When you store your machine or finish with it for the day do you leave the presser foot up or do you put it down with a piece of fabric between it and the feed dogs? I always left mine up but I have been told not to because it puts too much stress on the tension springs. Which is it? None of my manuals, from vintage Singer to modern Pfaff and Brother, say anything about the presser foot position during storage or down time.

I leave mine down with fabric between. Not sure that's correct; I think I was taught that many years ago in Home Ec Class, lol.

I leave mine up as the machine is never touched when I leave that room. When I transport the machine, say to a quilt retreat or the shop for maintenance, I put it down with fabric under it.

I have a Bernina, it gets serviced by a Bernina Dealer, and they told me to keep it down, because of the stress on the tension springs.

i was taught in 4-H many years ago to put fabric down and put the pressure food down
on the fabric. so mine all go down

Since I always start and end sewing with a "leader" I end with the foot down. Nice to know that is better for the tension springs too!

I put my pressure foot down and also the needle in the down position. I have never left a piece of fabric in it; can someone tell me the purpose of the fabric??

I leave mine down with a pice of fabric under it. When I have my machine serviced it always comes back to me that way so I'm assuming it's the thing to do.

My home ec teacher, Miss Lydia Snow, taught me back in 7th grade to always put the foot down, the needle down, and a piece of fabric in between. My assumption regarding the piece of fabric is so that metal doesn't rub against metal.

I don't do any of that! I learned to sew from my mom, who learned to sew from an aunt. I don't ever remember my mom doing any of this. What is the purpose of the fabric under the foot?