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Brother PQ 1500s Free-Motion Foot Question

I love my Brother PQ 1500s sewing machine for free motion quilting and piecing, but I have a question. The free motion foot works great while FMQ, but it's so hard to see what I am doing. I feel somewhat like I quilt sight-impaired because I cannot see because of the way this FM foot is designed. I went on ebay to find an open-toe FM foot and even found one that looks exactly like foot that came with my Brother machine, only it does have the open toe. I was so excited to buy it and try it. It did fit my machine, but it would NOT operate as smoothly as my FM foot. It sat up a bit higher too and made a bit of a racket when I tried to use it and the bottom line it didn't work or quilt with good stitches. I returned it and explained my reasons as I am explaining here.

I tried other open toe FM generic feet too and they did not work either. Doesn't Brother make this foot in an open toe for THIS machine? I cannot find answers anywhere. I don't understand why the foot that comes with the machines quilts beautifully, yet no other foot I have tried will work right. I would even be willing to buy a new foot and take the foot I have now and have someone cut out the opening to make it and open toe if that would mean that it would work, but I am a bit afraid to try this as it might not work or be a pricey experiment. But the plastic on my FM foot is getting rather scratched and even harder to see what I am doing.

I DO NOT have a quilting frame. I have my machine in a table my husband built. I suppose if this were set up in a frame I would be able to quilt without as much of a problem, but I do not have the space for a frame and I use this machine for every kind of straight stitch sewing and quilting of course.

Has anyone else had a problem seeing while quilting with this foot? Has anyone purchased an open toe FM foot that worked with success? Does anyone know why other FM open toe feet do not work with this machine?

I really appreciate any responses and answers to these questions.

Leah Day has a tutorial on her site on how to cut a closed toe foot to make it an open one. My Janome 1600p doesn't have an open toed foot either & I'm going to get an extra foot & cut it open. I think our machines are similar & my dealer said they are considered light industrial machines & I cannot get an open toed foot for it. I've seen feet online that look like they would fit too- I wonder if it is the same one you bought.

I have been dealing with exactly the same problem the last month, I bought an old Singer 15-91 and bought the disk shaped darning foot, I could FMQ with it, but I couldn't see the needle where it touched the fabric or couldn't see beyond making it difficult to follow a pattern line. I went back on line and bought a open toe foot, it doesn't touch down as far as the first one did, I am having to learn it all over again because it feels different, but I think it is going to work for me. I can definitely see where I am going and what I am doing now, much better. I don't know anything about Brother machines, but you may be able to find an another brand - machine that attaches in the same fashion the Brother machine fits. When I was searching I struck out looking for FMQ feet, my search went much better looking for a Darning foot, it works the same and I found many more options. I would call a sewing machine store or repair shop and ask them if theirs another sewing machine that has feet that will interchange with your Brother machine. Hope this helps. I wish you success.

That little plastic disc that is in the original Brother fmq foot will pop out. I have same machine and had same problem. Just took a pair of pliers and fiddled it out. Works fine now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggiemay (Post 6041912)

I have opened 2 diff feet like she demonstrates...worked great. The foot you bought w /open toe-- thats noisy & clacking?? Might be it is too high above your quilt...can you adjust it down so it barely skims the fabric?

I have the same problem with my 1500S, and like you Patchouli, I have been afraid to use Leah Day's method to "fix" it. I am going to try Barbo's method. Not as radical as cutting the metal but should improve visability. Thanks for the topic and the information.

My Babylock Jane has that kind of foot and I don't have a problem quilting with it. My Daughter has that same machine and she hasn't had a problem either.

Emma ~I tried one of those plastic feet like Leah shows where she cuts it for visibility. Those feet do not work on my Brother machine at all. So I did not cut it to make it open. I emailed Brother about this and I hope they can answer me or at least make a foot that fits and works because I told them as owners of this machine we would all buy this foot!

Barbo117~ Did you also cut the metal to make it an open toe? Or just pop out the plastic disk? Does it still feel the same while quilting?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mermaid (Post 6042186)

Mermaid~ Those plastic feet don't work with my machine. I bought one to try it before I cut into it and it doesn't quilt. I have tried playing with the pressure and it still doesn't sit down on my fabric like it should.