I've always used a darning foot -- and it does just skim the fabric. It keeps the fabric down so that it does not pop up with the needle. I now have a Pfaff and one of the accessories I bought was a book on the feet. It shows all the feet, what they do and how to use them. It has the stitch length, tension info, positioning. I have feet that I use infrequently but love. This way I always know what I'm doing...or at least LOOK like I know what I am doing!