anita211

I have disabled the hopping on my Brother foot. I learned from Leah Day at LeahDay.com. I was sort of meandering before... after disabling the hopping, I was able to write my name, right down to the dot over the 'i' in about 5 minutes. Needless to say, I am happy. Plus, Leah has a whole series on how to learn how to machine quilt. All these patterns... and how to do it. Thanks, Leah.

quiltingcurious

azwendyg,
That information makes sense. I've seen a lot of tips, but none have addressed the amount of pressure on the presser foot. Good tip! I've seen a lot of complaints about broken needles and usually tension is addressed, but not pressure on the presser foot. Thanks, good to know.

Latrinka

I'm sure there is one out there somewhere, these folks will know!

RugosaB

I have an older machine, and bought the darning foot that was available for it. I bought 2 because I had to order them, I can't remember the exact amount, but $15 a piece sounds right. Good thing, after about 6 mos, the metal part, that enables it to 'hop' broke off. I thought, oh no, what if this happens with the second one? So, I just used an open toe foot, no hopping, to see how that would work. I do have a darning spot on the dial that controls the foot tension so used that too.

I noticed absolutely NO difference, and doubt I will even use the second darning foot (I have a button that drops the feed dogs)

k9dancer

It sounds like you need to release the pressure on the presser foot. If you are lucky enough to have a vintage machine, you do this by turning counterclockwise the screw on the top of the arm that is over the presser foot. Some machines have a spring type button that allows you to release pressure by pushing all the way down on it, release, and then it will spring all the way up.

k9dancer

That will depend on your machine. For myself, I love the metal open toe foot, but my FW prefers the plastic one.

newquilty

My walking foot did that. The store said the foot was ok. I got a titanium needle and the hopping stopped.

crzypatcher

I also purchased this FMQ foot for my 6600 along with the bobbin case made for FMQ. Love them both! I was having terrible "eyelashes" on the back of my quilts until I used the new bobbin case. Now if I could just get my hand speed and needle speed to come together, I would be a happy camper!!

QuiltE

Yes! I forgot to mention the bobbin case.
I had a long talk yesterday with one of the gals who sell the machines, and teach the how to's along with their full time "mechanic", and learned a lot more about my machine and these specialty feet and the bobbin case!! I am one that needs to understand a little more about the why's and wherefore's of doing things!!

With this special foot, you never adjust the foot pressure, as the FMQ foot has the adjustment on it for the distance. Similarly, the blue dot bobbin case allows for a slightly different bobbin pressure. If you ever think that you need a different bobbin tension, you pop in this bobbin case and continue on.

And so that means ... when you start FMQing, the only thing you may need to adjust would be the top thread tension. And that's only a may ... as that'd be dependent on the variables. I have discovered that seldom I need to adjust the tension and had been starting to wonder what I was doing wrong. Now I know, why it didn't need adjusting!

For anyone switching the bobbin case ... be sure to learn how to properly put it in! Otherwise, you can damage it too easily and then would need a new one (ask me how I know?). Both of them agreed that design wise that should be a simpler switchover as they have more people who damage theirs ... and then they make sure we know the right way, before we leave the shop!

Another interesting tidbit ... he said to throw away the manual ... and learn from them!!

I am SO thankful to have such a great dealer, only fifteen minutes away.
I know for some of you, that's only a dream ... so I count my blessings and am sure to tell them so!!!

Skittl1321

A walking foot should not hop. That is very strange.