nance-ell

I learned to sew in home-ec class (eons ago! haha) and don't remember ever being taught this. I'll try to remember in the future. Thanks for the tip!

cmierley

I always leave the foot down with a piece of material under the foot. Repair man said it releases the tension on the spring. Not sure why the material.

ccthomas

I have never heard this advice before. I looked through several books and haven't found this tip either. Thanks for sharing.

MissQuilter

I have been sewing most of my life and have never heard of this issue. I always leave my presser foot up on my almost 40 year old Bernina... and now on my Janome that I use for free motion quilting. Very interesting. Never too old to learn more.

ShirlinAZ

Fabric under the foot provides a cushion between the foot and the feed dogs, similar to the cushions in the bottom of your feet. Can you imagine the wear your bones would take on gravel without them?

The dealer I bought my first Pfaff from years ago told me to leave the machine with the foot down as it's better for the tension disks.

I left the needle down until the time I forgot to bring it up before turning the machine on. It really knocked the machine out of time and broke the needle and a machine part. Now I always leave the needle up, even though my new machine raises the needle when the power comes on.

QultingaddictUK

I ALWAYS, when my machine is not in use put the a piece of fabric under the foot, put the foot AND the needle down.

QultingaddictUK

Stops any foreign objects falling down into the bobbin mechanism.

sjdal

I've seen vintage machines with discoloration from the presser foot being down without fabric being placed in between.

3TreeFrog

My grand mother told me to keep the foot down, with a piece of fabric. Not sure if that is right or wrong, however that's what I do!

TreeFrog

krisgray

As a kid with all her manual, non-computerized machines, my mom told me to put the foot down with fabric under it. Not long ago she told me that with the computerized machines to leave the foot up. Apparently, she was told this by her Viking dealer. I have no idea why for either method, I just do it.