quiltmom04

If you have an option to get an 'open toe' walking foot I would recommend you get that. When you are quilting in the ditch, the open toe allows you to see the seam easier and helps you get you stitching more accurate.

girlsfour

Yes to both. Of course the 1/4" foot is essential to quilting, but I have used my walking foot for other things like fun shaped potholders.

Another foot you might want to consider is a stitch in the ditch foot. If you are planning on doing any machine quilting, this will make things much easier.

Joanne9of12

Definitely get at least the 1/4" foot. You will be very glad you did! You'll be surprise at the accuracy of your seam allowance when you use it properly.

Regarding the walking foot: I used to only use it for quilting but now I use it to add my borders and binding. I think it helps keep the quilt from becoming wavy. Bottom line, if you can afford to get both, I think you should.

djbruno51

I definitely would recommend buying both feet. The 1/4" foot is the easiest way to keep seams even for me and the walking foot keeps things from bunching up underneath the quilt. You will get a smoother stitching when using the walking foot for attaching binding, having batting between front and backings and anything you just want to keep the tension of the stitches the most even. I have a friend who uses nothing but the walking foot. Have fun testing them out! One hint: on my 1/4" foot I can't do decorative stitches because the hole for the needle to pass through is only a circle----not a wide opening. Be sure to change it when doing some of the fun stitches. Otherwise a broken needle!

redeagle

I use my walking foot all the time and would not think about binding, quilting even some piecing without it. Expensive, but I find it necessary. I have been quilting since 1979 and had never used a 1/4" foot until recently. I find that I do not like it as it does not hold the fabric as snugly as the regular foot and consequently I never use the 1/4" foot.

patchsamkim

Very important to have a walking foot if you want to do machine quilting in straight lines. It keeps the fabrics going through the machine at even rates so you don't get puckers/pleats on back of your quilt (of course, you still need to baste too!).
And yes, a 1/4" foot is good to have for piecing. It will be a good idea to do a test with it though when you get it, to cut 3 strips 1-1/2" and sew them together (they only need to be about 6" long) and then measure the middle strip. It should measure 1". If it doesn't, then you should sew a scant 1/4" if it measures less than 1", or make sure you are sewing with fabric to edge of foot and try test again.

Michellesews

I always use a walking foot when I am putting on binding...it really does make a difference. I am a longarm quilter so I rarely use it to quilt, but I have and there really is no substitute. As for the 1/4 foot, you can always adjust your needle to the right to get that 1/4 inch, but you need to measure very carefully and make sure you are exactly at 1/4 or a tiny bit less, otherwise your pieces will be all catywampussed...???....1/16 of an inch off over an entire quilt could add up to 3 or 4 inches!!!
Michelle

quiltymom

If you can afford both I say yes!!!

quiltbea

I use three feet almost exclusively, my walking foot, Curvemaster foot and my Q-foot. The curvemaster keeps scant qtr-inch seams perfectly because of the guide on the right, but it works great for sewing curved blocks also.
The walking foot is used for just about everything else, except free motion quilting. Like making HSTs by sewing the squares in half and cutting, sewing anything with batting, adding binding, replique with satin stitches, and straight quilting.
I have a Q-foot on my Viking Quilt Designer II for my free motion quilting. It works like a dream and is almost as good as a stitch regulator.
I haven't used another foot for ages.

Dodee

I think a walking foot is a must. I had a 1/4" foot and the side broke off of it.
Dodee