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  1. #1
    coffeebreak's Avatar coffeebreak is offline Senior Member
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    Question Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    I have been working on learning FMQ. Doing pretty good and liking it, but I have been using the open embroidery foot...and have seen it said many times to use the walking foot. I thought the walking foot was for thicker layers of fabric, but although you are stippling FMQing through layers...isn't there the feed issue that you would not want for the FMQ but do want for the layers to sew through? Or do you lower feed dogs with the walking foot...and then..whats the point of hte walking foot over the open embroidery foot?
    What's the diff and which do you like?

  2. #2
    JimsQueenie's Avatar JimsQueenie is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    For me, I would do just what you are doing. The embroidery foot, for stippling, you lower your feed dogs and the walking foot you keep them on and FMQ'ing is very difficult!! Looking forward to what others tell you. Good luck, Piece and blessings, Vicki

  3. #3
    buckeyequilter's Avatar buckeyequilter is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    I'm working on a quilt that will have a little of both. Will use the embroidery foot with feed dogs lowered for FMQ and the walking foot with out feed dogs lowered for straight line quilting.

    From what I've read: when you lower the feed dogs the fabric moves freely for the FMQ. And when you use the walking foot you don't lower the feed dogs so the feed dogs on the machine and walking foot move the fabric through at the same time to eliminate puckering.
    Shirley aka buckeyequilter
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    GrammaBabs's Avatar GrammaBabs is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    I agree.... walking foot does not give you the freedom you need to "move".... it's a must for the thick work stitching straight line... but i think the open foot is best for FM... my mid arm is just a machine on a carriage... and the open foot is used for that....
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    csarina's Avatar csarina is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    I never use a walking foot for anything other than straight stitching. The feed dogs move the fabric, for free motion quilting, YOU want to move the fabric, so dropping the feed dogs and using the open toe foot is what you need to do.
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  6. #6
    MaryB's Avatar MaryB is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    Am I on the wrong track with my FMQ here? I thought the darning foot (or FMQ foot if you have one) was the way to go. Maybe that's why I'm having so much trouble.

  7. #7
    K. McEuen's Avatar K. McEuen is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    Quote Originally Posted by MaryB View Post
    Am I on the wrong track with my FMQ here? I thought the darning foot (or FMQ foot if you have one) was the way to go. Maybe that's why I'm having so much trouble.
    No, you are EXACTLY correct. You can't use a walking foot (or leave your even/automatic feed engaged) when you are free-motion quilting.

    Csarina missed a don't in this sentence - "The feed dogs move the fabric, for free motion quilting,". It should be the Feed dogs don't move the fabric.
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  8. #8
    Sewbee's Avatar Sewbee is offline Senior Member
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    Smile Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    Cheri you want to use a darning foot which is also often called a quilting foot for free motion quilting. A walking foot does not allow any "free motion" because it is specifically designed to grip the fabric and keep all layers held together which is great for straight line stitch in the ditch quilting, but not free motion. A darning/FMQ foot does not sit tightly on top the fabric but floats just barely above it so when the feed dogs are down you are the only thing moving your quilt.

    Most machines come with a darning foot similar to the photo below. You can also spend extra money to get a foot pretty much like that one but made of all metal for doing FMQ but the plastic one below works just fine. Some people like to clip the little plastic hoop at the very bottom of that foot so they have an open viewing space to see their stitches. Some darning/quilting feet already come with an open toe area.

    The walking foot pictured on the right is designed to be used with the feed dogs up and it will only stitch a straight line unless you take the time to stop, pivot and go again every few stitches to give the look of a curved line! (not the recommended way to do curves and not what the walking foot was designed for). The photo on the left is one style of a 1/4" piecing foot. There are many different styles of 1/4" feet so many people try til they find the style they like best for piecing.

    MaryB you are not on the wrong track....you are using the correct foot. Just make sure the foot is not gripping your fabric so that you cannot move it very freely any direction. Sometimes you have to use a ponytail rubber hair band and wrap it around the very top of the spring on the darning foot so that raises the foot a little higher. This helps especially if you are quilting a project that has fluffy batting.

    Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ-sewing-feet-pics2.jpg
    Last edited by Sewbee; March 17th, 2012 at 07:42 PM.
    Linda
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  9. #9
    cyndiofthevortex's Avatar cyndiofthevortex is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    Ditto to everything Linda said!

    I also wouldn't put binding on without using my walking foot. It goes through all the layers and keeps everything right where it should be.

    Happy quilting, everyone!

    Cyndi

  10. #10
    coffeebreak's Avatar coffeebreak is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Embriodery foot vs. walking foot for FMQ

    Quote Originally Posted by ShirleyPickett View Post
    I'm working on a quilt that will have a little of both. Will use the embroidery foot with feed dogs lowered for FMQ and the walking foot with out feed dogs lowered for straight line quilting.

    From what I've read: when you lower the feed dogs the fabric moves freely for the FMQ. And when you use the walking foot you don't lower the feed dogs so the feed dogs on the machine and walking foot move the fabric through at the same time to eliminate puckering.
    That is what I have been reading too Shirley. I use the walking foot for the SITD stitching, and the embroidery for the stippling... but I have been watching YouTUbe videos and have seem some use the walking for stippling so I was just wondering why. THat foot is so big and "in the way" kind of..that I wouldn't think it'd do so well for FMQ, but they were using it!

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