Should I have to push my walking foot?

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05-15-2017, 05:25 AM

#21

Kath12

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Clinton, IA

Posts: 422

Are you using the correct walking foot for your machine? I have several machines that are different makes (Brother, Viking, Singer, New Home) and the foot is not interchangeable. For example, I can't use my Singer walking foot on my Brother machine.

05-15-2017, 05:34 AM

#22

jhoward

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Central Minnesota

Posts: 1,131

Lengthen the stitch?

05-15-2017, 06:30 AM

#23

MaggieLou

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Central Florida

Posts: 1,804

Can you adjust the pressure of the pressure foot? My older Kenmore has an adjustment that reduces the pressure on the pressure foot when sewing over thick or heavier weight fabrics.

05-15-2017, 06:38 AM

#24

larkitecht

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Thread Starter

Join Date: May 2017

Location: Maryland

Posts: 12

Thanks for your advice, everyone! I think y'all are right about it being drag from the quilt. I'm lifting it up more and making sure it's level with the presser foot and that has been helping. It's probably just a matter of me needing to get used to something new. :P I think adjusting the presser foot pressure would help a little too, but alas my machine doesn't have that option.

My quilting so far isn't as lovely and neat as everything I see on here, but practice practice practice! Like my FIL says, if I end up with a quilt at the end on a first attempt, I'm doing pretty good...

05-15-2017, 06:57 AM

#25

thimblebug6000

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: British Columbia

Posts: 8,085

Have a look at this little video on your machine, maybe there is something there to help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nR9t3i0sSw

It looks like they have 42 videos on your machine, might be worth watching ? https://sewingmastery.com/brother-cs6000i/

Last edited by thimblebug6000; 05-15-2017 at 07:00 AM.

05-15-2017, 01:27 PM

#26

Dolphyngyrl

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Southern California

Posts: 6,254

Is the quilt well supported, I'd no drag

05-15-2017, 02:26 PM

#27

Jennifer23

Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: Saskatchewan

Posts: 838

Quote:

Originally Posted by larkitecht

You know lots of people only post pictures of our proudest quilting, right? I have pictures of the first quilt I quilted, but only from a distance in bad lighting. Closeups wouldn't have helped with anything. Don't compare your first quilt to things people were willing to show the world on the internet! It will turn out fine.

Your FIL has the right attitude. It reminds me of a line from a comedy show I heard about pilots: A good landing is one where everyone walks away. A great landing is one where they can reuse the plane! I don't want a real pilot to have that attitude, but I repeat it to myself when I'm getting upset with my quilting. As long as I have fun and can reuse my sewing machine when it's done, I count it as a victory.

05-15-2017, 03:52 PM

#28

simpsonfs

Member

Join Date: Feb 2012

Posts: 95

Quote:

Originally Posted by larkitecht

So I'm quilting my very first quilt—yay! I just got my walking foot today and it seems to be doing fine on test fabric, but when it comes to moving the actual quilt through (it's a throw size... I was a little overambitious) it seems to 'catch'. I have to push the quilt to keep it from stitching the same spot over and over, and the stitches it's making are tiny and irregular even with stitch length cranked up to 5. Is this normal? I'm making sure the quilt isn't snagged on anything and I'm supporting the weight so I don't think that's what's stopping it. My impression was that with FMQ you have to push and steer the fabric, but with a walking foot the machine should 'pull' everything through for you. Help!

Edit: I'm working on a Brother CS6000—is it possible that it just doesn't have the power to move something so sturdy?

It sounds like to me you need to oil your walking foot. It has moving parts just like your sewing machine and needs maintenance. Use nothing but sewing machine oil and oil inside and outside the attachment. Let sit overnight and then sewing on scraps to make sure so oily stain comes on your scrap. I've have had to do this several times.

05-15-2017, 04:04 PM

#29

bigsister63

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Ohio

Posts: 2,148

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jingle

You also might have to lessen the pressure on the foot. On my machines you have a knob directly up from your needle. Less pressure will work better, just turn the knob until the feed dogs can move the fabric along.

I was thinking the same thing!

05-15-2017, 04:32 PM

#30

MadQuilter

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2009

Posts: 15,639

Do you have the quilt in front of the machine free to move. If it hangs over the edge, it may catch on the front of the machine or table. That keeps the quilt from moving. Try lifting it up and see if it moves better.