Prism99 has it correct. The foot I have goes down when the needle goes down and up when the needle goes up. It has been worth every penny of the $18.95 I paid for it.

The foot helps stabilize the fabric as the needle passes through at a high speed. These feet are not "big bucks" so I don't know where you're shopping.

Years ago they made just a spring to put on the old machines and it held the fabric down, that is all that is needed is to hold the fabric down so it doesn't come bopping up with the needle.

if memory serves me, i recall that, when sewing with just the needle, one used a hoop to hold the fabric. i think this was for thread painting, though.

I have tried to FMQ without the foot, but it was scary. I have seen (on Youtube) thread-painters who do not use the foot and seem to do okay.

It does keep the material from popping up. Foot moves up and down and pats the top of the fabric...I've tried on one of my vintage machines 301 without and it's didn't work.

I would use one too, if for no other reason than safety. Do some checking, you may not have to pay a high price for a foot either! I use the spring loaded type, found them when I was mainly using my Janomi. Found one, a generic type, at my LQS, she is a Bernina dealer, so carries different stuff like this too. Anyway, it was only $10! I even have two now, one for both Janomis. The second one is for a little travel size machine I have. Okay, then I got a Viking Sapphire & heard they now make a spring loaded foot for it! Costs $40, yikes! Took a look at one, & looks the same at the others I have, so bought one for it too, & it works great! So does some checking & save your money for fabric!...

I would use on too, for safety reasons, if nothing else. You may not have to spend alot for a foot either. I have used a spring loaded foot on my Janomi machines, a generic type one I found at my LQS, for $10! Then, I got a Viking Sapphire 830, & went looking at their spring loaded feet. Theirs run $40, & guess what? Looks the same as my other ones, so bought one for it too, for $10, & it works great! It really pays to check around, good luck!...

Sorry for the double post, was taking forever the first time, so I quit the group, then came back & reposted. Didn't see my previous post, duh!...