My Husqvarna Lily 550 won't "grab" the fabric between the foot and feed dogs. The fabric slips and slides. Feed dogs are up. Quilting walking foot works, but regular sewing feet don't. Suggestions?

Most any straight stitch machine can do quilting. You can find an 'even-feed' /walking/quilting foot in most shops that will fit a low-shank machine. This type of foot is designed to 'walk' on top of the fabric so that foot pressure does not separate the layers when the feed dogs work on the bottom of your quilt.

You should have the feed dogs up, grabbing and moving the lowest layer of the fabric. This is the standard position of the feed dogs, unless you are doing free-hand motion or darning stitches.

The advantage of the walking foot is that it keeps the top layer of fabric moving even for fabric layers that don't stick together under a standard foot. If the feed dogs are below the cover plate, you have the same problem with the fabric layers moving at different rates. It just reverses which layer feeds faster than the others.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

You can do embroidery or you can do free motion. If you're quilting a quilt sandwich (fabric, batting, backing fabric), you probably want to do free motion quilting. Embroidery would work better on fabric (with a stabilizer) but without the batting and backing fabric.

For free motion, you want a free motion foot--your machine's manufacturer probably provided one in the accessory kit (called a darning foot) or there are many generic free motion feet available for purchase (ie Big Foot quilting foot...). The BIG difference with a darning foot or free motion foot is that the shank is shorter than other presser feet because there needs to extra space between the presser foot and the needle plate so the quilter can easily manipulate the fabric. Usually, free motion quilters will drop the feed dogs to avoid feed dog interference with the fabric's movement, however, some quilters don't drop the feed dogs--just whatever works best for you and your machine. In addition, I use a Supreme Slider on the sewing machine surface--a silicone mat that provides a slick surface to help the fabric move.

There are a lot of web sites and video tutorials on free motion quilting. Take some time to watch them and then practice, practice, practice! It's an acquired skill so the more you practice, the better you will be.

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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

http://makeitsew.biz/presser-foot-pressure

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see if ther is an adjustment at the top of the spring that holds the foot down

Check the feed dogs are in UP position. If so, are they moving back and forward when turning the hand wheel (be careful if you have a needle in the machine). If they are not moving back/forward, it is either the lower shaft has slipped out of position or the stepper motor has gone bad and needs replacing. Your local authorized husqvarnaviking dealer should be able to repair the machine. You can find the nearest dealer at http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us

Check the feed dogs are in UP position. If so, are they moving back and forward when turning the hand wheel (be careful if you have a needle in the machine). If they are not moving back/forward, it is either the lower shaft has slipped out of position or the stepper motor has gone bad and needs replacing. Your local authorized husqvarnaviking dealer should be able to repair the machine. You can find the nearest dealer at http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us

Hi, when you quilt straight lines using the walking foot, you need the feed dogs up, to move the fabric in a straight direction under the needle. When you do free motion quilting, which is done with a darning foot, your hands move the fabric in many different directions. Since you want to be the one to move the fabric, you put the feed dogs down and you do the work. So when you use the walking foot, keep your feed dogs up. When you use the darning foot, feed dogs down.

There is a switch the slides back and forth on the front of the machine at the throat below the needle plate but above the base (around the opening of the machine between the throat and the base). Slide it either left or right depending on where it is now. Otherwise, suggest you take it to an authorized husqvarna viking dealer for service. You can locate a dealer near you by visiting the husqvarna viking website and clicking on the Dealer link on the left-hand side of the page - http://www.husqvarnaviking.com
Good luck.