I always put mine down but never was told to put fabric under. I guess it goes back to when there were little ones around and I thought it would be safer to put the foot down. That was many moons ago but I just got into the habit.

I find that leaving the foot down with fabric under it, I start my next seam like I'm chain stitching and I avoid the bunching up that can sometimes happen when starting sewing. I'm currently using my headers and Enders to put together a scrappy quilt while at the same time sewing a "regular" quilt.

The purpose of the fabric is to use it as a leader for the next bit of sewing (If you're not changing threads, of course. lol)

I didn't read all the replies, but I use to work in sewing factories. We always cleaned our machines at the end of the day and put fabric under the pressure foot. The fabric under the foot was to catch any oil drip so at the start of the next day when starting to sew, there would be no oil on the product.

For my home machines I don't put fabric under the foot, but I do put the foot down. I don't believe it is good for the spring to leave it up.

My embroidery / sewing machine, has a special button that locks all buttons and puts foot down for storage, transporting, etc.

It's not about your upper thread tension assembly....It's about tension on the spring for your presser foot bar. When the foot's up, the spring is compressed.

As I read through this thread, I was wondering about this too. Leaving the foot down is not anything I was ever told to do or have ever really thought about and I've been sewing for more years than I want to admit. But I guess I do usually leave the foot down. But I ALWAYS leave the needle up after a close call I once had. The fabric in the machine caught on my clothing as I stood up and it yanked the needle and bent it. It was lucky I didn't bend something on the machine out of whack. On my electronic machine, the needle position is reset every time it powers up, so I leave the needle up so it won't put undue stress on the needle or the machine.

I was told many years ago in Home Ec class to put the foot down with fabric under it to catch any oil that might drip down. The purpose of the needle down at that time was for safety. There were small children around in the homes most of the time. Now days I don't leave the pressure foot down unless I am transporting my machine. The reason for this is also a safety issue. My machine won't work if the foot isn't down. So with the foot up if one of my grandchildren happens to try playing with my machine it won't sew their fingers. Also the fabric under the needle on older machines was because it could do damage to the machine if sewing was done without fabric in it. I have been told the newer machines aren't like that.

My DH says the fabric keeps dust and lint from the air getting into the feed dogs and with the foot down it does take the extra tension off the machine. Hope that helps!

I leave mine in the down position. Leave a piece of fabric in it. I to have been told this by service repair man.

I always leave mine down, but I never knew about the fabric. Going to do that from now on.

I'm really surprised at how few people have said that the reason for the fabric under the needle is for its use as a leader and ender; sometimes called a startie/stoppie, or a spider. How many times have you come to your machine and found that something has been rubbing against your needle and now the needle has come unthreaded? Leave a piece of fabric there with the presser foot down and the needle down, and you will have no trouble.

I had a White machine that I took to quilt camp, and several times almost lost my presser foot. Then I figured out: put the presser foot down and it won't come off.

And the needle down is another no brainer. The tip of the needle is dangerous, and if you keep it out of sight, no one will get hurt on it. I don't believe it hurts the machine to turn it on with the needle down. It knows what to do, and it does that little "wiggle dance" every time I turn it on, no matter where the needle has been.

So keep the fabric under the needle with needle down and presser foot down. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I have always the foot down with a piece of cloth under it, also if I am transporting it I put the needle down also. Not sure if you should put the needle down but I think the foot needs to be down to release the tension and he fabric is to protect the feed dogs. Probably the needle down would help to keep the needle from geting broke in case the wheel got turned somehow. Any who, lol..this is my theory.

Thank you all...I had never heard or thought about this!

You learn something everyday!!! I have been sewing for 60 years and never heard about this. Of course, I probably was not listening in 9th grade when the teacher covered this!!! Thanks, ladies, for the information!

About 100 years ago when I was in the 7th grade on of the first things my teacher said when you leave the machine put fabric under the presser foot and PUT THE PRESSURE FOOD DOWN!!! If we did not we would not be able to use the machine for a day. So for me when I leave my machines it is always you guessed it PRESSURE FOOT DOWN. Also the needle is to be down. LOL Happy new year to all yippie

I have seen various vintage sewing machine manuals that recommend leaving fabric under the foot (and the foot down). The reason for this is that if a stitch or two is taken, possibly unintentionally, it is taken in fabric and will not wrap around the bobbin assembly and cause problems.

Thanks for the reminder.

me, too. my Mother told me to leave it down in the late 60's, and i think it was also stressed in home ec. class. no one ever told me why. i hoped it wasn't like the woman who always cut the end off the ham b4 she put it in the oven. her husband finally asked her why she cut the end off, and she replied because her mother always did. she decided to ask her mother after years of doing this. her mother said she cut the ham off because she didn't have a pan big enough for the whole ham!!

QUOTE=cdmmiracles;5758559]I leave mine down with fabric between. Not sure that's correct; I think I was taught that many years ago in Home Ec Class, lol.[/QUOTE]