What can a Walking Foot do for YOUR sewing?
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- Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2024
- I feel the most discussed sewing machine accessory is the Walking Foot! Some people swear by them, some people think 'Meh' but what can a Walking Foot do for YOUR sewing? Let's look at the pros and cons in today's video!
I suppose the best place to start is by knowing what the Walking Foot is, what it does and how it works.
Do you ever notice when you're sewing that sometimes the top fabric layer ends up with extra fabric at the end of a seam because your regular machine foot has pushed it along too much?
This is because machines only have feed dogs on the bottom that can control the bottom layer but not the top. A Walking Foot is essentially a set of top feed dogs, maybe this is why it's the Top Dog of machine feet! 😂
That's all well and good but what is it actually beneficial for? If you sew a lot of knits you know how hard they can be to control sometimes but the Walking Foot really minimises stretching and gives you more control.
It also comes into it's own when working with slippery fabric and stops it running away from you.
I do find it can help with Pattern Matching and thick/bulky fabrics because it increases your control over how the fabric is going through the machine.
At the end of the day, the main takeaway is if you NEED one?
Whilst is can be nice to have and can help with certain things you certainly don't need to have one.
The better you know your machine the better you'll use it and the more mastery you'll have - fancy tools don't take away the need to develop your own fancy skills!!
Have you used one? What do you think of it and how does it help you with your day-to-day sewing?
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Hey Evelyn I thought I could sew...you blew my mind when I discovered all your videos. You are so so helpful. Each week your smile and vast knowledge bring me joy thank you so much. You're inspiring and courageous. You are in all our hearts🎉 get well soon.
One of the greatest tips I have learned from you is that "We" should take control of our sewing machine. I think this is why I, and so many others have problems with the sewing machines and feel intimidated with them even when we know how to sew; because like a car, it has a motor and when we accelerate it, or a sewing machine, it goes into action. And it seems powerful and scary at times. It's only a sewing machine with a motor and no different also, than a computer generating what we put into it. I have had sewing machines that I didn't use because they are so sophisticated yet I wanted the extra frills with it. When we take control over the sewing machine and are determined to make it do what we want it to do, such as having mind over matter, we will learn by trial and error. But we will learn how to use them and be better off for it.
I'm 33 and just picked up sewing 6 months ago, and your videos have been so helpful! I appreciate you.
It's made a huge difference to me - I love sewing thin, slippery fabrics and wow! I don't know how I managed without it before...
Same here.
Oh, same here!
For me, a walking foot is essential for all the bulky fabrics I use making dog toys! Also, great for denim etc😊
Thinking of you. Hope
all is going well for you.
For knits...I recommend a less expensive and equally helpful tool; a tricot (knit) foot. These feet are mini versions of a walking foot, specially designed to work with thin to medium weight knits.
Instead of all the teeth, they have a little rubber foot below that guides the fabric through the process evenly.
The bonus to this foot is that it is configured to the same shape as your average zig zag foot; making it much simpler to see your stitching.
While a walking foot can set you back up to $50 (depending on where you buy it), you can get a tricot foot for about $10 to $15 in most places.
They only make these feet (to my knowledge) for a maximum of a 5mm zig zag stitch, but for your average stretch stitch work, that should be more than enough to get the job done.
Is anyone else amazed at how people create things like this just to make life easier?
Hope you’re doing well. Been sending good thoughts your way.
I was wondering exactly what that thing was! I just assumed it was something quilters used! 🤣👍
I think a walking foot is absolutely necessary. I wanted to make a quilted lining for a jacket I have in progress and the essential in making my lining. When sewing dissimilar fabrics, so you do not get the top slipping , you must have a walking foot. The walking foot is not appropriate for decorative stitches but for general sewing the walking foot may not always help but it will never hurt.😊
Hi Evelyn. Thinking of you and praying for your beautiful self to be healed and well all-over ❣🥰🦋🌷🌸🦋🌷🌸😘
I love to watch you. I have not done a garment since high school and I am 80 now. But I quilt a lot and I use the walking foot to move the quilt sandwich whenever I am doing straight line quilting. My first job as a novice social worker was a rotation with breast cancer patients. In those intervening years there have been so many improvements. The outcome will be so much better than it would have been when I was young. You are young and that is on your side as well.
100% worthy for me. Rarely take it off.👍👍👍
I find my walking foot indispensable! I love it. It works so well for quilting smaller items on the machine such as quilt squares and pillow covers. Its also wonderful for making stuffed animals and for sewing a gathered fabric such as a sleeve cap to a base fabric.
The sleeve cap measures longer than the armhole. Because you use put the sleeve cap on the feed dogs, which will feed it more than the armhole,
Good tip, thanks.
Great tip about sleeve caps!
Google inserting an armscye flat - it will blow your mind and it’s the only way I do it now. I also use my walking foot every day. 💞
It's so good for stuffed animals since most plush fabrics are such a pain to work with!!!
I always use my walking foot 😊 I almost exclusively see knits and it’s a gift to be able to do so easily.
walking foots are amazing. I have a built in one of my pfaff creative 4.5. I enjoy your videos
Totally worth it! I sewed for years without one, but when I started quilting I thought I should get one. Suddenly so many things were so much easier. Where two seams are supposed to meet up evenly now they do!
God Bless you Dear One🙏❤🕊🌟🌷🌷🌷🥰
I use my walking foot a lot. It's made a big difference for me.
I used my walking foot so much I finally went and bought a domestic machine with a walking foot... Beautiful perfect stitches on both sides of fabric
I have one, never used. One of my teachers never took it off my machine. ❤❤
I’m just beginning my sewing journey and I’m learning so much from you! I failed to learn from my Momma or grandmothers, all of whom were skilled and gifted sewers. I’ve had Momma’s 1980 Montgomery Ward sewing machine since she passed in 1990. I’ve recently felt the ancestral siren song to learn the art. Your demeanor and energy are so warm and gracious; encouraging and inspiring. You teach all those little fidgety details that you don’t find written in the pattern. I was so shocked to learn that I had to LEARN how to pin fabric! Your videos have made such an immediate improvement in my work that I’m encouraged and excited at the possibilities! Thank you so very much! I’m thinking of you and wishing you all the very best in your battle against cancer. I know you will beat it!
One of the things a walking foot is so helpful for, is when you’re quilting. It helps to get all your layers through at an even rate.
🤯 thank you! I've struggled so much with knits and no one ever suggested to me to use the walking foot! You are wonderfully helpful 😊 Thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers Evelyn 🙏♥️
Thank you, thank you! I was wondering how to use this foot, and I'm pleased to learn that I am a seasoned fabric manipulator! Hope you're doing well, Evelyn.
I have a love/hate relationship with my walking foot. It was pricey, and is clunky when I sew with it. I bought it to use with thick minky fabric and batting to make cat beds. I also used it with sheer nylon fabric to keep it under control with even seams. My heavy duty Singer came with a walking foot, which was a surprise bonus so I have one for each of my machines. 😊
Thank you Evelyn for sharing your love of sewing! I’m praying for you and hope that you are going well!💜💜💜🙏
I have been making shopping bags out of layers of waterproof canvas. (Thick AND slippery!) Getting a walking foot was a game changer for me. I no longer get the dreaded 'tidal wave' effect on the top layer that misaligns the edges especially toward the end.
Your explanations are so clear & concise and your countenance is so pleasant, it is a joy to learn from you. You are in my prayers & I wish you the best. ❤
Getting a walking foot was 100% the best investment for me as I mainly sew knit garments and quilt. I honestly think if I’d got the walking foot first I wouldn’t have bothered getting an overlocker!
I love my walking foot! That extra security that the fabrics are not shifting around is wonderful, whether I am quilting or sewing anything where my machine could use a little help (my feed dogs can be very particular without it!). Though, I can be known to be a "fast walker" 🤣
Hello Evelyn, thank you for posting this very informative video. I awoke in the early hours of this morning and my first thought was that I hadn’t seen anything from you for a while. I said a prayer 🙏 for your speedy healing and recovery ❤️🩹. I do hope you are doing ok with your treatment and will return to full health soon. ❤❤❤
I got one for Christmas (because I asked for it) , but I never realised I could use it for slippery and bulky fabrics. Awesome !
I just brought a walking foot and it cost me $59 for my Bernette b38. So this gadget isn't cheap. But this video was wonderful Evelyn because I didn't know how the walking foot actually worked. I didn't know it had feed dogs. This video was totally essential to watch!
I am primarily a bag maker, so should actually be using my walking foot much more than I do. I just forget to use it! I hope you are having a good day today Evelyn.🙏🏽❤️
Hard to comprehend why this isn't an integral part of any sewing machine. I bought a second-hand, serviced and definitely-not-white Bernina 1015 via an English shop (cost of shipping to Scotland - ginormous!) quite a number of years ago for a few hundred pounds and it's better than all the machines I've used in the past (and sometimes returned or discarded in disgust). I'm an almost lifelong sewer and really getting back into it now. I think I'm just about convinced I need a walking foot, especially after my first foray, a year ago, into quilting. It won't be my last. Loving all your videos.
I've been using a walking foot on a leather jacket I've been making for my brother's graduation gift ^^ I typically don't use it otherwise tho, as you said most other fabrics you can get away with just the zipper foot, general foot or teflon.
Evelyn Hello! I’ve been sewing my whole life. Aside from home economics class in high school I have never taken a sewing lesson. I learned by doing. Which is one reason I loved your video! One can manage very well without gadgets! So much of learning to sew well is trial and error which comes with experience which comes with time. That said, at 72 years of age today, I received a walking foot for my machine for my birthday. I must tell you the main reason I bought it was for sewing on old denim jeans..sewing hems and I re-design them into other creations. Getting over those thick bulky layers is a beast! The walking foot gets the job done a little easier than manipulating the fabric. This is what got my attention in your video. I tell the fabric what to do! Love it. But I am so very thankful for learning the hard way first! And I love new thing that make my work look better. Thank you. Very good video. Really just wanted to mention jeans, but blabbed on and on🤣
Novice sewist here... 🙋🏻 Got a walking foot to make potholders & such for gifts. Everytime I've used it, it's skipped stitches... I've played with the tension & stitch length, read trouble shooting & tips online, but can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. So I've just had to manage doing my projects with a bigger sized needle & sewing carefully/slowly over the bulk... 😏
I can't get on with mine either, I must be doing something wrong but can't figure what.
@@gill8779 When I ask people I know that sew, they say walking feet skip stitches so they don't use them... 🥺
Good to know. I had skipped stitches 🪡🪡🪡🪡🪡
Try lowering the pressure on the foot.
Theres a piece that goes behind the presser foot that will keep it up and even when there is bulk. Idk what its called.
It is a plastic piece shaped like a V and has different heights on each side of the V. Try looking it up. Maybe that could help u.
I wish I could have seen your videos thirty years ago. What a delight to learn something new with every video. Hope you are doing well!❤
I also find her a true professional. She is one of thop people to watch!
Like you said ...I have a walking foot but never used it ! Thank you for your incentive🥰
I totally agree with you, I didn’t have a walking foot for many years but now I’ve got one, I’m pleased I have it on occasions. Hope you’re doing well, all your videos have inspired and motivated me to continue to grow and improve as a sewist. Sending you love and healing from the UK 🥰
I couldn't live without my walking foot. Apart from quilting, knits, thick or slippery fabrics my machine would just not entertain vinyl or leather without it. ❤
I am so grateful to have a teacher with so much knowledge on sewing. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. Hoping and praying you keep the faith and for a speedy recovery 🙏 ❤️.
Special feet for machines are a complete mystery. Thank you
Just making a chanel jacket; quilting between slippy fabric and relativly thick top fabric with pattern. My walking foot really helped. Good luck Evelyn, treat yourself gentlely
I sew on a Pfaff machine which has a built in walking foot!!! I LOVE IT!
Thank you for teaching an old dog new tricks 😊 xx
Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial.
My knowledge about walking foot is for bulky and thick fabric. Today I learned that I can use it for knit fabric or slippery fabric as well. Can’t wait to try it.
I hope you are doing well. Sending you lots of love ❤️ and prayers 🤲
You read my mind! I was thinking on getting it with the singer accessories.
I have used this foot for velvet and corduroy that is so apt to move about. I enjoy your content very much. Thank you for inspiring us to grow and learn. 🥰🇺🇸
First, I have 2 (found one at thrift for a quarter or some such thing) but have only used them with quilting.
Second (so off topic!) but I enjoy watching your videos partially because you strongly resemble the one of my grandmothers. You should see a pix.
Oh one more thing- you’ve had your machine for 20 years?- You got it when you were 2 then right 🤔. 😊
I taught myself to sew before the internet came into existence. I became pretty good, however, over the years I stop sewing due to how expensive it became. Now at 84, after discovering you on RUclips I’m inspired to start sewing again. Thanks so much for all your wonderful knowledge.
Thank you for posting your video Ms Evelyn. I hope you are doing well with your treatments. It is good to see your smile!
All the best,
Norm in Arizona
I have found the walking foot very helpful for knits and bulky fabrics! I was lucky enough that one came with my Singer Heavy Duty so I was able to experiment with it with out investing more money.
OMGoodness, I didn’t know ALL the uses for my walking foot. I thought it was just for thick, bulky fabrics.
You can use the nature of the machine pulling the bottom fabric more than the top fabric when you need to ease around curves, like setting in sleeves, or sewing a top with princess seams. Put the longer piece on the bottom, and the machine will help ease the two pieces fit together.
I would love for you to show how to maneuver fabric so it feeds evenly without the walking foot.
As a quilter, I've never used a walking foot, but I love how you stated you just get better, which is true at the core, one learns to slow down and enjoy the process, the end result will arrive, but enjoying each individual step is where I find my joy
Walking foot is great for even feed! So happy I have one.
I own this foot and really didn't know what it was good for so I am glad I seen this video. I am not sure it's something I will reach for.
Thank you so much for your lovely vlogs. Praying for strength and healing for you xxxM
I struggled quilting a small baby quilt with the regular foot. I had so many waves and wrinkles! As soon as I tried a walking foot it worked like a charm!
I had never thought about using a walking foot for garment sewing. Totally makes sense! I'll definitely keep it in mind for future projects.
I had no idea how useful that could be. I've never used one. I thought that they were only for quilters. Thanks, would love this for knits.
Thoughts and prayers for you daily. Love your channel and the walking foot for many different sewing projects.
I got a sewing machine second hand, and I just realized. It has a walking foot and I've never used it! I guess I should try!!
I had a terrible time with my Brother walking foot. Then I discovered that some time in the shipping the feed dogs in the walking foot had gotten bent and weren't contacting the fabric properly. Much better now. Wishing you well.
I use my walking foot more than I thought I would. Thanks Evelyn. I hope you are doing well.
Being a quilter, I also use the 1/4” foot a lot - both the regular one and the walking foot 1/4”. I’m 70 now and thinking more about garment making. Many blessings on your health journey. My hope is for your cure. You are a bright point in my sewing journey. Thank you for your videos.
Thanks for explaining how it can help with garments--usually quilters rave about these--i'm not a quilter, but I did finally get one, and rarely use it 😂 (but I sew garments sporadically). I agree knowing how to control the fabric yourself is key. And lots of puns at times. I sew leather goods for my business, and the shop set me up with a rolling foot on my industrial machine based on what I planned to do. I could put the walking foot back on, but 15 years on & it's still in the drawer! And best wishes on your healing!! ❤
Praying for your complete recovery. I hope you are doing well.
Thank you! It just dawned on me after all the years of struggling with stretch fabrics to use my Walking foot! Where did I leave my brain? Thank you again!
I have been sewing for 50 years and have never used a walking foot. I could have needed one at a time or two like when my husband had me sew duck bags for his bicycle and when making T-shirts for the family. I do not see a need to spend that much on something I would use every couple of years. BTW, I really love this channel.🙃
Wishing you well. Strength, love, and prayers.💜
WOW - I didn't know half of that about the walking foot. I've never used mine either
The walking foot is my go-to of presser feet when I know my fabric will shift, stretch, slip or pucker. My mil introduced me to one she gifted me one Christmas. I now have one for my Bernina and one for my Janome. Presser feet btw make great Christmas presents for stitch witches. Thanks for the video Evelyn!
Great gift idea! Especially with mothers day coming up where I live
Agree that presser feet make great Christmas gifts: I have received several. 😉
I'm just working on a dress out of very slippery silk, so I got one and I'm really loving it! There are fairly cheap versions of this available. I have a no-name swing machine and couldn't find a "high-end" one, so I looked for No-name versions of the walking foot and tried out a few different ones, that fit my machine. (all in the range of 10-15€). They were all a little different -mechanics seemed a bit different, and size of the walking dogs varied quite a bit, giving of different grades of "pull" and hence felt different to work with. Also, not everyone fit on my machine, so it might be work testing out a few different ones. It's my first project with it, but to test the different feet, I tried out a variety of materials and I really enjoyed it. I think I will use it quite a bit in the future -also for "regular" fabrics, that might not need a walking foot.
My Pfaff (circa 1974) had a walking foot as it primary foot. I rarely used another foot. Best sewing machine ever!
My sewing machine came with a walking foot, but I have never used it. Now that you have explained its use, I will definitely put it to good use. Thank you for sharing your expert knowledge!
That is what I love about my Pfaff sewing machines with IDE: Integrated Dual Feed dogs built-in.
Love your video. I learned to sew on basic machines without any bells and whistles. As you said, you learn to be the master of your machine albeit the hard way. After 60+ years of sewing I’m glad I learned this way. Only is the past year have I bought a walking foot. I must say, it’s pretty awesome. I sew a lot on denim and have figured out ways to sew on it, particularly ,thick seams. The walking foot makes it so much easier! Love it. PS I use a serger for knits mostly and never thought about using the walking foot on my regular sewing machine for hems and such. Thank you! Claudia
In the scheme of things (and the original cost of my 1980's Kenmore machine) a walking foot does seem pricey. I never knew about it until today, and I'm definitely going to check into it. Over the years of sewing, I can't begin to express my frustration with the top layer of fabric advancing faster than the bottom. Thanks for your video!
Another great video. Thank you. Sending heaps of love. Look after yourself ❤❤❤
I bought mine to learn machine quilting but I use it for a lot more. Love your videos!
I love my walking foot for difficult fabrics or when I need things *perfect*. I also found it good when I was starting my sewing to stop my top fabric moving SO MUCH!
I bought mine and didn't try until much later.
Total game changer!
Double the feed dogs, so smooth.
Love mine! ❤
I've had several jobs that were huge - repairing a king-size silk duvet cover, making ceiling-to-floor draperies for a Victorian home, etc. - and without my walking foot I would never have been able to manipulate that much fabric through the machine and have it come out even and pattern-matched! BUT I never thought of using it on knits - so I'll be trying that out as well. I bet it will also work well for making jeans...
Sending you good health and an easy series of treatments, with love.
As I was learning I bought a walking foot and used it almost all the time. It was very helpful in keeping plaids and other lines lined up and also in doing quilting. Now, a few years later (and with more skill and a better a new machine), I use it only occasionally. Although I'm a frugal guy, the $25 or so it cost was money well spent.
Your a real peach. Great info and enthusiasm.
I have a walking foot … it came into its own for me when learning to sew with silk fabric and was definitely worth the investment
Hopefully I will ultimately develop the required skills not to need one … but it saves the heartache in the meantime
That aside … I hope your treatment and recovery are progressing well Evelyn … I keep you in my prayers
You are a treasure we all love 💜
Thanks for sharing the uses for the walking foot!
I plan to use the walking foot to sew a terry cloth top, a rectangular vintage 1950’s knit top that the front crosses over, and the slippery lining of my bags! Yeah!
Absolutely yes! Total gamechanger for me, particularly with slippery or stretchy fabrics.
The walking foot is pretty much a necessity when quilting but I have never used on when sewing garments.
I am sending good wishes your way!
I was lucky enough that my walking foot came with the sewing machine my mother gave me, cuz oh lawdy I love it! I just love how versatile it is. I know its not in the "every sewist needs this" category, but it makes the process easier for me so its a need for me!
Thank you. I have one and can't do without it when quilting things. Haven't used it for knits, might give that a try. Hope you are doing better, in my prayers.
I have one of those and didn't know what it was, now I do. I think it will come in handy but as you say not for everything. Thank you for the lesson as always I'm learning so much. Hope your feeling well, thinking of you and sending get well vibes your way. xoxo
Thank you, Evelyn, for this very encouraging video. My walking foot came with my machine and I was too afraid to try it, lol! Your encouragement has given me the boost I need. Praying for your healing and a very good day for you and your partner
Hi there Evelyn the walker foot came with my Janome machine. I've never used it. I didn't know how to. I'd bright rather watch a video than read about it in my manual so thank you very much for showing me how it's used
It’s also good for handwoven fabric. My sewing is mainly sewing hems on my handwoven items, and a walking foot really helps.
Thank you for yet another great learning.
I for one would like to learn how to sew different fabrics with just the basic tools. But it’s good to know I have a backup plan.
Hello Evelyn, I did buy one for myself as a birthday present. I was making tote bags with pleather and the walking foot was a blessing. But I am not a skilled sewist, that will come with practice. I will definitely give it a try with stretch fabrics which is still a challenge for me. Thank you for all your hints and tips, they make so much sense
Yes I do think it'd be useful for me. Just went to look and yes I've had one for my Janome machine for about 40 years - I got a new machine a few years ago and it's a Janome as well, so all the feet fit. I've never used the foot and had no idea of what it was for, but now that I know I'm sure it'll be very useful. Thank you.