Does anyone know why my needle would be hitting the darning foot? I've taken the foot off and put it back on many times because at first I thought maybe I didn't have it secured to the post correctly. There's really only one way the foot can go on. My machine is a Singer and I'm using the foot that came with it.

Is your needle set at the center location and on straight stitch?

Yes. If I move the needle up and down without the quilt sandwich under the foot it doesn't hit. That certainly doesn't make any sense! Even took the needle out and put it back in thinking maybe I didn't have it seated well.

I was going to ask if the needle is in properly?

Are your feed dogs down and are you moving your quilt to fast for the needle and it is bending as you move the quilt? This can happen when the needle is not fully out of the fabric as you move the quilt around. Try slowing your motion down a bit and if you can slow the machine motor speed, try that also. Use a practice sandwich before starting on your project. May some of this rant help you!
peace :D

The feed dogs won't go down but I have a darning plate. Just tried your suggestion and even if I stay in one place and let the needle go up and down it still hits. GRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

Which singer model and age are you using...Some of the older singers the needles flat part doesn't go to the back but to the side...My 66 model is sideways...

Dumb question, but what does the manual say?

I don't now the shape of the darning foot. Can you have the hole enlarged by grinding it on the sides or in the hole. Which side is it hitting. If in the front then cut a space in the front like a horse shoe. This is the way many did the original ones available back in the 70s

describe the darning foot so we can perhaps give informed suggestions,

I looked and there's not a thing in there about this problem.

This is a picture of what I have. Does this show you want you need to know?

I don't know about the Singer, but I know that the darning foot for my machine is difficult to put on and if it isn't in correctly it will not work.

Any chance the needle is bent? If you put on a different foot, does the needle work with it??

It hits on the front of the hole so think I'll try your suggestion to maybe make the hole a little larger since can't figure out why it's doing that. I used it a week or so ago and it was fine.

The needle seems to be fine because it does work with the other foot.

I noticed your ID for your blog and it says you're a biker. Me too! :-D

Singer 140Q.

I've taken it off and put it back on several times. I'm sure I've got it on right.

I wrote this before I knew you just used it last week, so you definitely know how to put it on.

No problem. :-D

If it's hitting the darning foot when the foot is down, won't it also hit the needle plate? I'm not familiar with this model, but I'm guessing it's pretty modern?

Did you buy it new or used? I ask because LOTS of times when I buy a vintage machine, it's got stuff in the accessory kit and drawers that go with a different machine or don't have anything to do with any kind of sewing. But then again, you said that it was working, so that couldn't be it.

If it was working fine a week ago, then it's not the foot that needs adjusting, it's the position of the needlebar or the position of the attachment as it's seated on the needlebar.

Are you sure that it's not broken?

Are you sure that you are getting it seated in its proper orientation and that you're using the right thumbscrew to attach it? (if it uses something other than the normal thumbscrew or lever) ( :oops: I forgot you said that you'd taken it off and put it back on several times)

Do all the other feet work properly?

Have you had any hard needle strikes? If so, that could have jarred the needle bar out of position or even bent it out of alignment.

Has the machine been dropped, or has anything perhaps fallen against it hard enough to knock the presser bar or needle bar out of alignment?

I'm sort of grasping at straws, but I hope you can find out what's wrong with it. If you have had a hard needle strike, I would recommend that you take it to a service center and have them take a look at it to make sure that the needlebar hasn't been knocked out of shape.

Good Luck!

The needle isn't hitting anything else. It works pefect with the other feet.

My husband bought the machine for me new about 5 or so years ago.

I'm 99% sure there's nothing broken because if that were the case wouldn't it act strange with the other feet on it?

I'm think of buying another darning foot and see if that's the problem. I don't have a lot of patience with something that doesn't work. LOL!!

If I do decide to buy another foot should I get another darning foot or a free motion stippling foot? Is there any difference because they look alot alike?

I don't either - can't blame you a bit.

If all the other feet are doing what they should be doing, then yes, go ahead and try a different darning foot.

My very favorite darning foot is this one:
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Low-Shan...t-SCF55417.htm In fact, I bought a half dozen of them thinking that at $3 each, I would have to replace them frequently. But noooooo... I haven't worn one out, yet! LOL!

If you've got a standard low-shank presser bar, this foot gives you really good visibility, it's very quiet and it's apparently indestructible, too. :mrgreen:

Good luck! :)

P.S. - I have eight or more different types of darning feet/free motion feet, from the antique to vintage to modern. From that little $3 thing to a $40 Juki hopping foot.

All of them are meant to do the same thing whether you're doing darning, free-motion embroidery or free-motion quilting. They momentarily press down on the fabric to hold it in place while the hook catches the loop of thread formed by the needle. The mechanism is different and the name is different, but the use and purpose are the same. :)

Will this fit my machine? It's a Singer 140Q.

I'm betting that it takes standard low shank attachments.

I don't think Singer has made any domestic high shank or slant shank machines for at least 25 years and your machine is only 5 years old. :)

Thanks for explaining that. Since deciding to FMQ I'm learning a lot about my machine and what everything does.

I'm going to get one ordered. Thanks!

Have you checked to see if you needle's bent?

I don't think it is but I'm going to change it out and make sure.

On you foot the little bar at the stop that sticks out
it might need to rest on the screw where you attach it to
your machine..my even foot feed it like that on my Janome.
You might look at your manual to verify how it should be
attached. Hope this might help.

Have you tried taking out your bobbin case or rethreading your bobbin?

Already checked that too. This is really getting aggravating!

If it was fine a week ago, it should be fine now without altering it. It is a setting, bent needle or something you are doing without knowing it. Set it aside and come back to it in a day or so with a new needle. Take the foot off and put it on again and rethread your machine.

I had that problem, and took it to the repairman, he told me to change the needle as it was bent, I had two needles that were both bent..no problem after that.

I've changed the needle twice, changed bobbins, rethreaded the machine, taken the foot off, put it back on just to make certain everything was where it needed to be and then had 2 chocolate chip cookes. LOL!! I've ordered a new foot so I'll just wait until it gets here and if that doesn't make a difference then I guess I'll have to find a repairman. In the meantime think I'll have another chocolate chip cookie. ;-)

It could be that you need to set your needle to the right or left. Maybe setting on zig-zag?

Is you machine set to one of the fancy stitches?

is the flat side of the needle facing the right way?