I would like to try machine quilting on my Pfaff Creative. The book I'm reading on machine quilting says to use a walking foot -- I looked in my Pfaff manual, and saw nothing about a walking foot. I called a local Pfaff dealer, and the person told me that I should have one "built in" to my machine. I don't know what this means. Does it mean I can just go ahead and quilt with the regular presser foot? I don't have to do anything different? Any advice appreciated.

Pfaff machines are built with IDT. If you look at the presser foot on your machine you will see a black handle looking thing that hooks underneath where the presser foot is. That is the built in walking foot. If you are going to do stitch in the ditch you don't have to do anything different. I would probably use a 1/4" foot. If you don't understand let me know.

IDT (or dual feed foot) is great for piecing, but a walking foot is still the best way to quilt as it feeds 3 layers, not 2. You will have better results quilting with a walking foot over a dual feed foot.

Never heard of that. I thought the whole purpose of the IDT is that you DON'T need to attach an accessory foot. BTW: no walking foot is listed with the 7570

http://www.pfaff.com/global/4156.html

I have the 7550 and when I engage the built-in walking foot, I never have puckers. It works well with the Stitch-in-the-ditch foot too.

You won't need a walking foot if you have an IDT, which I'm sure you would have with your Pfaff machine....thats all you need.

I have a Pfaff 7570 and I don't need a Walking Foot for SID quilting!

Have not found this to be true for me. I have quilted on my old Pfaff1741 and Quilt Expression and like the dual feed much better than the walking foot I have used on Janome's at our Project Linus clubhouse.

Thanks for your reply. I will take a good look at my machine this evening and see if I completely understand.

I hate to disagree with you but, the IDT is the walking foot. You can use any foot with it that you want to. With the walking foot you can only use the regular foot to quilt!

I have the dual feed also and it's recommended to use a walking foot for anything over 2 layers(i.e. quilting).

I piece with my Dual feed down and quilt with a walking foot, sold separately.

No, the dual feed foot is different than the walking foot at least for my 830 it is. That's really odd about a walking foot not being available. I love my dual feed feet, but the walking foot makes my quilting much better.

I sure don't need a walking foot for my 7570. It does a fantastic job with the IDT. It also quilts 3 layers at a time just fine.

Just to make sure we are talking apples and apples. Here is the IDT (the black hook'em under the foot thingamagig):
http://www.pfaff.com/us/195.html

There is no way that you could even add a traditional walking foot to that. Like I said - mine works super with all layers.

One of the ladies in my quilting class has a 7570 and she is having trouble with her free motion quilting (darning) foot. The IDT seems to get in the way and she is going to have to figure out if maybe she has the wrong foot.

I am almost afraid to say thing. But, if I am not really confused-when you use the darning foot/quilting foot for free motion, you unhook that IDT (the black hook'em under the foot thingamagig). It should say in the book, but I am simply too lazy to go check.

Yes, we're talking the same thing. The same apples:> The Bernina 830 has the dual feed foot that comes down and attaches to the foot for piecing and whatever other sewing you want. But, when I'm quilting I push the dual feed up out of the way and attach a walking foot . When I first purchased the machine, I was also told "you don't need a walking foot because of the built in dual feed." But, now the powers that be state that the separate walking foot is actually the best foot for something over 2 layers and that the dual feed foot is better than a regular foot, but not as good as the walking foot for quilting.

But we're talking Bernina, a different machine and manufacturer. I didn't mean to confuse the subject by bringing this up... But since the IDT has been copied by other brands it should operate the same. Weird.

This begs the question of the newer machines coming out that have copied the IDT...are they also selling a separate walking foot? MadQuilter, didn't you say you test drove a Singer with dual feed? I'd be curious what Singer is saying and promoting.

The bad thing about the current walking foot for the 830 is that it's only 5mm. A new walking foot is supposedly in the works for 9mm stitching. I love the dual feed, it's awesome! But, I still prefer my walking foot for quilting.

Candace, are you talking about a Pfaff machine? Because if you are you know something most Pfaffies don't. The IDT is a built in walking foot on Pfaff machine.

REad my above posting.

Yes, we're talking the same thing. The same apples:> The Bernina 830 has the dual feed foot that comes down and attaches to the foot for piecing and whatever other sewing you want. But, when I'm quilting I push the dual feed up out of the way and attach a walking foot . When I first purchased the machine, I was also told "you don't need a walking foot because of the built in dual feed." But, now the powers that be state that the separate walking foot is actually the best foot for something over 2 layers and that the dual feed foot is better than a regular foot, but not as good as the walking foot for quilting.

But we're talking Bernina, a different machine and manufacturer. I didn't mean to confuse the subject by bringing this up... But since the IDT has been copied by other brands it should operate the same. Weird.

This begs the question of the newer machines coming out that have copied the IDT...are they also selling a separate walking foot? MadQuilter, didn't you say you test drove a Singer with dual feed? I'd be curious what Singer is saying and promoting.

The bad thing about the current walking foot for the 830 is that it's only 5mm. A new walking foot is supposedly in the works for 9mm stitching. I love the dual feed, it's awesome! But, I still prefer my walking foot for quilting.[/quote]


Oops we were posting at the same time. I don't know anything about Berninas only Pfaff's. There is just no way you could add a walking foot to the 7570 or any other Pfaff with IDT that I know of.

You're correct when you use your darning foot/quilting foot you disengage the IDT.

I should probably start a different thread about my question as to not hijack this poor gal's thread:> Sorry about that!

I have a 7510, and the IDT works great for quilting! With fabulous results!!

I also own a Pfaff 7570, and it is included with a walking foot, and I use it with my machine quilting all the time. I use my instruction booklet to remind me how to set tensions and such for correct settings when using my machine for machine quilting.

Didn't you receive a book with your 7570? It would explain how your machine works. A general machine quilting book would not give you the specifics for your particular machine on it's capabilities. You should have a book for your machine and the embroidery unit that goes with it explaining in detail how your machine would work under certain situations. If you don't have them you might try ebay as they have them there sometimes.

and I should include that is is called the IDT in the manuel.

I bought my machine new, and it did not include a separate walking foot.

No problem Candace....I got confused also not knowing what an 830 was. When Pfaff let go of the rights to the IDT the different companies did copy it but they also changed it from the way Pfaff did it so maybe that is part of the confusion.

This topic has really gone in weird directions. My advice would be to make a sample quilt sandwich and practice. If you have problems then I would call a dealer!

Sadiemae, she can't attach a separate walking foot to the Pfaff 7570 it has the IDT which is the walking foot. It is the black lever type thing behind the sewing needle and you just snap it down towards the needle and off you go. You normally quilt with the regular presser foot or the 1/4 in. foot. Basically she needs the books for the machine to explain how everything works.

I Know I have several machines including this one! I was simply triyng to give good advice without anymore arguing about it. I edited it, so there would be no confusion in my advice!!

Oops we were posting at the same time. I don't know anything about Berninas only Pfaff's. There is just no way you could add a walking foot to the 7570 or any other Pfaff with IDT that I know of.[/quote]

Amen to that!!!! NO walking foot for the 7570. You DO NOT need one with the IDT!!!!!

I don't consider it arguing when people are sharing their opinions and ideas politely. Amen to that. 8-)

And it is so nice we live where we can think what we want to...

Tell her to disengage the IDT. To do this pull it down and back. I don't have a problem with the IDT being engaged when I FMQ, but I sit facing the needle end of my machine instead of the front (or at least I use to when I used my 7570).

Also, no walking foot will fit on the 7570 because the IDT is in the way....

Oops, double post and I don't know how to delete. Please see the following post. Sorry...........

Oh Candace, I didn't feel we were arguing just trying to express our thoughts. I think we cleared up the confusion. I know for myself I am more used to talking with people verbally and many times trying to express myself in a thread/blog is more difficult for me. It's new to me to participate more actively in this type of situation so maybe sometimes my written word doesn't come out quite correctly and if so I am truly sorry.

My main concern was Madamish and making sure she understood exactly what her 7570 has and could do. This is a fabulous machine and although older by todays standards is in my opinion the best the germans made and it was also the last. She really needs to get the instruction books and learn her machine. For me it's hard to explain everything by words without having the ability to actually show her.

At any rate, I didn't feel we argued in an way and I appreciate your experiences with your 830 which really is different and I didn't know that. It is interesting to learn about other's machines.

She did exactly that but the foot would not go on. I wonder if she has an incorrect foot. (Maybe her shoes are too big - lol). We are having class tomorrow and it will be solved then. I'll report back.

I was curious what new feet for they have, so I was looking on the Pfaff webwsite. The darning/quilting foot that I have that cam with the machine is not the same as the ones they are selling now. It doesn't have anything to do with why a foot wouldn't fit. I just thought it was interesting.

Forgot to answer you, Candace. The Singer L-500 has a built-in walking foot sort of like the Pfaff IDT but it is a bit clunkier and feels harder to engage. I didn't like it as much. However, no additional walking foot included.

Okay, I've gone to examine my sewing machine, and I do see that the black hook'em thing (which I never paid much attention to before) is the thing that serves as a walking foot. And yes, it does simply unhook from the foot, and retract up and back, to be out of the way when one uses the darning foot. Thank you very much for the clarification! I now know what I'm doing!