Husqvarna Viking Interchangeable Walking Foot Question
 

I've seen a few people post about this using the search and everyone seemed to love theirs. Maybe I'm using it wrong or I got a dud but I'm not having luck.

I have the old non-interchangeable dual feed foot I bought 15 years ago or more (although there was a solid 10 years in there of not sewing). It is a trooper. But the allure of something new made me look at the newer interchangeable model. I put it on the machine and was really disappointed.

A straight stitch with a lowish pressure (4.5), the walking foot stuck sometimes in the middle of a row and definitely at each corner. My sample piece is not large, 13.5" square 9 patch of random HST, there is some bulk in places but nothing beyond a normal quilt. It was supported and everything.

I then tried my saved serpentine stitch which has an 8 pressure. Same thing, it would just get to a corner and stop unless I tugged.

Finally, I followed the instructions for the foot which said to use a pressure of 3, and did that with the serpentine stitch and then it moved a little better, but the stitching was abysmal on the underside it looked like the underside was literally just a string.

When all else failed, I put my old foot on with my normal serpentine settings (8 pressure) and it pulled the fabric through like a champ and the stitching was beautifully formed top and bottom.

I could potentially fuss with it more, but something seems off. This was horrible on a 13.5" square, a whole quilt would kill me with the getting stuck every 2-4 inches.

I have both feet. I've never changed the pressure when using either one, and I've used them both on 3 different Viking models. Having said that, I don't really use them for quilting except attaching the binding. I usually do a faux flange, using the 1/4" guide to attach the binding then the SITD plate to do the final stitching. So all straight stitching and the interchangeable one seems to handle the straight stitching just fine. When I first started using my walking foot (original version), I was taught that you should hold/guide the fabric so there's a small bump of unstitched area in front of the foot. Like there's a small marble under the fabric in front of the foot. This is so there's no drag and the foot can actually do it's thing. I've always used this technique with whichever foot I use.

Hmm, I just cannot get over the difference in how the two feet work, even when held the exact same way, which is basically how you described. The old one glides along and the new, interchangeable one just hangs on the smallest group of fabric. I can return it, I think that might be the best thing.

I agree. If it's not working for you, return it. It costs a small fortune. Think of all the fabric you can buy.

I can’t comment on it directly as I don’t have this machines but I would be tempted to swap it first in case you just have a dud and if the problem persists then return it.