Advice needed on hot pad quilting
 

Hello,
I am making some hot pads and want to stitch in the ditch. I thought I could use a walking foot. I have 2 fabric squares with 2 pieces of batting and 1 piece of insulbright. I have my stitch set at the highest possible number witch is a 4 but when I start to quilt the stitches are real tiny. I would show you a pic but I already ripped them out. Any advice please. I do not do fmq. I haven't learned that. Thanks for the help.

Ksue

Are you sure you have the walking foot on right? The little arm over the needle screw? Sounds like the fabric isn't moving. Good luck

I just had the same experience the other day and it was my newish walking foot that quit working, I don't know if that's your problem KSue but check and see if it's feeding, mine just died a very early death (but Amazon is being amazing about it, should have a new one in a couple days :)).

I would check on the pressure on my foot, it may be down too tight on the fabric. Hope you get them done.

I agree - definitely sounds as if your presser foot is preventing the fabric's transition through your machine. If you've still got your machine set on the last sewing you did - two pieces of cotton fabric? - then it's unlikely to cope with all those extra layers in the same way, even with a walking foot.

To check if it's the walking foot, keep it on a 'normal' presser foot setting and try to sew two pieces of cotton and watch the walking foot teeth to see if they are moving. If they do, then it's your presser foot pressure. Good luck!

Just a thought. I once had problems with my walking foot and discovered the feed dogs were down. (Kind of embarrassed to even mention it.)

What type of sewing machine do you have? It just might be too thick for your machine to handle.

I agree with testing the walking foot on fabric. Walking feet have a spring inside that can get stretched, which renders the walking foot useless. It's also possible there is simply too much thickness for the walking foot to handle.

It might be you need to clean the bobbin area and under the stitch plate. Also, check to make sure you put the bobbin in going the right way. I know, but, I have done it while talking on the phone and spacing it. LOL...

when i start to sew, i would use the hand wheel to start a few stitches, then if you step on your pedal [or knee] ever so slightly, the machine will take off. sometimes, a machine will growl at the beginning of sewing something too thick for it.....that is why i always use the hand wheel if i think it is too thick [ do that on seams, too.....] hope that helps!