I use my walking foot for straight line stitching. I have always used the straight stitch setting on my machine. Someone told me that I can also use the zigzag stitch with this foot. Have any of you done this? I don't want to break the foot but would like to try the zigzag.
I have a small Brother machine and I bought the foot separately so there's no info in the manual.
Thanks.

My walking foot only uses the straight stitch

I don't think that you are suppose to try aiz zagging with a walking foot. Because a walking foot's job is to try and make the upper fabric and lower fabric move forward as one, the sideways action of the zig zag stitch would just throw everything out of kilter and I think you'd probably break a needle or even put your machine out of tyme. If this isn't the case, I'd like to know because I've always wanted to use some of my fancy stitches when quilting and using my walking foot.

read the instruction sheet with the foot to see if you can use anything except the straight stitch, some allow it, but many the hole in the foot is not made for the needle to be moving around and you can hit the foot with the needle and break the needle; or damage the foot. it is always best to follow the recommendations for your equipement.

It sounds like I shouldn't but I do. I use what ever stitch I like with my walking foot. I'm lucky cuz it hasn't broke yet. I also have a Brother. You may check out the manual for your machine. I think it does say in there.

AS long as the hole in the throat plate and the walking foot is big enough for the zig zag you should have no problem. I use my walking foot almost constantly. I usually quilt my Linus quilts with a decorative stitch that would not be possible if the walking foot wouldn't accomadate the sideways motion.

You are right I should have mentioned that too about the plate opening being big enough for the stitch.

I would think that it would depend on how large the opening is in your walking foot whether it would allow your needle to go back n forth, & the throat plate. I have a single hole plate that I put on & forget from time to time that it is on & I break a needle every time!

I don't know about zig zagging with the walking foot, but I have used my machines fancy stitches with it on and had/have no problems.

On my little Brother XL2600 my generic walking foot will do all of my decorative stitches just fine. I used it to do "crazy quilt" stitches on one of my quilts. No problems at all.