Best foot for FMQ?
 

I purchased a FMQ foot with a plastic oval so I could see where I was going. Yesterday, my needle went through the plastic! It didn't throw the machine out of time, but probably would have if it had been an all metal foot. The problem was where the small plastic "hoop" connected to the shaft that has the spring - it was loose and had just enough wiggle room to go under the needle. No way to tighten it back. (I hope I am explaining this so you understand what I am saying...)
So, to make a long story short, I need to replace my FMQ foot. I liked the plastic because of visibility, but am concerned that all plastic ones will be loose enough to go under the needle. Any suggestions on which FMQ foot is the best?
Thanks in advance for your help! I am just learning to FMQ and want to get back to it asap! :o

Sorry I don't have a recommendation - only to say that there are many different opinions on what foot to use - check out Leah Day's videos - she removes the spring from her FMQing feet.

I also hit the plastic oval on FM foot and broke the needle and put a hole in the plastic( good thing it was not my finger!). I think this was a freaky move on my part since I some how must have moved the fabric and foot the wrong way at the wrong time! I contuinue to use this same foot with the larger hole and have no other problems. I think that is may have been a wrong move on your part ( no blame intended) so keep on using this foot and just be more careful. I know that I am.

It probably was a wrong move on my part since I am a beginner at FMQ! But the needle put a hole through rather rim of the plastic and I can't smooth it out on the bottom. I think it will need to be replaced, so I want to see what others think. Thanks for your response!
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Thanks, I will check out her videos.

If I am doing small scale detailed quilting, I like an open toe foot, like this one:
http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Product...oidery-foot-en


If I am doing large scale all over patterns, I like a closed toe foot like this one:
http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Product...arning-foot-en

The reason for the difference? In small quilting I need the visibility the little foot provides. In large quilting, I often catch my thread on the prong- and that ruins everything!

is it a generic foot or one made for your machine, I use the ones that came with my machine, I like the open toe spring metal foot best I have a close toe no spring metal foot, an echo plastic no spring clear foot, and a plastic clear spring darning foot that I had from a previous model, They all do a good job, but have a different feel to them but I prefer the open toe spring metal, They are all made by my brand, no generic foot so they work well for my machine. I'm not saying generic won't work but if they are causing some of the problem you might want to try one made for your machine

I use an open toe darning foot. It is metal.
I also use the plastic big foot one. I took a small round file from my DH tool box, slipped it through the hole and gently 'sanded' off some of the plastic, going around the opening. This made it wider. I keep a glass emery file in my sewing supply drawer. It is tapered on the end for getting into small spaces. I also have the nail files with the buffing side. This finishes off smoothing out the repairs I have done on the plastic feet. No sharp edges were left on the plastic. Very smooth. I then tested the needle widths on my machine to make sure the needle wouldn't hit the plastic. I haven't had a problem with the screw loosening up, or any other part of the big foot.

If you are going to get another foot, return the foot you have and get your money back. It apparently is defective, I think. Your needle shouldn't be so close to it that it hit it. And you shouldn't have to sand it, even though that is a very good idea that you could do. But don't just keep it and not use it. Feet cost money. At least get your money back to help pay for another foot. I don't quilt so I can't give any advice, but I don't want to see you waste your money.

You might try sanding the hole with an emery board, it may make it smooth enough to use.

I actually had a friend cut out the front part of my embroidery/fmq foot. I can see what I am doing much better.

I was told in an embroidery class that I couldn't/shouldn't do this because it wouldn't work. I used it without any problems but the instructor was really out of shape and upset with me. Hmm. Maybe she is in the 'quilt police.'

ali

That's really funny you were told not to do that. Do what works for you!
I took a class at the Des Moines quilt show and we were told that the whole reason Bernina started making their open toe foot is Diane Gaudynski (who is one of their spokespeople, or was?) was cutting off the front of her darning foot. They realized there was a need for it.

For embroidery (if not free motion) I can understand the need for a closed foot. With such a high rate of speed, it helps the needle hit in a more precise places, by pressing the fabric around it down.

She doesn't remove the spring, but she does bend the bar at top backwards to keep the foot from "hopping." I did it to my quilting foot and I'm so glad it no longer "hops." You have to use a rubber band or some sort of band to keep the spring depressed enough to allow the foot to just hover over the fabric, or press down on it lightly. I find my stitches are a lot smoother since the foot no longer hops.

I knew you all would have some great suggestions and advice! The foot I was using was a generic foot because I was FMQ'ing on my vintage 15-91. The foot was advertised as fitting a 15-91 and it was doing a great job until the needle hit the rim. It went all the way through the rim! I guess I will be more aggressive with trying to sand off the rough places and see if that will work. It can't make it any worse...
I usually never hesitate to take back a product that is defective, but I am not sure if it was the foot or me that didn't work right! Plus, I can't find the receipt, either!
Thanks, everyone - you all are the best!

I have mainly used an open toe darning foot. My wonderful Janome dealer suggested that I go to the sort of foot youare talking about and SLOW DOWN. I had something similar happen when I had a Bernina, both because I was quilting fast and because with my fast quilting, the foot had worked loose. Check with your dealer about what he/she would reccommend for your particular machine.

I took a FMQ class at my LQS and the instructor brought his Dremel tool and cut the front off of everyone's that wanted it done. It worked perfectly and I really like the openness of it.