years ago when I first wanted to learn to quilt I read that you needed a walking foot so I bought one. I tried it out once then put it up. Never got it out again. Well now that I"m actually quilting I'd like to use it but it won't work! I know that its for my kenmore machine.....only machine I've had for 12 years till I got my treadle last year. I've tried and tried and tried but can't get it to work. The needle hits and it breaks as soon as I turn the machine on. Is there a video out there anywhere or can someone talk me through this?

what does the needle hit when it breaks?

it hits the back of the walking foot. The piece just behind where the needle should go in.

it may be a low shank, high shank problem; different machine take different walking feet.

you might check to see if the foot is bent. I packed mine wrong one time and it bent just enough to make the needle hit wrong. In my case I was able to bend it gently back into shape.

Also, did you try your needle with a regular foot to make sure it's the foot and not the needle?

Do you have the little bar over the screw on the side of your needle.

If you don't have the walking foot lined up correctly, before tightening down the screw, the needle will hit the back of the foot... I have had this happen with mine :wink:
Unscrew the foot, and wiggle/adjust it into place and then retighten the screw. Hand crank the needle to make sure it clears the foot.

Mine does that too-don't feel bad. And after using it you have to keep tighting it. good luck

That's what I did today--walking feet--about 2 mi.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That recently happened to my WF too - I have a Bernina. I hadn't used it in a few years and couldn't figure out what was wrong - I took it to my LQS to see if I was doing something wrong or if it was bent. Turns out that the foot is 'broken' and not functioning properly. Don't know how that happened from sitting in the box but for some reason it doesn't 'engage' anymore. I had to order a new foot :( - now my budget for fabrc, patterns and other quilting goodies will be very limited for awhile.