At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
Re: I am using my walking foot to stitch in the ditch my...
The quilted fabric may be too thick for the walking foot to move along smoothly. Try using a zipper foot which is much slimmer and can get close to the line of stitching.
Re: I am using my walking foot to stitch in the ditch my...
If your sewing machine has a presser foot pressure adjustment, you might want to increase the pressure the foot places on the fabric and the feed dogs. Machines have different methods for doing this, so you might need to check your manual. Some have a dial, some have a round pin similar to the thread spool that can be pushed down, and others, ie older Berninas, have a screw inside the machine at the top that can be screwed down to tighten. Parts of Sewing Machine Pressure Adjustment
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
The stitch in the ditch foot is used for stitching directly in the seam line of 2 fabrics, most often for quilting lines. It is also used to sew two fabrics together. For the Stitch in the ditch sewing (quilting) place the needle in the center position, straight stitching and align the protruding blade on the stitch in the ditch presser foot directly on the seam line. Sew straight in the seamline using blade as the guide. To bind 2 fabrics, place the finished edges of the fabrics together, side by side touching. Place the foot with the blade between the two fabrics.Guide the fabric to touch the blade as you sew.
Set the stitching to zig zag stitch. Sew zig zag, keeping the fabrics touching the protruding guide on the presser foot. Hope this helps!
A walking foot would be helpful especially for quilting where there are multiple layers of fabric. The walking foot actually moves the upper layer in conjunction with the lower fabric helping to prevent wrinkles in the stitching.
For other projects, there may be other feet that could work. Your sewing machine may have other accessories, like this foot for Berninas Blindstitch foot 5
FWIW, it is very difficult to actually stitch "in the ditch" as any slight deviation will show. Usually, it is better to stitch just a bit to one side or the other.
So you are quilting but not free motion quilting... Generally, a walking foot is used when just doing straight stitch quilting. It has feet that actually walk at the same time the feed dogs are pulling.
When stitching together a quilt sandwich, it is recommended to use a walking foot on your machine. The walking foot moves the upper fabric in conjunction with the feed dogs. Sometimes, if the quilt sandwich is not too thick, a roller foot can also help but may not be sufficient for a quilt sandwich. What is Walking Foot Sewing Tips for Beginners How To Use Walking Foot How to Use Roller Foot
You may also check the presser foot pressure on your machine. This regulates the amount of pressure the presser foot applies to the fabric and the feed dogs. If the pressure is too strong, it will tend to push the upper layers of fabric, creating a bubble look. If the pressure is too loose, there is not enough pressure for the feed dogs to physically pull entire quilt sandwich under the presser foot.
(The pressure is adjustable depending on the types of fabric and thicknesses being sewn.) http://www.sewdaily.com/how-to-sew/sewing-machine-basics/the-best-kept-secret-on-your-sewing-machine
make sure that the thread tensions are correct for the thickness of material
remember that only the bottom foot walks and draws the material through so it may need a help and be pulled as it sews.
I find that women in sewing shops just love to talk about problems and how they can help so find a shop and discuss any problems with them
Quilting with a walking foot is technically (IMHO) not free motion quilting. With a walking foot, the feed dogs are still activated so they can work in conjunction with the walking foot to (hopefully) prevent wrinkles in the fabric sandwich. Quilting with a walking foot is more suited for stitching in straight lines or stitching in the ditch. In this mode, you would not pull or push the fabric as the machine should do that.
FMQ Free Motion Quilting requires the operator to manually move the fabric sandwich under the needle. There are some sewists who do not use a presser foot, however, if you value your fingers, it would be best to use, at a minimum, a darning foot. Darning feet and free motion quilting feet are shorter than a regular presser foot so it does not make contact with the feed dogs or the needle plate. The space between the needle plate and darning foot is what allows a sewist to maneuver the fabric. Usually, the feed dogs are lowered when performing FMQ, but there are some sewists who don't. It's probably a matter of preference.
Most older sewing machines included a darning foot in the accessory kit. Newer sewing machines may have several presser foot options for FMQ. In addition, there are many FMQ presser feet available on the market that can be ordered to fit your specific machine, ie Big Foot. Nancy Notions Trusted by sewing enthusiasts for more than 3 decades
There are a wide variety of FMQ presser feet, some have springs so they "hop" on the fabric, some are metal, others are clear plastic, some are full circles, others are not round or may be open toe. There are also special presser feet that have a thicker base made for FMQ with rulers--the thicker base helps prevent the ruler from slipping under the presser foot and being struck by the needle.
In addition to the multitude of FMQ presser foot choices, there are a variety of other tools available, ie quilting gloves, quilting hoops, marking tools, pattern transfer supplies, silicone mat that covers the sewing machine surface making it easier to glide the fabric. Amazon com Queen Size Supreme Slider Free Motion Machine Quilting Mat...
There are tons of tutorials for FMQ. Just as there are many different methods, the right method is the one that works best for you. There are also lots of rules, but rules are made to be broken, so don't let someone else squelch your creativity. Quilt to please yourself.
Above all, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. I have a small whiteboard that I practice drawing designs. Muscle memory will make FMQ easier. There is also the need to get a comfortable sewing speed along with the speed at which you move the fabric. If you are breaking needles, your fabric movement is probably too fast for the sewing speed. Also, practice moving the fabric while keeping the sewing speed consistent.
Good luck! Remember, those awesome FMQers didn't learn it overnight. Many have been doing it for over 20 years, so don't be overly critical of yourself. You'll see improvement with every project you complete.
Have you checked to make sure the walking foot (u-shaped) bar is still attached to the needle bar? Are the feed dogs still in the up position and operating like they should?
Something else that I've run across in my sewing adventures is that walking feet need periodic oiling to keep them operating. Just manipulate the walking foot with your hands and watch where there are moving joints. Then apply a small drop of good quality sewing machine oil to each joint. Work it in and then wipe off the excess so it won't stain your fabric.
×