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Feet, Feet, Feet!
Florence from flossie teacakes brings us this excellent guide to some of the more common sewing machine feet. Be sure to click through to her introduction and explore her made by florence shop! Don’t forget to comment below for this week’s Sewing Machine Month prizes.
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From Florence: You may be a complete novice in the market for a new machine and all the paraphernalia that comes with it, or an old-hand who could sew her way out of a… well, somewhere difficult to get out of. But either way, we all soon come to realise that some tasks just aren’t easily surmountable without the right feet. |
Attaching your feet…
The first thing to think about with feet is how easy they are to attach to your machine. On my old machine I had to use a small screw to change feet – this was time consuming and eventually led to the screw threads being worn down and the feet becoming loose.
My current machine allows the feet to be easily snapped on and off in less than a second (pictured above), which is fantastic if, like me, you rarely stick to one foot during a sewing session.
Standard Presser Foot
• This holds your fabric nicely in place with an even pressure.
• It allows you to use a straight stitch or a zigzag and is universally useful.
• In theory you could sew almost exclusively with this foot…but you may find it easier to achieve the finish you want if you venture a little further into the vast array of the specialist feet that have been designed for use with particular sewing tasks in mind.
• Despite its fabulousness the Standard Presser Foot has one fundamental problem in that it doesn’t address the issue of differential feed.
Many of the parts of this pincushion have been assembled using a Standard Presser Foot
Walking Foot
• Differential feed means that the two layers of fabric you are sewing together are fed through the machine at very slightly different rates (the fabric nearer the feed dogs moves a fraction faster) and can mean that despite your finest efforts at pinning everything in place perfectly, when you come to the end of stitching a long line of fabric one piece of material appears to have mysteriously become a centimetre or two longer than the other! This can be traumatic in any number of projects, but is most especially irksome in installing zips and aligning patchwork squares.
• But fear not, the Walking Foot is the perfect remedy to this problem, and acts to feed both pieces of material through at exactly the same rate. A walking foot can be bought as an add-on accessory to be attached to your machine and will do the job perfectly.
• A Walking Foot is especially helpful when working with slipperier materials.
• However, an add-on walking foot can be very noisy, clunky and eventually cause irreparable wear and tear to your machine, as it did to mine – this is my old walking foot pictured above.
Attaching the silk to this kimono was made a little less stressful by the use of a Walking Foot.
Integrated Walking Foot
• There are a few machines on the market that come with an integrated walking foot and having tried both I can now attest to the utter brilliance of having one welded to the frame of your machine, if not your person!
• This system is often referred to as ‘integrated dual feed’. When it’s inbuilt it isn’t just confined to usage when you want to stitch in a straight line, it can also be kicked into action with the flick of a finger and used in combination with your zipper foot, appliqué foot, quarter inch foot and any other number of feet where you want to gain from that particular foot’s specialist features whilst not losing the ability to feed both your pieces of fabric through the machine at the same rate.
• The picture above shows the integrated walking foot that I have on my current machine – it’s the large black bit and it easily slots into a little hole at the back of whatever foot you happen to be using.
• An Integrated Walking Foot is so quiet that one is not wracked with ‘sewing guilt’ when machining past midnight.
• Again, a Walking Foot produces fantastic results when working with slipperier fabrics.
A Walking Foot can help you to keep your fabrics in alignment.
The Quarter Inch Foot
• This is the foot that I probably make most use of. It means that you never have to carefully draw seam allowance lines onto fabric again and instead you may let this foot guide you into achieving a precise ¼” seam allowance.
• You simply butt your fabric up to the metal guide attached to the foot and then sew happily away.
• It even has red markers on it so that you know at which point you should stop sewing when it’s time to turn a corner. I find this so utterly pleasing and know that it will be the delight of fellow neat-freaks out there who aspire for the handmade to look like it’s been made by a precision robot rather than a real person.
• It is perfect for sewing together patchwork squares, bag making (which is what I predominantly use it for) and many other things. Previously when designing a bag pattern I would have to make one template with a seam allowance included and another one without, so that I knew exactly where to sew. This double process is now, happily, a thing of the past.
• The only limitation of this foot is that any attempt to zigzag or change your needle position from central will be rewarded with a broken needle.
I create all my bags using a Quarter Inch Foot.
Adjustable Guide Foot
• The Adjustable Guide Foot acts in the same way as the ¼ inch foot, but is highly adjustable and allows you to use a variety of needle positions, and yes, you can even zigzag if that’s what’s required!
• While I use mine as a seam allowance guide, it is especially designed to help you achieve perfect top stitching.
• On my version, pictured above, the guide doesn’t slip around without asking, due to the super little ratchetty notches.
• You can use it in exactly the same way as the ¼ inch foot – by butting your fabric edge up against the side.
• Its limitation is that it doesn’t allow for smaller seam allowances…which means that, despite its flexibility, I use it a lot less than my Quarter Inch Foot.
These glasses cases are made using the Variable Seam Guide
as my seams tend to be a little more than ¼” for these.
Open Toe Appliqué Foot
• My Quarter Inch Foot may be most frequently used, but my Open Toe Appliqué Foot is one of my dearest possessions. It may well be inanimate, but it’s utterly lovable.
• It allows the user to create pictures with fabric and generally play like a child let loose in a classroom full of art supplies, under the dignified guise of ‘seamstressing’.
• What’s special about this foot is that you can see exactly where you are going, which is essential when turning tight corners around appliqué pieces.
• It seems to place less pressure on the fabric than a Regular Presser Foot, while holding the fabric in place to either side of your appliqué edge.
• Using this foot you can appliqué using a straight stitch or a zigzag stitch.
• It is useful for any task where you need greater visibility of your work than a Regular Presser Foot will provide.
This is what my appliqué looks like after it’s had a meeting with the Open Toe Appliqué Foot.
Zipper Foot
• The Zipper Foot allows you to sew closely alongside against anything that is too bulky to put under an actual foot, and so in effect, it is the sewing equivalent of riding a horse side-saddle.
• A zipper foot can be used not just to insert zips, but also to install cording or piping into cushions and bags.
• My zipper Foot can be mounted on either side so that you can sew on the left or the right.
• This is a foot that requires the careful use of your fingers. You must feel for the zipper teeth or cording that are sandwiched in between your outer fabric and your lining and then butt the side of the zipper foot up against the teeth or cord, hoping that you are the winner in this particular game of hide & seek.
• If your machine comes with a variety of needle positions then you have control over how close to the zipper teeth you wish for your stitches to be.
• When you reach the zip-pull you must raise the foot, pivot a little, and ease the pull back before resuming sewing again.
• At first the Zipper Foot can seem fiddly, but I found that an intensive week of immersing myself in projects involving zips had the eventual effect of making its use seem no more complex than reversing into a space at the supermarket.
A zip happily installed with my Zipper Foot.
Concealed Zip Foot
• A concealed zip (also: Invisible Zipper) is most often used in clothing, where to have the zip’s teeth visible would be an eyesore. Although using my standard zipper foot it would be possible to install a concealed zip, I find the Concealed Zipper Foot makes the job much easier.
• While the Standard Zipper Foot was compared to riding your horse side-saddle, this foot is more like using a lightweight steamroller (do the analogies ever end?!). It gently glides over the zip teeth catching them to one side or the other of the roller. Your stitches are formed incredibly closely to the zip’s teeth for a neat, precise finish.
• It is very easy to use and tends to produce perfect results every time, due to the fact that it leaves little room for human error – the concealed zipper foot lets you see exactly where you are in relation to the zip and the foot intuitively follows the groove that it has found around the zip’s teeth.
This dress has a concealed zip at the back…
But it’s so well concealed that I thought I’d show you the front instead!
Buttonhole Foot
• The instructions for creating buttonholes on my machine are shown in the lid (shown below).
• Some of the more fancy-pants machines may have a quicker and easier one-step route to buttonhole loveliness which may be worth looking out for when buying a machine, but my machine is a workhorse and so requires me to go through five quick and easy steps.
• The Buttonhole Foot has an internal section that slides up and down across your fabric helping you to create your buttonhole.
• Proper preparation is essential to make good use of your buttonhole foot.
• You should always use a stabiliser beneath your fabric when creating a button hole – it will keep your buttonhole smooth and free from puckering.
• I tend to start by placing my button on the fabric and drawing a little line at each side to make sure my button hole is the perfect size. I then draw a vertical line between the two horizontal lines and this forms the line for the buttonhole, which can be followed with your machine.
• Once your machine has helped you to create your superduper button hole you will need to open it up with scissors or a seam ripper. A moment of overzealousness here, however, can result in you accidently barrelling through the end of your previously beautiful button hole. For this reason I slide a pin in horizontally just before the end stitches which acts like a safety buffer…and makes the ripping much more fun.
• Buttonholes will have their own day in the sun during Sewing Machine Month in a week or two, so stay tuned for more information and tutorials.
Buttonholing instructions.
Big Foot
• The Big Foot is used for free-motion embroidery. Using this foot, I’ve seen other people create the most amazing things that leave me feeling quite giddy… but to master it requires practice and a dedication that I, unfortunately, don’t seem to be in possession of.
• In order to do free motion embroidery or use the Big Foot it is imperative that you are able to lower the feed dogs on your machine. These are the things that usually do a super job of feeding your fabric through the machine. But for free-motion you take over in this job and without any feed dogs to boss you around, you have the freedom to twist and turn your fabric exactly as you please.
• The machine no longer regulates the stitch length for you and it becomes your responsibility to keep the fabric moving at an evenly-paced speed in order to maintain a consistent stitch length.
• You can appliqué fabric pieces with it, as well as creating beautiful quilts, where the sewer is able to produce loopy, undulating waves of stitches which can result in a look that is far cosier and more informal than the alternative of quilting in straight lines (which is what I tend to do).
• To use it you must either create a quilting sandwich (cotton & batting etc) or else place your fabric in a special machine embroidery hoop with a stabiliser beneath – never a single layer of material.
This rather pitiful excuse for a bird was created on my most ‘successful’ attempt at free-motioning…
In Conclusion
• I have included here the feet that I use most often, but have omitted the Overcast Foot, the Piping Foot, the Twin Welting Foot and many others that I have in my box of feet, because some seem to end up being more useful than others, depending on what type of sewing you tend to do most.
• Don’t be afraid to invent your own uses for your machine’s feet; trial and error tells you what is the easiest way for you to do something. During a particularly blurry moment I once snapped my Standard Zipper Foot onto my machine back to front and found that it awakened a whole new range of possibilities for use (at your own risk!) and have frequently used it that way ever since.
• The feet discussed above are the feet that I use most regularly, but actually my machine’s manufacturer’s catalogue that I gaze upon on a regular basis tells me that my modest collection is really just the tip of a foot-filled iceberg. But, as with books or wooden toys, they never feel like a frivolous waste of money, for they have the ability to help to make anyone’s stitchery more perfect and do better justice to the beautiful stash of fabrics that passes fleetingly beneath a machine’s feet.
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Join us for Sewing Machine Month! Enter to win this week’s prize package from our Sewing Machine Month sponsor: Husqvarna/Viking. Comment on any post this week for your chance to win the Embroidery Package (over $250 retail value), or you might win one of four $20 gift certificates to Sew,Mama,Sew!. |
I love this info! I am always wondering what foot to use when…. so I usually just use the basic foot that came attached to my machine! I need to branch out more.
Thank you so much for adding all the little details. A couple months ago I bought a couple new feet so I could make quilts for Christmas. They didn’t come with use instructions so I’ve been a bit lost. Thanks for all the helpful info.
This is so helpful! I’ve searched and searched for something just like this for months. Thank you!
Thanks, I have made this post a bookmark. Great help for greens like me.
What a useful guide to all the different feet! I just bought an add-on walking foot for my new low-end machine and didn’t know it would be noisy. Thanks for this post!
Clearly I need an open-toe applique foot. Also I have never mastered my machine’s infuriating buttonhole foot and just make do with the ordinary foot. The 1/4″ is my favorite general-use foot, but I sure have snapped a lot of needles on it by switching to zig-zag without looking…
great photos. very helpful post. thank you.
This is really helpful. Aside from one year of home economics in 9th grade, I’m predominately a self-taught seamstress. There’s a lot I can do, but I usually ignore all the extra feet with my machine (save the zipper foot and button-hole foot and blind hem foot – hmm, I guess I use more than I thought) – still, you’ve mentioned several here I’ve never tried before.
Thanks!
This is great! Feet I’ve never heard of! I’m glad my birthday is coming up.
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial! I have just started getting into sewing after having had a machine for years. I now have a better idea of how to use some of the feet I have. Thanks!
thanks for the fabulous post!
I also have IDF (on my Pfaff) and love it
Great information….I solved my foot changing problem by using my old machines…One has the walking foot on it and one has the darning foot for machine quilting. That way they are all ready to go, great for a quilter with A.D.D.!
I love this explanation of so many different “feet”. I really only use the basic foot that came with my machine, but this inspires me to try a few new ones out….. And that 1/4″ foot is amazing, I don’t understand why every machine doesn’t come with one of those. It would definitely make my quilting a heck of a lot easier!
Thanks for all the info. I’ll have to see if I can get a big foot for my pfaff 1209. I’ve been looking for a darning foot but looks like I could use the other… I’m new to all this.
great tutorial! i didn’t know there were so many feet… will have to see what i can use on my machine!
Wow – that was really useful, as a novice sewer I had not heard of some of these – but now I’m very excited …. a quarter inch foot – mmm…dreamy, and I think I will have to have one! Loving this sewing machine month – learning loads already and it’s only a couple of days in. thanks so much !
Thanks so much for this!!! I’ve been working on an ooold Singer with only one foot (straight stitch!) and this really confirmed for me that I need to get moving on getting more feet!
Thanks, really helpful! I’m just wondering what a ’stabiliser’ is, which you suggest to use when making button holes. My manual says to do this too but I’ve never known what they meant.
Wow, the only feet I’ve been using are Regular and Zipper. I’ll definitely look into a Walking Foot — sounds like it would solve a lot of my sewing frustrations. Thanks for all the great info!
Would you mind telling me what sewing machine you are using that has an integrated walking foot? I have an upholstery machine with it and absolutely love it. I would like to have the option when sewing less bulky items.
Thanks,
Wendy
This was such a helpful article! I love all of the detailed explanations, examples, and illustrative pictures. Very well done!
I love this!! I had no idea about some of those “feet” thanks!!
Thank you for this tutorial! I’m new to sewing and have my mom’s old machine. It came with a few feet and I had no idea what they were for! Thanks for the wonderful and thorough information!
Holy Cow! I’m so excited for this month! I hope I win!
Loved these examples! Hope to use some of them soon.
This was so helpful and straight forward. It’s nice to see what you use the most. And to begin to think about what I want in a machine when I’m ready to upgrade.
This is so helpful! Thank you!
Nice! Very clear and easy for a beginner, thanks a lot.
What a wonderful, informative post. I’m so inspired to go home and attempt my sewing projects with a greater variety of feet! Hopefully it produces items as professional as florence’s in the end. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the great posting! I use the standard zigzag foot for most of my sewing, but I may have to branch out now.
Wow those are some fancy feet!
i bookmarked this page cuz i will never remember when to use all these feet at first–so helpful and soo much info–i love it–thanks so much
This may well be the most instructive thing I’ve ever read for my machine. I’m going to have to get out the “happy feet”
Thanks!
I love my 1/4 foot too. I may have to seek outthe open toe applique one though that looks nice.
Stephanie
I bought a package of various quilting feet shortly after receiving my machine. I love having a walking foot, and the applique foot comes in handy, too. Mine don’t have the red marks – what a great idea! And my 1/4″ foot doesn’t really give me a 1/4″ which is kind of annoying, so I’d suggest that anyone test theirs before going to it.
thank you for the positively wonderful intro to all the feet out there. i’ve used a few of them, but have looked at some like they’re almost torture devices. one of these days, i’ll venture out more…like free-motion and applique!
Wow thanks for sharing! I am new to sewing and felt a little intimidated by all of the feet options out there. Thanks for the article. It was informative and funny
Thanks for all the great tips on the sewing machine feet. I absolutely love my walking foot, it’s great for so many things. I use it to sew all my bindings on my finished quilts. oohsaahsw@aol.com
This post was just so helpful, for my novice self, and very enjoyable to read with the lovely fabric and project photos. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for this post!!! As a novice sewer i feel like you have opened my eyes to a whole world os sewing that i was unaware of before! lol Silly me, i have just been using the standard presser foot for everything and I have really been missing out! lol
A walking foot saved me when I made my wedding gown.
I would advise people to save their feet. I had a workhorse white machine for 20 years until the tension could no longer be repaired. I got a new one as similar to the old that I had loved and it is so much more cheaply constructed. Luckily the much higher quality feet from the old one fit the new one.
I love my collection of sewing machine feet! We just got my mom a brand new Brother and the first thing I did was to crack open the accessories case to examine all the feet. The second thing I did was to play, I mean try them out on the machine with some scrap fabric
Thank you for this review of presser feet! I love my walking foot. It has made a huge difference in the preciseness of my sewing especially for knits. On my machine, the “big foot” is called the darning foot and I have actually used it to darn holes in my husband’s pants and shorts. Very cool.
As a newbie sewist, this is exactly what I needed! Thanks for all the useful info. There’s definitely a few feet I’ll have to look into, as it looks like it’ll make some projects easier to do.
Super explanations! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
Thanks so much for the great information! You’ve given me a reason to take the standard presser foot off my machine and give some others a try!
You know, there are whole books written about feet, and here the info is, for free! Thanks!
I am so envious of all your fabulous feet! Imagine the things I could make if I had those! Thanks for the great information.
Ooh, thanks so much! I just began sewing with my machine, and have had issues when trying to sew beside snaps or something bulky. Hopefully sometime I’ll get to figure out my “feet.”
Thank you for all the great info! I will make better use of my machine’s pressure feet now!
Thank you! As a new sewer this was so helpful to read, and it was presented so beautifully!
I have a brand new walking foot that has changed the way I quilt…LOVE it. I’d love to try an adjustable guide foot too! Great info!
Excellent post! I’m still relatively new to sewing and this was SO helpful in figuring out what feet I might want and how to use them.
Fantastic information on presser feet. I tend to stick close to my standard presser foot, but have recently branched out to the 1/4 inch foot. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for the post. I just aquired a 1/4″ foot and have been enjoying it!
So fun to learn new tidbits I can always use!
I think I need a machine that comes with more feet! I could really use that integrated walking foot so that I wouldn’t have to continually change between my walking foot and other feet.
Wow, being fairly new at this whole sewing thing, I had no idea there were so many possibilities. The explanations were very well-written and easy to understand. Thank you so much!!
Wow, thanks for all this info.
What a great post – thanks so much! Such great explanations of all the feet – really great resource for everyone!
This is so helpful!! Thanks!!!
Wow. So many things I didn’t know that I didn’t know anything about! lol
I love feet! I have a bunch I don’t use but really appreciated this post becuase I learned about a few I’ve seen but never seen used in practical application. I love that Big Foot!
I finally purchased a 1/4 inch foot and it has made sewing much easier! Thanks for all of the great information!
I’ll be right back – on my way out the door to get a 1/4 inch foot. Who knew this existed? How have I lived without one? Thank you!
I just discovered thos blog, what a lot if helpful info! I will be a regular reader now.
I loved that adjustable guide foot, I could really use that one.
This is great! thanks for sharing. I’ve bookmarked it and hope to refer to it frequently. ( :
Nice articular – Very well done!…Well I have to tell you I have a Viking machine and have lots of different feet, all for different uses and what is so great about the viking that I have (designer se) it is computerized and it tells you what foot to use with each different application. It was very expensive but well worth the money. i just love my machine!
Okay, now I need to get all of these. I did buy a walking foot this year and it is a wonderful thing. Now if I could just get myself together enough to get an invisible zipper foot and the “big foot” free motion foot I think I may be in heaven.
You are a wonderful teacher! I loved your explanations for the different feet! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I loved all the pictures too!!!
Lots of helpful info here!
Beautiful pictures—–great job describing the fee.
I’m so glad you have pictures, I didn’t know what half of my feet did before now, I can hardly wait to bust them out and give them a whirl.
Sorry, didn’t proofread that last comment——great discription of the “feet”!!!
Very helpful and great with the pictures.
this is quite helpful, THANK YOU!
As a fairly new sewer, this is incredibly helpful…and makes me think of investing in a new machine instead of just buying a foot….
This is very informative! I love the idea of the “Integrated walking foot”. Does this foot cause wear and tear on your machine like a regular walking foot does?
this is quite helpful! I’m eager to give the 1/4 in foot a try – not sure if my machine came with one. truthfully I’ve ignored all many of the feet because I had no idea what they were for until now! ha! thank you!
Thanks for the wonderful lesson on feet! My machine came with many feet that I’ve never used. Today I’m bookmarking your tutorial and I’ll return often until I have them all figured out!
This is the best reference for sewing machine feet I have ever seen. Thank you so much for posting it.
Thank you so much for this! I always just use my regular foot and haven’t been brave enough to put in a zipper or a button! Hopefully I can branch out now that I know they aren’t so scary!
Thanks so much. I’ve never been able to figure out what all the feet are that came with my machine. Back to the box to look again…
Very helpful post. I’m going to save this one for reference.
Great post! I’ll be back to re-read this one a few times.
I’ve just entered the world of “feet” other than the standard. Now, sadly, its another addiction one can’t just walk away from. Thanks for the close up details and the nice analogies
thanks for the walk-thru with these feet! I have a singer from the 30′S that I treasure, and a box of wild looking attachments – I think you’ve answered some old questions I have!
Like any job – using the right tools makes all the difference. Thanks so much for this info.
Sounds like I better start practicing. Thanks for all of the information! Karen E.
Uh-oh. Now I’ve just added a few more things to my shopping list!
This was very helpful and very well put together! Thank you!
This is a wonderful tutorial! I just got a walking foot and am having all kinds of trouble with it. I was starting to think that I’d wasted $30! But in looking at your picture, I think the store incorrectly told me how to install it. So now I’m going to have to go back to them to find out the real instructions. Thanks for solving the mystery for me. Thanks for all the other information too – I’m inspired to branch out. And – your creations are GORGEOUS. I especially loved the gray and turquoise bags – beautiful color combination.
Thank you so much!
What great info. I need to get an Big Foot for sure—I’ve been trying free-motion quilting and something like this would probably help alot!
this was so very helpful to a new sewer like myself, Thank you !
Excellent information, thanks!
very informative, thank you
Great information!
What great information. Thanks.
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
Sooooooooo helpful! Thank you so much for sharing and for the fabulous description of each foot and it’s purpose!
Thank you for all this great information! This was very helpful!
I have always wondered about different feet – as I’m pretty new to this sewing world. Thanks for some great descriptions as well as examples
Now to go buy some feet 
This is really helpful- I’m always overwhelmed by anything that calls for “fancy feet.” Knowing what the different feet are for takes away a little of the fear factor.
Wow, that was great, simple and to the point..i’m a newbie and all those feet that came with my machine feel a little overwhelming..thank you for helping me not feel so intimidated!!
That was very useful. I need to email this to myself!
So useful – I’ll have to look through my box of feet again and give them a try. Thanks!
I never would have thought that a blog post about feet would be so interesting. Thank you for this information!
I learned so much in just a few minutes! Ive been trying to figure a lot of this out on my own but now i have a guide! Thanks!
Thanks. Love that the comments were “generic” ….. useful and important information.
Great info– just what I needed!
What a great resource…thanks for posting this!
thanks for the post.
This was absurdly helpful! Thank you so much! I have a few of these in a cigar box on my desk, I look at them longingly, but never knew what to do with them!
m
I knew there were different feet you could use, but didn’t know there were so many of them!!! Great info!
My sewing machine came with 5 different feet. I’ve only ever used 3 of the feet. Thanks for the inspiration to figure out what the other 2 feet are for (I lost the owner’s manual years ago). I’m going home tonight to play with my machine.
This was SO helpful! Loved all the illustrations! So great to look back on when I have to use a “new” foot for a special project. Thanks for sharing it!
Wow what a lot of great information. I didn’t realize there were so many options when sewing.
Oh thank you for mentioning the concealed zip foot and including a photo! One of my new skirt patterns calls for an invisible zipper and I just wasn’t sure of the difference between a regular zip foot and an invisible one.
Many thanks for clearing that up for me! Happy sewing!
great tutorial, thanks for helpme. Thanks you from Uruguay
I guess I’ll just have to go and get a walking foot, b/c this is the third time this week that it’s been suggested to me! Great info, and great pictures. Makes me want to drop everything and just sew, sew, sew!
Thank you for the information. I have been debating on getting some more feet for my machine. I think i will have to go to the store and ‘browse’.
Maybe a walking foot or quarter inch foot may follow me home.
Oh how I wish I had a 1/4″ foot like that….and the open toed foot….and the walking foot! Great info.
I think I really need an open-toe applique foot. Thanks for the great info.
So I think this shows me that I need to invest in a walking foot…. I’ve been desiring one for some time… but i think it’s an official NEED item!
Thank you for a very informative discussion of feet. I may now go rummage through my feet and see what project I may come up with using feet I haven’t used before.
Great information!!! I love all of the wonderful pictures and commentary about the different feet available. I think I really need to get a walking foot!
Thanks for the information on the different feet available. I found it very useful as my machine comes with these feet but i havent been brave enough to try them out. However Florence has just inspired me to give them a try
I always wondered what a walking foot was for but was too lazy to look it up! Now I know.
This info has been so helpful. Lots of times I look at my feet and think what the heck is that contraption. Maybe sewing will be a bit easier now that i know how to use the tools I have.
Awesome tutorial – thank you so much for taking the time to put this together!
I have a question – you look as though you have a Janome….I could be wrong, but I figure either way you know the answer. My Janome always seems like such a pansy when it comes to thick fabrics, and frequently all I’m doing is something like a bag or a baby blanket, where things aren’t really that thick. I’ve even had one layer of fleece get caught up. So my question is, should I be throwing my 16/100 needles out and just using my walking foot consistently? Any tips/advice? Thank you!!!
And ps. Your work is amazing. I love your bags and your eyeglass cases!
Thanks for the info about feet!! Great!!
wow–i love the quarter-inch foot!
Wow. Awesome information about these feet. Great info. Thanks so much.
very helpful! I recently bought a rolled hem foot that I LOVE!! I am really bad about pressing in my hems before sewing and this eliminates that need – I get beautifully even hems every time.
What a great information. Florence! Thanks for so good work, as usual from you
A friend recomended a velvet foot to help when piecing with Minkee have you ever used a velvet foot and does it work?
Thank you! The world of sewing machine feet is less scary now.
Thank you for explaining the use of these feet. I try to use my various feet for different applications but a couple were new to me.
I just got an overcast foot and I love it. Since I don’t have a serger, it finishes the raw edges on clothing beautifully since it keeps the zig-zag stitch from puckering the fabric. Also, the walking foot is great. I would love a machine that had an integrated one since it is really noisy.
I’m really excited about this month’s theme! And I have a H/V machine, which is still relatively new and I need to get cracking on sewing things with it!
A helpful and entertaining article! I love that she showed examples of the feet in action and what can be created with them.
I totally covet that stash of pink fabrics!
Thank you for the interesting info, I have never ventured farther than my standard or zipper foot, I was kind of afraid of them.
Thank you for all those explanations!
It was very interesting.
I loved reading through this. I think sewing machine companies should seriously look at hiring Florence to write for them! I didn’t know the adjustable guide foot existed and I tried buying the invisible zipper foot at Walmart (which didn’t work on my machine). Now I know, the sewing machine company likely made a specific invisible zipper foot.
I’m bookmarking this and searching Amazon at the same time. Great info.
What a great and timely article! I am slowly becoming a presser foot junkie. I also have a Pfaff machine like Florence and I’m appreciating more and more what it can do with all the different feet I buy for it.
This is an amazing guide to all types of feet. Thanks so much for this information!
This is such a helpful tutorial! I am bookmarking it now!
I love this post – so helpful – I have a ton of little feet and I have no idea what they are intended for.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the different feet and when to use them. I love the handbag that you have pictured (gray with printed material). Could you tell what pattern that is? Thanks
Pleeeeeeeease pick me!!
Nicely done. Thanks for the info. This is sure to come in handy, or should I say footy?
what a great post! Now I know what all those little feet are intended for!
thanks!
Thanks for the post! I love my walking foot and now I know why. But I don’t understand why it could damage my machine? I also think your free motion bird is quite lovely!
Can you come over to my house and give me a personal tutorial? I can offer decaf organic coffee and zucchini bread as payment-and a great view out of my living room window.
Thanks for the great guide!
I’m new to sewing and wondered what some of the feet were used for. Thanks! It was helpful.
Thank you! This was so interesting and helpful!
Great post! I love my buttonhole foot, I also remember my mom having a rolled seam foot that was fantastic to use but I don’t have one for my own machine.
I thought I knew about sewing machine feet, but then I read this and learned so much! Thanks for a great post.
VERY helpful – thank you!
I’m so happy about this theme!! I have a Husqvarna/Viking that I bought from a shop that was going out of business…. I got a heck of a bargain, but didn’t have anyone to show me all of the neato-mosquito things it can do.
Thanks for the information. I am a beginner and had no idea about the various types of feet other than the ones my machine came with.
Thanks, there is so much to take in.
Great Information on the feet.
This is wonderful! I have a box of antique feet that I’m trying to figure out how to use. I think this covers a few and gives me the courage to do a little experimenting with the rest. Thanks!
Very Useful…thank you for the time and pictures. I’ll bookmark this page.
What a treat to read your writing. The tone is so similar to my internal monologue that it made me giggle while reading this. Thanks so much for the view into the world of presser feet. My machine came with quite a few and I’ve just started really playing around with them. That concealed zip foot looks like tons of fun!
I’ve been in the process of looking at new feet for my sewing machine. Thanks for the great information!
Oh, my goodness, this was an incredible wealth of information. I learned so much! Thank you!
Thanks for the great information. I have never been taught about the feet before.
Great info!!!
Thanks!
WOW! I never knew so much about these feet! Thanks for the very informative descriptions and ideas for use!
Great job!
WOW! *bookmarks* Very informative, now I just need to figure out where I can buy all these feet for my little machine.
Great overview of all the most commen feet used in quilting. I always love to learn new things and I did with this info
Thanks for this tutorial! I’m new to working with sewing machines, and it really clears up some questions I had.
This is SO helpful. thanks.
Thanks for the guide! Loved all the feet that my Riccar had. Unfortunately, it died. My husband bought me a Singer machine, which was a wonderful gesture. It does not, however, have very many feet, does not have a “needle: left” setting, and for the life of me, I can’t find a piping foot for it. Any suggestions?
I’ve never used a walking foot and didn’t know what it was used for. I think I need to look into getting one. Very informational article. Thank you!
Thanks for the info!!!!!!! I so need some of these. I guess it’s time for foot shopping!
This was so well-written and informative. I just began sewing this year and it’s hard to find good solid descriptions and real-life advice about machine feet. Bravo!!!
Thank you for taking the time to write, post and shoe pics of the feet. As a new sewer and a visual learner this was very informative.
Thanks so much! I am going to refer to this plenty!
Love the intro to sewing machine feet. Until I started quilting, I never really appreciated how much better different feet could make my sewing
Thanks! This makes the idea of trying new feet seem a little less scary!
This was INVALUABLE!!!!! I always wondered what my open toe applique foot was for, and never knew exactly what my walking foot could be used for other than quilts. I am printing this all out!
I had no idea that some of these feet even existed. Thank you for sharing all of this helpful information!! I am looking to buy a new machine and now I have a better idea of some of the feet that I want now.!
Thanks for the lesson!!! Very nice.
Thank you so much for this! I will print it and refer to it often!! Wonderful post.
What a great tutorial! I have been sewing for a long time (since the age of 4) and it is so nice to have all this infomation in one place with examples. I am excited to see the posts this month! I have a Husqvarna machine and she is my best friend! We go back 14 years and have never had a problem!
Is THIS why my patchwork never lines up?! Walking foot, here I come!
I like my walking foot but WOW,,,a permanent walking foot. This was a really good tutorial.
Wow, that is a great little run down on each of the feet. I haven’t even heard of a few of those. And you’ve explained some of the ones that came with my machine that I have yet to figure out. I’ll definitely be using more of my walking foot (which I’ve never tried). I probably could have used it the other day when trying desperately (and failing) at putting a satin-type edge onto a wrap around. Maybe I’ll get back into that project with this new approach!
What a wonderful and informative post! I’ve always wanted to “expand” on my supply of sewing presser feet, but didn’t quite know what they actually did and on what types of projects to use them for. I’m still fairly new to sewing, but have great aspirations! Thank you so much for this posting! Great job!
Gosh, so many lovely comments – thank you. I’m absolutely delighted that it’s been useful.
To answer a couple of questions:
My machine is a Pfaff Classic Style Home 1529, it’s very basic and completely uncomputerised. However, it is my dream machine and I’d love to buy a second one in case this one ever gives up.
I feel like I may have wrongly implied that you need to buy a machine that comes with all these feet – apart from the integrated walking foot, I’ve purchased nearly all of the feet mentioned here individually from my local sewing shop and did the same for my old Babylock machine…so I’m assuming that most manufacturers will have a vast array of add-on feet that can be purchased without the need for a new machine…but don’t let that stop you.
To answer Jess’s question – I think there are various types of stabiliser, but the one I use is like a wafer thin piece of stiff papery fabric that can be torn away easily afterwards. The stabiliser helps to stop your fabric from pulling and distorting as it goes under the presser foot and generally makes it retain its shape better.
To Jenny T – it’s actually a Pfaff, which is fantastic with thicker materials as it has a special feature which means that you can go from thin to thick materials without a problem – the feet flex up and down a little to accommodate changes in thickness. My old machine was a Babylock and didn’t have this feature, but I got around it by wedging something of the same thickness under the back of the foot for the first couple of stitches, so that the foot didn’t initially have to climb a mountain in order to get started. But other than that – I think you can probably tell that I think that a walking foot is the answer to most problems…
To Amy – The foot that is good for velvety/minkee materials is actually on my wishlist of things – I think it’s commonly known as a non-stick foot and has an almost Teflon-like coating on the base of it – I’ve heard good things about it…but I’m trying to practice a little self-restraint and wait until Christmas to get it!
Thank you for the fancy foot work (HA couldn’t resist!) Can’t wait for the next installment!
helpful indeed!
Wow!! i’m working on my first quilt and trying to get more familiar with my machine so I was just gazing at all my feet last night and trying to figure out what they do. Perfect timing!!!!!!
Wow! THere is SO much I don’t know about sewing. This was an incredibly helpful overview and inspires me to try to learn more! I wish the Hancock Fabrics around me offered more classes. I’m dying to learn how to use my machine more efficently – and it is clear different feet would help! Thanks for the primer
FYI – I would pay to attend an online class on how to use my machine or learn sewing basics 
great info.
Great info! And i love all the beautiful things you have done! Quite envious of that last pic, looks like you have a great stash @ your place!
My personal favorite foot is a rolled hem foot. Previously, I would have to iron the fabric, which is impossibly frustrating if you are trying to create a very narrow, delicate hem. With the rolled him foot there is no ironing or pinning. It rolls the edge itself and sews a very professional looking hem.
This was a wonderfuly written article on feet! Thank you for the information & inspiration to try a few other feet!
Thank you! This is very helpful information. I need a buttonhole foot…and wondering how to use my gathering foot. Haven’t gone there yet, guess I just need to jump in and try it?!
Mahalo from Hawaii. I have searched my sewing maching manuals for some insight into the use of the various feet and nothing is explained on my Elna or Bernina. I truly appreciate this info. Just found this website. It’s fantastic!
This is perfect! Now I need to go down to my handy box and see which of these feet I have. I will say I LOVE my dual integrated feed having gone from using a walking foot attachment befoe.
Beautiful pics and explanations. Thank you!
Very insightful and funny all at the same time. Very nice!
This was extremely helpful!
My 1/4″ foot is nearly always attached to my machine (love it!) and the integrated walking foot is also really, really nice.
Happy sewing everyone!!!
Awesome explanation of sewing feet – thanks for the info!
How helpful! I’ve always been scared of my feet!
I never knew there were so many feet available. I recently used the blind hem foot and found that I prefer to use it over the standard presser foot. I think I would love a quarter inch foot.
Thank you!!!!! As a self taught sewer, there is SO much that I don’t know and when to use which foot is one of those things… Thanks for the clear instructions and the helpful photos!
My new machine tells me which foot to use with particular stitches. Sometimes, it give me bad advice and I end up with broken needles. However, it has encouraged me to really think about the “right” foot for the job. Thanks for the info, especially on the walking foot.
Great post!! I love all these different feet, I have most of them, I do need to invest in a walking foot!!
Wow! That was a great and very useful post. The pictures were particularly helpful. As a beginning sewer, I really have no idea what a zipper foot or a walking foot looks like!
Wow, the integrated walking foot sounds like a dream!
I really love the pictures and the comments below them
And thank you for the info. My machine and I were pretty well working with just two feet but I guess we have to go out and get more ^^
I was alwys wondering how other people get so much done with just a machine. Now I know they had little helpers
Great info!! Everyone should try them – I am a believer!! It makes a WORLD of difference!! And it makes life so much easier… tks!
Wow! Who knew there were so many feet!
Thank you for the helpful information and the great pictures to go with it. Now I have several more items to add to my wish list. Do you have a ruffler, or wouldn’t that be considered a foot? That’s one I’ve been eyeing. I had some success using my walking foot to attach a ruffle the old-fashioned way, but I still had to make that ruffle first…
Thanks for the amazing info!! I’ve already added a few new feet to my wishlist!
There’s no telling where these feet can take us!
Anyone know anything about a ruffler?
Great info! Thanks!
I’m a relative newbie to sewing and it was a daunting task to actually change the feet on my sewing machine. I am glad that I manage to change my standard pressing foot to the walking foot without doing irreparable harm to my machine! Above info is much appreciated!
Wow! I can’t believe you are giving away such wonderous gifts! I hope I’ll be trading my tempermental Kenmore in for a Viking soon
This was so informative, I have a few of these feet and did not really know their use. Thank you
I never knew what a walking foot does, now I need to buy one! Thanks!
dmp1015@gmail.com
i’m glad to hear that the walking foot is noisy for more than just me!! although, i don’t think i’m using it right because it shifts the fabric when i use it.
i MUST get a concealed zipper foot though!
thanks for the info.
Thanks for this post! I need to branch out from the basic presser foot…
So detailed and helpful with great pictures too. Now I know for sure I really do need a new sewing machine so I can get all these super feet too!!
Thank you. This answered a lot questions I had.
Great info…thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this awsome info. I just was going through all my different feet and this answered a couple questions I had!
Thanks for the great info on Feet! Now I know how to use my buttonhole foot.
Confession: I got 2 new feet for Christmas and I haven’t taken them out of the packaging yet. Like you, I tend to favour a few very useful ones. I DO plan to try out the ruffler and… gee, I can’t even remember the other one I received (but I must have asked for it).
Thanks for this pertinent information and the ‘demonstrations’. ☺
This is awesome. I have a handful of feet that came with my machine, but I couldn’t figure out what they were all for, or at least practical applications for them. Maybe I will whip something out soon…
thank you for the wonderful information on the different sewing machine feet!!! such valuable info for me… i have only used my machine’s standard presser foot and have been unsure of how to utilize the others!
This tutorial just makes me want a walking foot even more. I really loved the bit about a walking foot vs. an integrated walking foot. Definitely something to consider. Thank you.
Thanks for the info! I normally use my basic foot, zipper foot and my buttonholer.
There are a few other feet that came with my machine that I have never used… I will be checking them out soon.
Can’t wait for button hole month as well… my buttonholer is automatic and I love it!
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing about all these feet. What wonderful info!
This was so informative! I would love the integrated walking foot, instead of having to put it on and take it off every time! Thanks for the info!
Thanks so much for this, Florence. I learned a lot.
Love the info! Thanks!!
Thanks for the great look at feet. I haven’t used many of the ones that came with my machine, but I did recently try the zipper foot with success! I keep rereading my manual on how to use my darning foot for quilting. Still to chicken to try! Haven’t touched the buttonhole either, but I just might soon. Thanks again. I really liked seeing the projects and the closeups of the feet!
Wow! That was like taking a mini-course! Thank you so much – I will refer to this again and again.
Great post! Thanks for all the info!
It is all so much clearer now…
I absolutely LOVE my button hole foot. It’s AMAZING. This info has been very helpful as I am still getting used to all the feet I have with my new Machine
Although I have three Pfaff machines, I find that your article about the feet is very helpful, not only as a refresher course but as an everyday tool! Thanks so much for posting it.
Janet
Thanks for this. I just got an invisible zipper foot and I love it. So many feets to get now!
Great info – thanks!
I have the quarter inch foot and think that it was a fabulous creation. I’ve never seen the adjustable guide foot before, but that would be excellent too … perhaps for more garment sewing applications.
Holy moly, this was soo helpful! I have only the feet that came with my machine (zipper, buttonhole, and quarter inch) and I really didn’t know there were so many others. And I must say, I am quite envious of both your fabric stash and your impeccable zipper installation!
Wow! All I can say is “Thank you!!” This information makes me a little giddy to try some new things. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I think I’ve only used a zipper foot and a standard foot before because I never really knew what all the other ones were for. We’ll see what wonders I can produce armed with a little more info now!
This is great! One of the best posts I ‘ve read in a long time. Thank you!
Rosemary
fear of feet…
Fears & Phobias…
The day I bought my quarter-inch foot was the best day ever! I don’t know what I would do without it. Now to save up for an adjustable guide foot! Thank you for this!
thanks so much. I will have to go out and buy some new toys.
Thanks so much – I’m looking at some of the feet that came with my used Viking with new eyes. Now if only my walking foot was integrated!
Thank you so much. I feel like I’ve just been to a proper sewing class, with very detailed information and great photos.
This is SO helpful as I am just starting to branch out into slightly more complex sewing projects! Thank you!!
I have book marked this so I can keep coming back. Thank you so much. Great information.
Thanks for all the info. Learning so much
I did not even know about the Open Toe Appliqué Foot! I will be getting one of those and a quarter inch.
I would love to try the open toe applique foot. Now I just have to see if there is one for my machine! Never tried the 1/4 inch foot, but the next quilt I do I am going to give it a try. It is definitely worth spending some time learning how to use a buttonhole foot. And I love the little button foot I have to hold down the button and sew it on!
I am a beginner sewer and thank you so much for this information. Now, I understand what the feet are for that came with my machine!
Thanks so much for the info! I never heard of the open toe foot. That would be helpful to me.
I need more feet!
For my sewing machine–for myself, I’d choose more hands. I always seem to be carrying one thing too many.
Thanks for so much useful information.
so inspiring! I must get out the feet I have and see how many more I “need”
Very helpful, thanks so much for writing this up!
I never realized there were so many feet! I just thought they were all the same. Wow! Thanks!
thank you! i want to go out to the fabric store now!!
Great information on the sewing machine feet! I have the integrated walking foot too and think it is the greatest idea ever!
what a wonderful overview of all these feet…very helpful for a newbie like me…..Would love to win some of these goodies that’s for sure…..
Fantastic overview!! Such valuable info; now I’m ready to dig into my sewing box and pull out all those feet I never knew what to do with.
Thank you so much for this tutorial on feet! I feel so much more confident knowing what my machine can do with me at the helm! Machine quilting here I come!!
Thanks for all the great information. I am a beginner and this was so helpful. Now I am off to play with my feet.
I love my 1/4″ foot but I have definitely broken a few needles going to zigzag or forgetting to reset the needle at center. I’ve started releasing the foot when I turn the machine on so I don’t just jump into sewing without adjusting the needle – it helps. Thanks for the information – very helpful!
one of my most favorite how-tos you’ve ever posted. THANK YOU!
Thanks a lot! very helpful especially for newbie like me!
Thanks for sharing. I have such an obsession with sewing machine feet. It’s nice to see someone else who uses so many as well.
Thank you for this helpful guide. I definitely need to buy 2 or 3 more feet for my machine.
I have learned a lot. Thank yoU!
this was one crazy informative post! thank you so much. You definitely have shown me feet that I would have never known existed. i really enjoyed reading it also because the images were such a treat! the feet looked so neat and your work is stellar!
I honestly had no idea there were THAT many feet out there…and so many that would be useful to me. I have to look into those for my machine. Thank you!
Thanks for this information – it is so helpful. I always wondered if the feet really mattered.
Wonderful article! Thank you!
Very helpful post! Thanks!
I couldn’t get by without my Pfaff built in walking foot – I love it and use it ALL the time. I agree, putting in an invisible zipper with the regular zipper foot is a test of patience. I am going to try free motion quilting on some placemats (cut fabric today!). Thanks for the info!
This is the best list! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
This was very helpful! I tend to just stick to two or three feet, but now I see that I really need to branch out more!
Great tutorial. Thanks. I have so many fond memories of playing with my mom’s box of attachments…many, many years later, I think I have mastered them all.
Extremely enlightening to a newbie. Thank you so much!
One day, I went sewing machine shopping. I stopped in at Joanne’s and picked up a brand new Singer that was on sale. Then I went to the thrift store across town to kill some time, and ended up picking up an 80’s model Singer for a whole $15. It came with no special feet and I’ve had trouble locating replacements. A few days later, I returned the brand new machine, because frankly, it was really intimidating for a brand new seamstress and I had no idea what half of the accessories it came with were to be used for, so I chose to use the cheap machine. It was an overload of extra feet and manuals and dvd’s and it scared me, lol! I felt way less guilty about banging the thrift store one around or hurting it than I did the $500 new one.
After seeing this post I wish I’d kept the new one instead. All of those feet would have been so nice to use! I wish this had been around two years ago! Thanks for the incredible information, I am more determined now to find extra feet for my model, and I can’t wait to play with them.
What a wonderful little tutorial. Thanks so much for your help on this.
Wow! Thank you so much. No more scary feet for me.
This is a helpful and very interesting post with very good explanations and pictures. Thanks alot!
“One foot, two foot, red foot, blue foot… Feet Feet Feet! Oh how many feet you meet!” Dr. Suess must have been talking about sewing in his Foot Book! Thanks for the info. I took solid notes and will be referencing today’s date for sure!
I can’t wait to learn more about buttonholes in a future post. As to the feet, I can barely tell them apart but having finally gotten a machine with a manual I can’t wait to try them out.
This is a great review. Great start to Sewing Machine Month!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I am going to print it out and keep it with my machine.
Thank you for all the information in one easy to read post. I really appreciate all the pictures too!
Thanks for this helpfull post! Wow, I didn’t know there where so many feet..
Intriguing, all those feet! I am after a walking foot, since I’m starting to like quilting quite a bit! Would anybody happen to know the Dutch name for a walking foot??
I just got my first sewing machine and this information is priceless. Thankyou so much! Sewing Machine Month – Perfect Idea and perfect timing!
What about the foot that does rolling hems? I just found your blog. Love it!
This is sooooo helpful! Has to be said I’ve always been a little scared of feet and not sure how to use them. Thank you!
Thanks for the fantastic info! I will print this out and keep it by my machine.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Go to the printer, print this out in color, buy some plastic sleeves to protect your new most valuable possessions and hang the package near the right side of your machine. This is great, my only wish is that you had continued with some of the more difficult feet to understand. Clear and useful…Thanks bunches…Pat
Thank you so much for all the wonderful information! Being a newbie to sewing, I find this info oh so useful!!!
Oooh, I would like me one of those concealed zip feet! Anything to take the fuss out of zips! And I like your idea of a week long ‘training camp’ of sewing items that need zips, perhaps that too would help me lose my fear of them!
Smashing article, thankyou. I want to get an adjustable guide foot – it sounds like it would be the end to my wonky seam woes!
Your demonstration on the feet for our machines was great . I am not always sure what foot to use this is a great help thanks.
Love your photos and explanations!
An excellent guide! That is one witty chic with super infortmation.
Wow! This is awesome! I can’t wait to try some of these things out–for whatever reason a walking foot seemed so daunting to me but I now realize it is just what I need!
I want to congratulate you on this post. It is not only very well written and interesting but the photography that accompanies each topic is excellent. What a job well done!
Thanks! Now I need to get some more feet to try it out.
what a great tutorial! I never knew what half my feet were for. thanks!!
thank you very much – this is a really useful and well written article – I am a novice sewer and was a bit overwhelmed by all this talk of feed dogs ansd walking fweet but now I understand!
however I still appear not to be able to type and spell
Great information. I’m going to get my feet out and see what exactly I have.
Wow! thanks for all the information! I’ve just started piecing and possibly want to start quilting, but I have an el-cheapo machine…so I know these feet will definitely help. I especially love the info about the walking foot. I have issues with fabric creep when i’ve sewn t-shirt recons occasionally
WOW as someone fairly new to sewing articles like this really mean to world to me! Thank you SO much for this, it will live in my bookmarked pages forever =)
xoxo
I’ve never even heard of some of these. Very glad to find out about the quarter inch foot!
This is wonderful information! I am going to have to pull out all of the feet that came with my sewing machine and look at them again. Thanks for making a confusing mess seem clearer:-)
Wow!
I have used the zipper foot with my machine twice, otherwise I stick to the basics – this has opened my eyes to a whole world of options, thank you!
That was an amazing tutorial. Thanks.
Wow! Very useful post! Now I know which one to use for every occasion! Thanks a million!
So much to learn! Thanks goodness I can reference back here! That 1/4 inch foot looks like something I need to get.
Thanks for the wonderful information!
Thank You Florence. This is a great tutorial. I will definitely be referring back to this page. It’s now bookmarked in my “favorites.”
Great information to refer back to!
Melody
This is a great resource to have…thank you!!
I’m a presser foot addict. I have several that I don’t even know what they are because of inheriting them from people who don’t use them or even know what they are. This article is super helpful. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I am fairly new to sewing and all the feet options were very daunting!
This is so easy to follow with all the pictures. Thanks.
Obviously, I need a walking foot. I never could understand how exact measurements resulted in un-exact results after sewing. Thanks!
What great information! Thank you so much for your humor and the lovely photos showing the feet in action!
Thanks for the great write up, it looks like I need to expand my collection!
Thanks so much! I am borrowing a machine that has a built in walking foot, but I have been too scared to use it – this clarifies so much!
I am intrigued by the integrated walking foot…it sure would mak sewing at night more of an option…my sewing room is off my bedroom and so there is no walking foot action after lights out! I will be checking this out for sure!
I have just discovered your wonderful shop and blog, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Sewing has sadly taken a back seat to other pursuits of late, but I have recently been visited by an incredible itch to get back to my machine and sewing goodness It’s so nice that I now have this blog to keep me company! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing such wonderful information about the different feet. I own a basic machine and was wondering which feet to order so I can attempt to quilt. Hopefully I can find them for my old machine! Thanks again!
As a newbie to sewing I may just print this post and slip it into my manual. It is just as helpful as going to sewing class.
Thanks for a great tutorial!
What a neat compilation of information on feet, thanks!
Thanks for all the wonderful info.
holy toledo, but this is an informative post! thank you so much for going to all this trouble–the stuff about the walking foot was especially helpful for me–i use one to quilt but didn’t know i could–maybe should–use it for other things too.
Thank you so much for this post on feet… I have so many, but have never fully used them to their potential due to my limited knowledge of what they could accomplish! You have opened my eyes to a new world of feet and I feel I can now step out of my presser foot shoebox!
Thanks for the great “tour de feet.” I have a few new ones I want to try out!
what a great resource! this answers so many questions about how does THAT work??? thanks!
This is a great guide! I realized a few months ago that I really need to get a walking foot. I just keep forgetting to get to the one store in my area that carries the ‘old’ Bernina feet!
Absolutely fantastic tutorial! Thanks heaps.
I really gor a lot out of it and want to go out and get some new feet to play with!
I look forward to reading more posts like this one
Thanks!
Ann
Very helpful article! Thanks!
this post was AMAZING! i’m going to get my box ‘o intimidating feet when i get home and figure out what i’ve got (and what i’m going to need!) since some of these feet look like they will be indespensible.
thanks!
Fantastic explanations! Now I know what a couple of those feet are that are rattling around my sewing box! Thanks!
[...] Florence from Flossie Teacakes posts an article on Sew, Mama Sew! Blog giving a run-down of the most common types of presser feet. From the walking foot to the open toe applique foot to the adjustable guide foot, she gives the why and the how. If you don’t have a foot fetish already, you will by the time you’re done reading. Go to the article. [...]
I love the information on the presser feet. I’d love to get a walking foot, but even more I’d love a machine that has a integrated foot.
Thanks for the info. What a great article and your sewing is beautiful.
Terrific information!
I bought a Viking sewing machine last fall and am thus being introduced to the world of alternate feet beyond the basic and the zipper foot. This tutorial has inspired me to try some new things beyond the prescribed in my manual.
By the way, my teflon foot has been a wonder! I made quilted luggage tags for Christmas and was able to position the plastic window without slippage.
Jane
This is AWESOME! My GMIL gave me a vintage machine and a large metal box containing many, many scary looking implements (a.k.a. feet). I’m heading up to play with them now! Thanks!
As said before, thank you so much for this post. I would love to see more about how to use other feet in the future too. Meanwhile, I’m very curious what the 5th step of the button hole on your machine does. Mine only has 4 steps (the first four of yours) and I’m wondering if there is a fifth step that would make my buttons holes better.
Now I will dream about all of these wonderful feet and what I could do with them!
Thanks for posting this info, just wish you could come right over and show me everything the instruction manual to my machine jsut happened to have left out!
This was such a helpful post! I use all the basic feet, but learned something after all these years. I didn’t know to use the walking foot on slippery fabrics…I thought it was made solely for quilting layers together to reduse puckers on the back. I didn’t know the built in walking foot can be used with different feet…will have to check my model to see if it works on mine. I always wondered how to know I was exactly a 1/4 inch from the edge for turning a corner and your foot provides that…I need to look closely at mine to see if it has that marking as well. Very cool!
This is very informational! Thanks for all the explanations!
Thanks for the info. I generally stick to projects taht I can complete with just a standard foot because I have no idea how to use other ones or what they’re for. THis info is very helpful.
thank you for de-mystifying the machine feet for me!!!
and your bird is not pitiful
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial! I am going to print this and put it in my sewing machine manual!
I really need to get a walking foot.
I am definately going to bookmark this page for when I get a machine that will actually have those capabilities. Your creations are amazing!!! Thanks so much for the details!
Wow, thank you for that — I have all these feet for my machine and hadn’t yet figured out what they were for. This has been a very helpful post.
Thanks for the great explanations!
Inspiring!
This tutorial was extensive. Great post!
Great information! Thanks so much.
Wow that post was great! Thank you! I have been needing to know what foot does what for a while now!
This was a fabulous post. I have a Pfaff as well so this is a one-to-one match up for me. It’s a great refresher. I forget which feet do what and don’t usually take the time to stop into the dealer/store.
Very helpful information!!!
I found out the solution to a problem I was having with my zipper foot. Now it works like a dream!! It’s funny how one little snippet of info can make a task so much easier.
Keep the knowledge coming!!
What a delightful, helpful read! Thank you so much!
Now if someone could show me how to get my rolled hem foot to work consistently I think I’ll be set!
Thanks!! I use my overcast and my straight seam the most, but this makes me want to try something new…
Thank you Thank you!
Great info! I recently picked up a walking foot and free motion foot for my old kenmore. I have one of those buttonhole feet too. Now I know what it is, so I might use it more often! Thanks!
This is excellent! No more Googling when I need to remember which foot to use. This is bookmarked, and Stumbled. Thank you so much for the great guide.
Ann
Wow a great tutorial! I am keeping it handy for sure!!! Thanks!!!
So very helpful! Thanks!
I read every word~~very informative and a great resource. We’ve come to expect nothing less from Sew, Mama, Sew! thanks!
This article was so helpful! I am new to sewing and I have no idea which ones to use on which projects.
great informative post.. Thanks!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have only been using the standard presser foot because I didn’t know what kind of foot to use on what projects. This helps me so much. I want to run out and buy me some new feet now.
Wow, there are some amazing feet that I didn’t even know existed. Great info. Thanks
Great information! It’s a good reminder that there are feet attachments that are ment to make the sewing job easier. I need to remember that … and use them more,
Aha! Now some of those funky feet seem to be more useful on first glance and now I’m inspired to figure out what the rest of them can do!
This is so helpful! thank you so much for writing and illustrating this
What a wonderful post! I have a box full of feet that never seemed to be used because I didn’t know what to do with them! Now, if you’ll excuse me…I’m off to experiment with some feet!!
I think I’m going to have to print this out for reference. Thanks!!
Thanks for the enlightening tutorial. I am inspired to try out some other feet besides the standard zigzag foot that came with my machine. I’m new at this and really appreciate all the information! Thanks!!!
Jen
Great information– so useful for someone like me who just dug their sewing machine out of the closet for the first time in a couple years!
Thanks for the tutorial. I really needed that. I will reference back to it many times I’m sure.
It’s great just to see all of the options for feet that are available. The walking foot is now what I want. Gweneth
You have just saved me a bunch of time researching! I said it in my last comment, but I have to say it again — fabulous idea for a blog!!! Cheers!
I have a few presser feet that I have not yet used. You inspire me to start experimenting….
Thanks a lot!
This was informative. I have a Pfaff and use all the feet for all those various sewing tasks. In particular, I love the integrated walking foot. One foot that I got recentlyfor the Pfaff, and I love it, is the bi-level foot. I use it to put bindings on flawlessly.
Oh, I learned so much from this! Not just about which feet to use and what the mystery feet are that came with my hand-me-down machine. I’m very excited to learn more about button holes as that’s something that I’m afraid to try, even though everyone claims it’s straightforward.
Thank you so much for such an informative post! Your work is stunning!
Thank you so much for doing this post. I honestly had no idea what a big difference using different feet could make.
I might need to get a 1/4 inch foot. Seems much more reliable that lining up with the edge of my presser foot.
It looks like there are a lot more feet I should buy!
So helpful! Great pics!
great info! i would love to know where to find out more about the Integrated Walking Foot and how to have it installed onto a machine.
THIS is exactly the motivation that I needed! I have a sew-to-do-list a mile long! I was putting it off each day! I know I need to make these things but all of it is so overwhelming! I have made a few things from aprons to tops for my girls but w/this info I can RUN!!
Thx so VERY MUCH!!!
Wow Its so nice to know about all these feet in one place! Thanks for all the tips & how tos!!
very informative, thank you!
Thanks for the many examples for how to use the feet…very helpful.
Thanks for the information. I’m a newbie and didn’t even know some of those feet existed. Time to go shopping!
What a helpful post! Thank you!
What a helpful tutorial! Especially the zipper foot!
WOW!!!! This is fabulous info – I learned a lot, even though I use most of these feet! Now, if someone could just tell me how to feed the fabric through an 1/8′ seam-sewer foot thingy, I’d be all set.
wow – so many feet!
extra fascinating is that my sewing machine came with a number of different feet, and only two of them are discussed here.
Thank you for the information, this is very helpful.
Thanks so much. This is not information I would sit down and read in a book, but it is nevertheless good information. Thanks for the clear, concise guide!
O.K., so I totally just got the photo at the top…. The “feet” are wearing shoes! Ha ha!
Wow this was very informative. I can’t wait for all the other things throughout the month! Thank you so much.
What a wonderful tutorial…just what I was needing. Thank you so much
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!
this is very important information! thanks alot! im going to save this post in my favorites!
thank alot!
I am a beginner, so I haven’t used many of the different feet available–and some are really so specific that they only come out for very few projects.
Every time I come here (to Sew Mama Sew) I get all fired up to do more and better. Now I only need a few more hours in the day…
Great info!! Thanks!
OMG THANK YOU for this! So helpful!
I need to purchase a walking foot or an intergrated walking foot. Gotta call about that one. I enjoyed your post Florence and you make some wonderful items.
Thanks and Keep Stitchen’
Bonnie
I had no idea about all the different uses of the feet that came with my sewing machine. Now I will be adventurous and use the feet I have instead of the standard pressure foot. Thank you so much for the information!
Thanks for the post. Very useful information especially for someone like me starting to sew again. I’ve only used a standard presser foot! I just got a walking foot and have not tried it…
Great information thank you! I’ve added a few “feet” to my list of must haves!
Such helpful info and great pics!!
thanks for the info! Very helpful!
What a great walk through some incredible sewing feet! I myself can not live without my bernina walking foot. Wonderful inventive accessories!
Thanks! I’ve always been scared of my feet, but I am going to give a chance to those feet that have never been used.
Thanks for such a great overview of feet. i am always wondering what is what.
This was great… thanks!
Thank you for the thorough review of alternate feet. I learned a lot!
I can’t wait for the buttonhole tutorial! Mine has been driving me nuts, so for most things, for now, I use snaps. But I want buttons!
amazing!! thanks!!1 I have loads of feet for my sewing machine but had no idea of how to use them!!!
thanks a lot!!
The right foot really can make all the difference in the world! I went from not being able to sew knits at all with my machine to mastering them in about 10 minutes once i got a teflon foot!
Loved this about the feet. I am never sure what is the best to use for each project.
Thank you for this, I have always wondered what all of those feet were used for.
Great packet of information. I had no idea some of these feet existed, and I’m going to buy some of them, hopefully.
SOme of those types of feet I had never even heard of before. Thanks for the great information.
Thanks for the info, I like that Concealed Zip Foot
Oh, many thanks from a complete novice for this feet-forward tutorial. I think I’ll ask for that 1/4-inch foot for my birthday!
I’ve always stayed away from “silkies”, never ever ever thought of using a walking foot. Thanks for that great tip! And the great tutorial. And I visited your blog, also very informative.
Great info! Thanks a bunch!
Great info! Thanks!
What a beautiful post! Flossie sure had learned a lot since getting her new machine. It makes me want to go get all my feet out and do some new machine dancing.
Wonderful stuff! I have a new respect for the feet that came with my sewing machine. Now to see what they can REALLY do for ME!! Thank you!
This was a lot of help, thanks! I have a few other feet in my collection that I’ve always wondered about too. My favorite food has to be my automatic buttonhole foot. Once I make a buttonhole, it’s size has been recorded and every other buttonhole will be the exact size of the first one with just the touch of a button. How cool is that??
Thank you for all the cool info! Shows what I’ve been missing by not trying all the feet my machine has. Best, Ann
The information on the feet was a wealth of information. I jumped into sewing and did not learn many of the fundimentals of sewing. I will refer back to this often in my crafting.
Holy cow, my next machine MUST have an integrated walking foot!! This was an awesome post and must have taken a lot of time–thanks!
Oh Man! I need to study this and plan a trip to the sewing machine store! I need a 1/4″ foot for making doll clothes – I know I’m always over the 1/4″ and then the clothes are tight!
This article was SOOOOO insightful and helpful! Thank you for your wonderful insight!
I agree with your comments on the open toe applique foot. I just love it but I am so sorry I hadn’t any idea you could purchase a special foot for invisable zips. No wonder mine always look so amateur.lol
Cheers
Robyn (NZ)
Thanks, this was really helpful! I want a 1/4 guide foot now
This is great! thanks so much! I’ve had my sewing machine for about five years now but just recently started using it on more of a designing bases. My machine came with extra peddles but I couldn’t tell you what ones they are or what I should use them for. This answered so many questions! thanks again!
great post!! i’ve finally be convinced to get an invisible zipper foot!
I have a very nice metal invisible zipper foot for my Janome, but I’ve never come across the one featured in this post before! Very informative post – thanks.
That was so great!! I have a bunch of “feet” that came with my machine =, but have always been too intimidated to try them out. Usually I have worked so hard I’m afraid of messing whatever I’m making up so I just stick with what I know. I love the Open Toe Applique foot and I didn’t even know there was a 1/4 foot. What a huge difference that would make!!! Thank you so much for a super helpful post!
I need to print out this post and start playing with my sewing machine feet a bit. I have a tendency to stick to the ones I know without using anything else.
This was so incredibly helpful. A a self taught novice sewer, I cant thank you enough.
lovely info! I am intimidated with all the feet I have, but you’ve given me some really great insight!
Very helpful! I Love the pictures to explain and the examples of what you create using each foot is perfect. Thanks for the info!
What a fantastic, well-written, comprehensive guide!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the info. I really have not tried my machine’s other attachments because I did not know what it was for.
I wish I had an idiot proff guide like this when I first started sewing. I still am a little unsure of my zipper foot. I did just recieve a ruffler and think next to my button holer it is the best thing since sliced bread!
Most helpful! Also reminded me to not be so lazy in selecting the proper foot for a task, and explore new techniques. Thanks!
Great information on the different feet that are available. I’ve only started using a walking foot and it does make all the difference when sewing quilts. I also have a darning foot that I need to figure out.
This is my first time commenting at this blog! Wow! This post has thoroughly enlightened me! I have never ventured beyond the standard foot with which my machine came. Thank you!
thank nyo so much for all that information…it has made me want to run right out and get a few new feet for my machine so i can try new things and improve what i am already doing.
Thank you for this super informative post. As a newbie to the world of sewing this post is just the kind of thing I need to amp up on my sewing machine knowledge!
This is such a great reference and learning tool. Thanks!
What a great post! I look forward to trying out some of my feet soon! Thanks!
This is such great information. Now I need to go feet shopping
Thanks for the information. Since I didn’t read the instruction manual that came with my machine, I always wondered what that one foot was for.
wow – thank you so much! i love my 1/4 foot but i never realized what the red marks are for. this is going to make things so much easier.
Great information! I bought my first ever sewing machine 2 years ago and it came with a bunch of different feet and yet the manual never mentioned what they were and how to use them. I guess they figure most people buying sewing machines know how to sew
Great post! I love learning about what new feet can do. Florence writes with style and good humor!
I got a Singer sewing machine with so many feet that I don’t know what half of them are. This was so great! Thanks!
This post was very helpful. I never know what foot to use.
very informative, thank you!
Amazing tutorial. You just inspired me to finally try all of the feet that came with my machine! What was I waiting for? Thank you!
I am a new sewer with a machine I am a little afraid of…I am hoping this month of posts will give me some courage!
alittleteacher@gmail.com
Just when I think I know something about sewing, I realize I don’t! This was so great, I learned a lot – and now know that I need more feet!1
I am new to sewing and had no idea there were so many options for feet!
any chance ruffler feet and binding feet will get a chance in the spot light? maybe a guide to buying feet?
Thank you so much for this information! I have been sewing for 20 years and still do not know about the different feet . I just use my standard foot, zipper foot, and button hole foot. I did buy a binding foot a year and a half ago, but still have yet to gather up the courage to try it! Maybe a tute for that would help others too? I am assuming that foot would be a very helpful and common one to use in bag and blanket making.
Wow thanks for all the information! I have only usedthe regular foot but I need one I can use for free motion quilting and one that is easy for zippers so I will be looking into more feet soon!
This post came at a perfect time for me! I am trying to do my first quilt and I was trying to figure out what feet I need for free motion quilting and what I need for just straight line quilting. This is perfect and answered a lot of my questions- Thank you!
Wow! That’s alot of feet!
Great information – thank you so much for putting it together. I will bookmark this for future reference – it is better than my machine’s manual!
I just added this to my bookmarks. What a great bunch of information. I’m determined to use my feet now!
This was so helpful
Very helpful. I really need to stop the frustration and get a walking foot already.
Thanks so much, I wasn’t quite sure what some of the feet that came with my manual-less hand-me-down machine were for!
Oh, man. Do I need a new machine! I didn’t even know nor had I ever heard of most of these feet! On my OLD Singer all I usually swap out is the zipper foot and the regular one. Sheesh…I’m missing out on sooo much! Thanks!
The store that I bought my machine at offered a class every couple of months to any one that bought a Bernina.This class was very helpful .
Brenda
This was a very good read! I really enjoyed this post and I love all of the helpful information. I really enjoyed reading your blog as well!
jenn
Thank you for answering a nagging question I didn’t even know to ask.
Great tutorial – I have been wondering about walking feet – I have a couple inherited from my grandmother, wasn’t sure what to do with them.
great info! and now you have me dreaming of additional feet to buy for my machine!
That was very useful. Thanks for showing up all the ‘tricks,’ but I believe that you are right…trial and error. I have been there and done that and now I can say that I know my feet better!!!
Well, that solves a mystery or two! Many thanks.
Wow thanks for all the info! It is so helpful! I knew there were different kinds of presser feet… but not this many! I do a lot of applique work so I will look for the presser foot specifically for that! Thanks again!!!
I guess you can add me to your fan club! Excellent tutorial!!! I just discovered feet other than the regular presser foot in the past couple years since my mom recently got a new Bernina. The integrated walking foot and the adjustable guide foot were new to me. I do really like the edgestitch foot we have – it’s useful for sewing corner to corner following a line while doing patchwork.
Thanks for this helpful tutorial. I got a new sewing machine at Easter (nothing too fancy, a Brother with some embroidery stitches.) It came with a bag of feet I knew nothing about. Now I am planning to get some of them out and see what I can do with them.
So that is what a walking foot looks like! I hope there will be a zipper tutorial this month. I have trouble with my zipper foot. I’ve not mastered how to turn at the bottom. The zipper gets in the way. My favorite foot is clear. It’s the statin stitch foot but I use it for everything (except zippers).
Thanks for all the good advice….
this is excellent–i have only within the last year discovered the zipper foot…through no fault of my own, i might add; i believe directions on some pattern or the other said “FIND YOUR ZIPPER FOOT: IT’S THERE SOMEWHERE!” and so it was. i hope to make use of many other feet!
Thanks for the great overview about feet.
Really great post – I always find myself making do with my small assortment of feet…..Can’t wait to read the upcoming buttonhole info!
Wonderful information! (I’m very visual…the photos are a great help!) Thanks!
Now I know how to use those feet in the back of my box that have never seen the light of day. Maybe I can figure out some things to do with them. Thanks for a great tutorial.
This was so very helpful to me (me being such a newbie, and all.) I love the honesty in it too! It makes me hopeful. =)
Thank you for your article! Have you ever worked with an adjustable zipper foot? Following the Islander Sewing methods, I can use this amazing foot to set all types of zippers, even invisible! I was so apprehensive and sceptical when I first tried, but it worked, flawlessly!
Thank you so much for the information! The little flower pincushion is so, so, so very cute!
This has been the most useful thing I have read all month. Thank you!!
This is a great reference..
thank you so much for this post. i am a new sewer with a simple hello kitty sewing machine. i would love to upgrade someday, but this entry on feet has expanded what i can do with my current machine….again, thanks!
That is one of the best posts on machine feet I’ve seen!
I also love my pintuck foot to make piping.
I have a walking foot as well which I think I’d love, except the metal guide bar is actually off somewhat and makes my 1/4″ seams slightly larger. So even if it says 1/4″ foot, do a little test a few times to figure out if it is accurate! I can’t rely on that metal guide, but I use the edge of the foot instead.
This was so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write this all down. You took such great photos!
wow, this is very helpful!! thanks a bunch for the info
this was a HUGE help– thank you so much! Glad to get to know you Florence– your writing is funny.
And I mean funny in a good way!! (hope that came across the right way.) I mean you made me smile!
Thank you for all the different info – its nice to learn about all the different things they can do.
This is crazy helpful! Thank you so much!
What great information! I’m ashamed to say I often use just my regular pressure foot, and avoid zips at all cost
I’m also partial to adding snaps instead of buttons, because I can’t figure out how to use the 1-step button hole feature on my machine! 
You’ve given me hope!
I just bought a quarter inch foot today for my Pfaff and can’t wait to try it out! I’ve heard others rave about using it and don’t know why it took me so long to get one.
Wow, I can’t believe how much info was crammed into this post! I learned so much! Thanks for all the new skills, I’ll be book marking this post fo-sho
Thank you so much! This is such helpful information. I’m trying to decide which feet to add to my collection and your opinion is great.
I loved seeing your finished projects as much as learning about the feet – and I like that a lot! thanks
Very informative! I learned a lot of tricks that I was not aware of. Thanks!!
Thanks so much! This was so helpful!
Here we go again!!! I am thrilled with all the SUPER info you gals are providing to all of us!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I just bookmarked this! Excellent info!
P.S.
I LUV the first picture ‘feet in shoes’….very CREATIVE!
Great information. Thank you.
Wow! Thanks for such great info. =) I’m now a little embarrassed to say that I had no idea there are so many different feet! I definitely learned alot from this article.
this clears up SO much
Thanks for all the helpful info.
More feet than a centipede! I had no idea that there were so many feet available for sewing machines. I “inherited” my machine and it came with no accessories. I have some shopping to do! Some of these feet would make my life a whole lot easier! Thanks for the great information.
Thanks for this amazing and very informative post.
Wow, what a neat introduction to all the feet possibilites.
I just bought a walking foot/free motion embroidery/and 1/4 inch foot for my machine and I’m loving it so far.Can’t live without the walking foot.
Great information! I bought a walking foot several years ago and finally tried it. I loved it so much I thought I would leave it on. Now I know the dangers of that. Although it could be a good thing if it means I kill the inexpensive old machine and get to buy a newer, better one!
Oh wow – thank you so much for this post. It’s really helpful for me. I’ve got my mom’s old Singer and while I know what some of the feet are for, this will help me sort out the rest of them!
Thank you so much for this information. As a new sewer it is so helpful. I truly enjoy your blog.
this was super helpful! I wonder if I have a big foot….
What a great description of my feet! Now I know what some of those odd-looking ones are.
This is a great post. I’ve just found your blog today & really enjoyed looking around.
This is so incredibly helpful. I have a couple of feet that I have never known how to use, and now I do! Invisible zipper, I am coming for you!!
So this couldn’t have come at a better time for me–I am just dreaming of all the sewing I can do but have yet to purchase a machine–I am in the research phase of my dreaming. I was just thinking about what kinds of feet I would need and what certain ones do–and volia! There was your post, telling me all about it! Thanks! Now if only you could teach me how to sew…
Thanks for the info!! I find it very helpful.
That was a great overview! I’ve always wondered what each of those feet in my case were and what I might use them for.
Thank you for the detailed tutorial!!!
great article, so helpful for those of us that are learning on our own!
Thank you so much for this article! There are so many feet and so little time to figure out what they all do
I am really looking forward to a month of articles like this… and I definately think a beginners guide to sewing would help quite a few of us!
Wow!! Fantastic info on all the feet for your sewing machine
Wow! This was great! I’ve been sewing for probably 20+ years and have not ventured out much in using feet. I’ve only known about the walking foot (which I LOVE) for maybe a year or two! This was very helpful because I can’t find my machine’s manual and didn’t know what some of my feet were for! Thank you!
There is such a thing as serendipity, my sewing machine is on the blink (again), I am considering buying a new one, but have no idea where to start, and then I come across this ! whoo-hoo!
Great post on sewing machine feet. I would love to hear about the piping foot sometime. I tend to make my own a lot and would love any tips to make it nicer.
thanks for the info.
This is such a great post! I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’ve been sewing with my machine for over two years now and have yet to make use of most of the extra feet it came with. This post has made me want to start playing with them, though, now that I know what they all do!
Fantastic article — bookmarked!
This is a whole new world to me – I think the only other foot that I have used is the buttonhole one. I have some feet that came with the machine, but the manual is so badly drawn I’m not too sure what they are. Still, you’ve given me the motivation to start searching around the internet for answers. Thank you
This article was very informative. I’ve never taken sewing lessons (strictly self taught so far) and have only recently discovered the wonders of using special feet for sewing. In my earlier days I never knew there was such thing as an invisible zipper foot – what a difference it made in helping me make cushion covers! I’ve definitely gained more confidence in my sewing abilities thanks to the proper tools (and recently my new Janome)
It looks like I have some shopping to do. Thanks! =D
I have always wanted a walking foot for my machine…but never have had the money.
very helpful! Thank you!
I am not new to sewing but this information was really great. It seems that I have been making some things harder on my self then necessary!! I am going down stairs to my sewing room right now and look at the feet that came with my machine. I will have to get myself one or two of the feet mentioned above!!
I’m certainly going to refer to this again. I seem to have particular trouble with my button hole foot, although I think I enjoy my free motion foot only because my expectations are, well, not exactly stellar. Thanks for the information. I am getting excited to practice, practice, practice!
Very useful information. I’m always wondering what all my extra feet are for and whether I can use one foot for several different purposes. You’ve given me some things to think about and now I want to go try them all out! Thanks!
The integrated walking foot info was really useful, I had just started looking at walking feet. Thanks!
Thank you for describing each of these feet for us. I have just recently realized how much easier life would be if I would use different feet. I think it’s time to start the collection. Thanks!
Smooth tutorial, glad to see someone moving beyond”make do sewing.”
Hi Florence,
this is a fantastic guide! and i love your analogies… side saddle being my favourite… this must have taken a fair while to put together … well done you!
lots of love
xxx
I can’t tell you how clear, interesting and useful that tut was. I look forward to sewing machine month. I taught myself to sew by following a pattern at age 11. It was a failure but started me on a lifetime of sewing. I am now 60 years old and am into art quilts. That’s for you pleasingly written instructions.
Beth
Thank you for the post!
Wow, thank you so much for this, it was truely instructionnal. English isn’t my mother language and I’ve been wondering for ages what a walking foot could possibly be… Thank you
This was an excellent post. I inherited my machine with lots of different feet and some are baffling to me. I need one of those invisible zipper feet!
It is my dream to one day have a walking foot. I hear that helps with sewing on stretchy fabrics, which are my fave!
This is fantastic and so helpful. I’ve been sewing for ages but still often wonder what to use all the fancy feet for. Cheers
I need to be more adventurous with my feet!
Oh my goodness, thank you for this. I’ve always known that there was a world of possibilities in my collection of presser feet, and now you’ve opened the door to it. Thank you thank you thank you!
This was so ridiculously helpful! I’m always MacGyver-ing my shabby little overcasting foot to achieve a perfect 1/4″ allowance (well, “perfect”), but I had no idea there was a foot specifically for that! Sheesh!
That was very helpful to me! I just started sewing a couple of months ago and have always wondering about the different feet out there. Great job! I learned something new and very helpful!
This article has changed my life! Now I know what all those funny feet are in my sewing kit. I can’t wait to get home and try them out. And I don’t think I’ll dread button holes and zippers any more. Thanks so much for writing this super article.
Thank you for the pictures – sometimes it’s hard to attach the name of the foot to the piece when you’re looking for one!
hi all… i recently bought a book called THE SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT HANDBOOK by CHARLENE PHILLIPS. it has opened up a whole new world of sewing possibilities for me!! It’s easy to understand and follow and has helped me make sense of all of the feet that my machine ( a singer) came with. who knew that so much of what i was doing by hand… and many pins… could be done with a simple change of the feet!!!
SO helpful! Thanks for the great resource!
Thank you so much–I really needed this explanation!
I jumped over here from Whip Up and am SO glad! I’ve had a machine for two years that I still haven’t really figured out how to work with very well and I think one of my biggest issues that I feel totally terrified by all the foot options! I am armed and dangerous now. Look out feet!
Wow, thank you so much for explaining what each of the feet are used for. This is going to help me tremendously. Gina
THANK YOU for explaining the walking foot and the integrated one to me – I have just worked on a machine with that ‘thingy’ behind the needle arm… and now I finally know what it was… and that I could have used it for something, too….
Thank you for this tutorial on feet. I have many feet that came with my machine and I am still tring to figure out the usage for them. This opens my eyes to the all the possibilities.
I just got a New Home 507 yesterday (after using a Toyota for the past couple years, I wanted an older machine) and it came with a variety of feet — thanks for this tutorial!
what a wonderful and helpful tutorial! thanks!
[...] fascinating world of sewing feet (I had no idea there were so many different [...]
This was so helpful! Thank you!
I bought my walking foot, that I LOVE!!! but I didn’t know that there is something like the integrated walking foot!
I loved your article about feet. Great analogies. I always wonder if i am getting as much use out of my feet as they were designed for.
Susan
Great article. I used to hate changing the feet so I’m glad my newer machine has the press-on type. I’ll have to look for that open toe foot since I’ve started doing some satin stitch appliqué, I can see how that would work well.
Wow, i didn’t even know an adjustable guide foot existed! I now want to run out to the shop and buy one!
Love being reminded of all the uses of my machine feet. Thanks!
I love the option of snap on feet. I hate having to get out the screwdriver.
Thank you for this information. It opens up many new possibilities.
Wow thank you so much for this info…it has been so helpful….
Wonderful! Thank you! I can’t wait for the next installment. The detail is super helpful for a self taught sewer. Bookmarked!
What a well written piece, thanks. Now I’m dying to know – what are you doing with your presserfoot backwards? I’m intrigued!
What an informative article and beautiful photos. Thank you so much. Your hems (before stitching) are so fantastically orderly! I am inspired, and I now understand why my sewing projects err on the side of untidiness!
Can you post pictures of how to attach the walking foot (or do you no longer have the separate one)? I have recently purchased one, but I can’t seem to get it attached to the machine.
This is so helpful for a novice like me. I know I will reference this again and again.
I have just bookmarked this site. So much good information. Thanks!
This is a fantastic article. I am still a novice with sewing, so the thought of switching to different feet are quite daunting to me, but after reading this article, I’m going to give it a try. Thanks Florence!
Thank Florence for sharing. As far as I know, your sewing machine owns the IDT-System. Why do you have to use the walking foot?
I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles. You obviously know what you are talking about! Your site is so easy to navigate too, I’ve bookmarked it in my favourites