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Sewing Machines and Other Tools for The Best Quilting Results...
by Helen Howes NEW SERIES: PART 4 - It's Just a Foot?
This is the original "Quilt Foot" that Singer machines came with - just a guide, really
OK, Hands up, those of you who are unwilling to change the feet on your machines?
Thought so. Well, you ought to really, as the general purpose foot that is supplied if all fine and dandy for sewing curtains or hemming a frock, but you are all specialist sewists, in that you quilt and piece. So, you need the Right Foot for the job.
Now, at this point I have to admit that for the first 20 years of my treadling, I didn't change my feet either, apart from an occasional foray into ruffling or making buttonholes. My machine came with a narrow even-sided foot called a Slim Jim, and it does pretty much everything.
When I eventually discovered quilting and "proper patchwork" (quarter-inch seams!) it was a while before my technology caught up. When it did, my pleasure, skill, and enthusiasm was increased a thousand-fold all at once...
Metal and plastic "quarter-inch" feet, and my "Slim Jim"
So, let's consider the options
For piecing, you are best using a Straight Stitch Foot of one kind or another, but you need to be sure that your machine will co-operate. If the foot is nice, but the quarter-inch is not, your patchwork can be distorted, and your blocks may come out much too small or large. (I find, as well, that if you have more than one machine, the seams tend not to agree. There is much to be said for sticking to one per project). I'm not a fan of feet with "guide blades" as they don't work on curves. And nothing beats practice - if you can see what you need to do, you will be happier..
But, when we come to quilting, there's a real need for the Proper Item. For most quilters, the Walking Foot is the one. It has little teeth or rubbery bits on top which help the upper layer to keep pace with the underneaths, and this makes the end result soooo much smoother and nicer. (It's a common fallacy that the walking foot actually feeds the top layer, this isn't so, it just stops it from catching and ruckling). Some machines have a built-in little foot which drops down behind the regular foot and works the same way - these are good, as visibility is much better. At a pinch you can use a Roller Foot for this, too, but nothing beats the Walking Foot.
Assorted Walking Feet for Bernina, Low Shank, Slant Shank, and High Shank machines - you need the Right One, of course
Of course, this is a big foot and you can't do really complicated patterns with it (you can, however, quilt with your built-in fancy stitches, so that may appeal) - just straight lines and gentle curves.
If you want to make pretty images in stitch, follow the outlines of your fabric's patterns, draw, or doodle, you need a Hopping, Darning, or Embroidery Foot (three names for the same thing)
Assorted Hoppers...
These work by holding the fabric firmly when you need to form the stitch (when the needle is down), then letting the fabric move under your direction when the needle is above the cloth, so you can alter the direction and length of the stitch yourself. These come in lots of shapes and sizes, but they all work pretty much the same way.
Now there's a secret to Free-Motion Quilting, and that is Practice. Little and often is preferable. Set a kitchen timer to 10 or 15 minutes, sew, and when it pings, stop. Do it every day, and you will be a genius at it in 3 months. Once a fortnight, and you will never get it..
Practice on scraps, not your Best Piecing, too, and smaller samples at first, not a double-bed quilt for your favourite niece.
Oh, and the other secret? It's like a good marriage - gentle hands (move slowly) and a firm foot (run the machine fast...)
And, small advertisement, I sell all types of these and many more
HERE
Happy sewing!
HH
4, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk, NR14 6NU. United Kingdom