Jingle

When I use the walking foot in straight line quilting I set stitch length to 3.

SillySusan

The walking foot is an excellent tool and, like someone already said... It can be very tricky to get it on the machine. I just leave it on all the time. Also, you can get a generic one from eBay or Amazon very inexpensively. That's where mine came from and it works fine.

Quiltah Mama

Love my walking foot, I agree it's a great tool. It can be tricky getting it on. You mentioned that you'll be going to your dealer to purchase one, while there check to be sure it does get installed correctly, then quilt on..... Enjoy,it opens up a whole new skill.

Jordan

I love my walking foot and use it all the time to put on binding and it works so smoothly. I think you would be very pleased with your quilting if you purchased a walking foot if it fits in your budget.

heron

My answer is a little different than those of the others. I'm fairly new to machine quilting, too. I recently used my Pfaff Passport with the built in "walking foot" (called DST???) to machine-quilt. I had uneven stitches, too, which I chalked it up to my lack of technique. An unsatisfactory answer, since I've been garment sewing for three decades and am firmly familiar with using a walking foot. But quilting takes different techniques, and I confess to not having mastered them yet. Foolish not to do otherwise.

My advice is to invest in the walking foot. And practice, practice, practice your technique. That is, do several practice runs with the materials you are using in your project.

NJ Quilter

My machine has lots of 'auto' settings which, in general, I'm not a fan. However, on my sewing machine I love them! The book said to use the 'heavy woven' setting for quilting which auto sets the tension and sets the stitch length to 3. From those two perspectives it's been perfect.

Like heron, I think my biggest issue is probably technique at this point as well. I, too, have been sewing (garment/home dec) for decades and quilting for about 15 years. But up until now have been a hand quilter. I have about a half dozen quilts that I just need to have done. They are for no one in particular; utilitarian in nature so they are my 'practice' pieces at this point. I do have one other quilt, however, that is 'special' that also needs to be done sooner rather than later. If I can get a couple/few of these utilitarian quilts done and feel reasonably good about my machine quilting skills at that point, I'll put the 'special' one next on the list after those.

Will be calling my dealer when they open this AM to see if they have the walking foot in stock. If I can pick up locally somewhere that would be my preference. This way I can have them show me the proper installation techniques since many have said that can be an issue plus I can have it now!

rjwilder

Make sure you have the correct size needle in your machine. Your needle could be dull if it has been used a lot. Clean out all the lint, make sure the bobbin is in correctly too. My neighbor and I were sewing together yesterday, her machine started messing up, we did all the above and it's working perfectly now.

granny64

Get a walking foot. You will not regret the money spent. Well worth the money. The layers feed evenly and smoother.

klswift

I believe that after you have started using a walking foot, you will wonder why you didn't get one a long time before! I find that I use my foot other than just on a quilt. I think (but not sure) I would give up a zipper foot before I give up my walking foot.

bobush

Adjust your stitch length to longer stitches that will allow for the thickness of the quilt. Then try it with a "scrap" quilt sandwich--three layers--top/batting/back to see if that helps.

I would also highly recommend purchasing a walking foot. I firmly believe that our quilting projects should be for the most part highly enjoyable....therefore doing everything we can to eliminate stress and frustration. Go get that walking foot---you will not be sorry!