another poster explained how it holds the fabric just long enough for the needle to go in and out of the fabric but then goes up so the fabric can be moved around.
By holding the fabric more firmly, it gives a more consistent stitch, with less skipped stitches and breakage.
Hope that helps.

Promise

yes, thank you. since I don't have a long arm, my embroidery foot will have to do the best that it can.