TikiTeal

My husband purchased my Kenmore sewing machine (model 158.1320) the first Christmas we were married -- 1973. I still have it and it works great. Now that we're retired I've started learning how to quilt. The only problem I'm having is machine quilting and binding my project without a walking foot. My only attempt bunched up the material and it looked awful. I've purchased 5 different walking feet from various vendors (including my local sew & vac store and Hancock Fabrics) but none of them fit onto the shank. Kenmore did not make a walking foot for my model either.

I've thought about the option of modifying a walking foot to see if I could get one to fit but I don't know who could do something like that or if it would ultimately work ... or just be a waste of time.

I'm thinking of purchasing a new Brother computerized machine but I'd rather work with my Kenmore. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

sweet

Hi Tiki, don't give up. Someone here may be able to guide you to one. It may help if you could tell us what shank size you have. Is it that xlshank? If it is, a walking foot is available, but may be hard to find. There is a yahoo Kenmore group that might be able to help too. Hope this helps a bit......

KenmoreGal2

I have a 158.1803, similar vintage. It's a super high shank machine with a quick release presser foot lever. I don't have it but I've been told the RWA-8 walking foot fits my machine, maybe yours too? Is your machine left homing? Mine is. I've also been told it's different using the walking foot on a left homing machine because the stitching isn't happening where you would think it is, due to the left homing.

Edited to add - As "sweet" said, there are two very nice Yahoo groups for Vintage Kenmore owners. That's where I was told about the RWA-8 foot. You may wish to post your question there too.

TikiTeal

Thanks for the replies. My machine is a low shank and the width of the shank is a full quarter inch. The walking feet I've tried a just a tad short of that quarter inch (being able to fit the foot onto the shank). I'll try the yahoo group ... good suggestion. If anyone else has a suggestion I'd still love to hear from you. Thanks again.

miriam

In industry they set up a machine to do a task. If you do enough of it just buy a 15 clone and put a walking foot on it. They are cheap most anywhere you look. I like the clones because you can see what you are sewing. Or better would be to get a Singer 201 - they have a very nice throat/harp area but cost a bit more usually. Either one takes short shank attachments and the needle is centered since they make straight stitches only.

Mrs. SewNSew

I have a 158.950 that's a low shank Kenmore. I just tried my low shank walking foot ..I think it's an Alpha Sew P..something and it works fine.

Try looking at the Kenmore specific groups and hopefully someone has your exact same model and can give you more info.

Carol Jean

I have a walking foot I ordered from Sears which fits the older Kenmore Sewing Machines. Number on box is
214872011. Hope this helps. I've used it also on my newer Kenmore. Good luck.

Carol Jean

When quilting I lengthen my stitch length to 3.0 and it helps a lot with thicker fabric . Hope this helps.

KarenJ

I have the same machine and still use it. I bought a walking foot 5 years ago or so and it works perfectly. It's an Alphasew P60451.

mjhaess

Stick with the Kenmore...they are awesome machines...I have three of them..I bought a generic walking foot from Hancocks and it works great...