Have you ever "worn out" a 1/4" foot?
 

Recently, took my Elna Quilt Pro Queen to get maintenance and also adjusted as the once perfect 1/4" seam from 1/4" foot had "grown". They showed me and explained that the 1/4" foot I got with my machine wiggles on the "ankle" and causes me to have a slightly larger seam. I ended up buying a new 1/4" foot (they had also showed me that my old foot was not totally covering the left side of the feed dogs, which also caused the fabric to move at alight diagonal), but when I got home and held them side-by-side, they look the same.

Has anyone run into this before?

Sounds to me more likely the ankle is worn vs the foot itself. Particularly if the foot wiggles. Check another foot or 3 and see if they wiggle as well. If so, it's the ankle, not the foot.

Can you adjust the position of your needle on your machine?

My thought, too.

I have a Pfaff 1/4" foot with guide, which I absolutely love. I sometimes sew more than a 1/4" and the material fits under the guide. I have to stop doing this and switch feet as I can see where it can, over time, distort the guide. Could this be your problem?

Not with my 1/4" foot on my older Bernina. But I did wear out my walking foot !!!

No, but I did wear out a walking foot. It came apart and no longer stays together. I bought another one.

My 1/4" foot didn't wear out, but it DID cause problems. On mine (for my Janome) there is a small flange that prevents the fabric from moving to the right too far. That had been tweaked out.....was making my seams more than 1/4". I used pliers and tweaked it back.

On some feet there's a metal post that might pop out..it's the part that holds the bottom of the foot in place..I just pop it back in, tap it a few times and then seal it with clear nail polish...works for me...this happened on a serger foot and a 1/4 " foot w/guide...

I also wore out a Walking foot. I purchased a new one a couple yrs. ago as I was afraid they would become obsolete on my 1996 Viking Rose.

I use an Elna Quilter's Dream too and I've had my 1/4" foot break before. The piece that hangs down and tells you how far over to go broke off. My 1/4" foot is wiggly too...

Thank you all--I went and checked and the new foot does seem to hold better and not wiggle. I knew walking feet could wear out but the 1/4" didn't seem to have as much to go wrong! When I picked up my machine, I also bought the Janome "accuquilt 1/4" foot"--it fits onto the built in walking foot and has the 1/4" flange. Figure if I'm working on blocks with tons of intersecting seam it will help. (Janome makes Elna's so interchangeable)

When my painter's tape wears out, I just put a new piece down.

I have an old Kenmore that I use occasionally and that happens. I have been popping the metal post back in but never thought of the nail polish idea - thanks for the hint!

NO ! but I did wear out 3 foot controls on my 1978 Bernina Nova....(which I still have and use almost weekly!) Bernina replaced each one of them free of charge as they were included in the lifetime "electronic" warranty... I was sewing commercially on that little work horse in the early 80's. I love both my Bernina's (have the OLD non computerized 830! another wonder horse !! ) Happy Quilting !

I have worn out several some broke especially the plastic ones and the metal ones the pins came out, then a couple of weeks ago broke the collar that the clamps onto. Have also managed to break the guides off on a couple.

I haven't worn one out, but I've broken one or two running over things....

I also did the same for my Janome. GMTA ;)

Like ManiacQuilter2, I have worn out a walking foot. Then yesterday while switching from my 1/4" foot to my regular sewing foot, part of the foot broke off. I haven't had that happen before, however, I have a lot of sewing hours on my Janome 4000. As long as the motor doesn't burn up like my old Sears Kenmore machine, I think I'll be fine. That was very scary having smoke coming out of your sewing machine's motor. Gives new meaning to "burning the midnight oil", or something like that. I did get a new sewing machine though.

Hi Are you happy with your elna? I am thinking buying this machine .

Me too! I think I had forgotten to lift the foot at one point and the flange got out of shape. I couldn't straighten mine so bought another - now will try the pliers! thanks!

I wonder if it is the ankle, if you couldn't put in a sort of washer or gasket which would tighten it up...I have notice a couple of my feet being a big wiggly. Think I'll try it.

The metal guide broke off one of my 1/4" feet. I like it better without the guide. I found if I make my 1/4" guide using tape or whatever it works best for me to have it at least 1/8" high and perfect at 1/4" high.

Yes--I love it! It's been pretty maintenance free despite lots of sewing time. I've not only pieced on it, but also FMQ. I don't do much clothing sewing, but have used it for a flower girl dress that involved lots of specialty feet. Have to say that I can never remember how to use the more complex ones since only use them rarely. I have had difficulty with my automatic threader---but I have difficulty with that on my Singer too, so it may be more me than the machine as a friend with the same machine says she's never had any difficulty with the threader.

I had pins fall out just pushed them back in and secured it with a dab of clear nail polish..didn't have any glue on hand...it's still working..

I have two 1/4" feet and seldom use either one. Tried one at the Mystery Retreat last week and my seams were too large. We eventually found my Painter's Tape was an accurate 1/4" and the foot was more like 3/8". Today I will be removing that side flange from my 1/4" feet, it is useless.

I also have that same machine and I also noticed that there was some play on the 1/4" foot. I could wiggle the flat of the foot
I found below the snap on part there is a teeny screw. I got my smallest screwdriver and tightened that screw (its right above the flat part of the foot, right behind the needle when down). You have to raise the needle to see it and tighten the screw. This seemed to help take the wiggle out of the foot and helps my true 1/4 seam.
Try that-cheaper than a new foot-too late for that tho-one can always have a spare.
Good luck
Jill M

thanks--I'll keep that in mind if I have problems in the future.

Used a needle-nose plier and yanked the flange off and now I have a real 1/4" foot -- perfect 1/4" seams. Bonus, if I line the center edge of the left side of the foot with the pencil line for HST's -- those are easier to stitch as well because the needle stitches slightly to the right of the pencil line.

Thanks for your answer.

you can. i have replaced one before. Found that changing needle positions to get 1/4 inch is more accurate than foot anyway.

You can move the needle position. I have worn out my Elna 1/4inch foot

I have a singer and I have that same issue...but as a newer sewer I think part of it is my own user error ;)
I have noticed though, that my quarter in foot wiggles a LOT and I often find my seams slowly moving as I stitch.

I have a bigger issue with the 1/4in foot that came with my machine, I use a Janome 1/4 foot that has a guide...it wiggles less and is easier to control when the fabric starts to wander.

There is some very good input on this thread :)