Needle Position and Zipper Foot
 

I am sewing piping on using a zipper foot. I have broken three needles because the needles hit the throat plate. This only happens with the zipper foot. I am wondering if I have to have the needle right in the notch of the foot. Will this keep the needle from moving too much? I must be pulling a little and moving the needle. Please give me your advise. Thanks.

Depends on your machine, if it's not computerised, your manual may advise to move the needle position for zipper sewing, even computerised machines, depends on the type of zip, again you may need to move needle

Is your machine new enough for you to ask the dealer? If not, what machine is it, and maybe someone with that type can offer a suggestion. I know my solution would probably only work on my (older Bernina830) machine.

can you change throat plates from the one with a tiny hole, to one that is egg shaped that accommodates zig zag? That should stop the needle from breaking unless it is breaking from hitting the zipper foot and not the throat plate.

Pulling the fabric, or holding it back can deflect the needle enough to make it hit the needle plate.

the needle hitting the throat plate shouldn't have to do with the foot. If it was a foot problem it would hit the foot, and usually you can't move a needle over far enough to hit a zigzag throat plate so either you have you single needle throat plate on instead of your zigzag or you are pulling the needle to cause it to bend enough to hit the throat plate. If you really love to do piping and the piping is not large you might want to invest in an actual piping foot as it will work better than using a zipper foot.

Thank you for all your replies.

This must be why I have a UFO pillow case with piping partially attached.