Pressure feet not covering feed dogs
 

I wanted a 1/4 foot with guide for my Brother 8500. The dealer sold me one. The foot is not wide enough to cover the right feed dog. Is that normal? I called the dealer and he said I asked for a foot that would fit the 8500 and the foot fits the machine. No return. ?

sometimes that does happen. hopefully it is the right foot. by the way he sounded, it may not be. I do wish people would be more responsible. pay more attention to the fabric fitting right next to the 1/4 guide on the edge of the foot and not the feed dogs. just hold the fabric with your left hand or a stiletto while it's going under the foot being sewn. don't let it wander. Just like driving a car. keep the fabric "in the lane".

The whole right food dog is exposed and guide is to the left of the it. That leaves only the left one to feed the fabric. The dealer said that was normal as the wide feed dog machines were not made for 1/4 pressure feet. His tone is 'I know because I'm the expert' Annoying.

The 1/4 inch foot for my Janome 7700 is like that. The guide hits the middle of the right feed dog. I also found it annoying and despite being "responsible" and staying in the lane I had trouble keeping a consistent 1/4 inch. So much so that I bought a Pfaff Ambition Essential for piecing, which is wonderful.

I was moving the needle as far right as possible to get the 1/4 seam but had to use a seam guide of some kind. I thought a foot with guide would solve the problem but it won't. Good news is the new foot fits my Janome portable perfectly.

My Pfaff QE 4.0 is like that so I don't use the 1/4 foot. I use a regular foot and adjust my needle to the right so that the edge of the foot to the needle is a scant 1/4.

Do you have a single hole stitch plate? The one for my machine covers up the wider feed dogs.

Did you set your machine for a center stitch? The 1/4 inch foot won't work in the other modes. If left or right mode is used, them you are only on part of the feed dogs.

With the 1/4" foot only center mode will work as it has only one center hole. The foot isn't wide enough to cover the right feed dog. I have to use a regular foot and move the needle over to 7 in order to get a 1/4 seam. I think I'll stick to piecing with my Bernina, the 1/4" foot fits over the feed dogs. The Bernina is heavy and I don't like toting it to classes and workshops though. The Janome is lightweight but has no auto cutter. I'm spoiled for that feature. It sure saves thread. I wish I could design a machine just to suit me! Wouldn't that be great to be able to custom a machine just for yourself?

Like Peggy, I use the normal foot on my Brother machines. The edge of the fabric aligns with the right edge of the foot and I move the needle about 7 clicks to get that 1/4" seam. Some blocks on the current quilt I'm doing seem to require scant seam allowances and others 1/4+ to get the correct size blocks, and moving the needle is the most convenient method.

Most of my machine feet do not cover the feeddogs, I never thought of it as any type of problem. I think of the 24 feet I have one of them is wide and covers the feeddogs, and in the 15 years of owning the machine I've only used that foot once- in the new owners class where we used each foot. Even my walking foot isn't that wide. It has never caused any problems are effected my sewing straight. You can make a guide or purchase one if you need it. I used to use a stack of post it flags. I also have a thick rigid one I bought years ago in a class. Assume the dealer did give you the correct foot and try it out. I bet it will be fine.

This is exactly what I do, I don't care for the foot with a guide, most don't won't work properly, just move needle over , works for me

The foot with guide works great for me. Just wish I could get one for the wide feed dogs.

I have 2 Brother machines. They both have the much larger feed dogs. I bought a 1/4" foot at WalMart. I am not sure if it was this one or not, but it is very similar. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-1-...05-P/183462955 Mine cost about $10.00 and I got it about a month ago. The beauty is that you can take it back if it doesn't work. The wider foot part behind the quarter inch measurement works great to stay on the feed dogs. I use the opposite side which is 1/8" to sewn my bindings. I don't do hand sewing. If I get by WalMart today, I will get a picture of the one I bought and post it. The only bad thing about the foot is that it will hang up on the HST seams if they are ironed down towards the foot. I, too have tried using the standard Brother sewing foot and can't get an accurate scant quarter inch. The standard quarter inch is fine using the regular sewing foot.

It sounds to me like you have a machine with 7mm feed dogs and you were sold a foot for a 5mm feed dog.. I would protest loudly to your dealer. Take your machine with you and look for a foot for the wider feed dog. If no satisfaction call Brother for assistance

My first response is to not go back to that dealer. I would send an email to the company (they usually have a contact us link on their websites). Explain your concern and ask if it is normal. I would not mention anything about the dealer or his response. They are usually good about getting back to you. Be fairly exact with your description (sending a pic would be outstanding). If they do say that the foot is incorrect, then tell them about the dealer so they might correct him.

The foot fits the machine. It was my fault for not explaining what I wanted in the foot and the seller's fault for not telling me the limitations of the foot. Unless Brother makes a foot that is single hole for the needle to be all the way to the right no 1/4" foot will fit over the right feed dogs. I went to a local dealer and he explained it to me.