Friday, September 5, 2008

Friday Confession

These feet were made for walking...
(with apologies to Johnny Cash)

I am good friends with these sewing machine feet:


I'm sure you recognize the automatic buttonhole foot, the zigzag foot and the zipper foot.
These feet and I, however, have never been formally introduced:

According to my manual, they are (in no particular order) the straight stitch foot, the overedge foot, the satin stitch foot, the blind hem stitch foot and (for some reason that I don't quite get) two more buttonhole feet.

What about you? Do you use all of the feet that came with your machine? If you were to advise me to make acquaintances with another foot, which one would be at the top of your list and why?

10 comments:

Summerset said...

I use almost all of the feet that came with my machine for some reason or other, plus have bought extras that go with the machine but weren't included.

Which foot to get to know? I'm not sure - they all have a specific purpose and are designed to perform a specific task well.

Lisa Laree said...

A straight stitch foot! I've been trying and trying to get a straight stitch foot (and throat plate with a small hole...it should be a set) for my machine and so far haven't managed to do it. But, the next time I go to the dealer I'm taking my current throat plate in so we can see what works!

Anyway, the straight stitch foot/throat plate is supposed to be good for making really nice straight stitches, especially on very thin fabrics that sometimes get sucked down the wider opening. Try it and see...

Emily said...

I am in the process of getting to know my feet as well -- I just bought a new machine about a month ago with a whole bunch of fancy feet. So far, I've used the blind hem foot, the automatic buttonhole foot, the zipper foot, and the normal foot. I also bought a flat-fell foot and an invisible zipper foot, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet!

Christine said...

I also have only used the feet that you know well. It took me and the buttonhole foot a little get along...

mamafitz said...

i do not have a foot fetish (unlike my shoe fetish for my own feet. ^_^). the only sewing machine feet i use are the regular foot, the 1/4" foot, the buttonholer, and the zipper foot. oh, i use the free motion/darning foot for quilting.

i've tried, and not liked, the rolled hem foot (i do a baby hem instead), the blind hem foot (i'll just put the hem in by hand), and the binding foot (i use my regular foot). i use my plain zipper foot to put in invisible zips.

mamafitz said...

i just looked at the photos again -- those are janome feet, right? they look just like mine. i use the top three all the time, and bought a 1/4" foot. the rest i could throw away and never miss them.

Toni Campbell said...

I am so not familiar with any of the "extra" feet!! I keep telling myself that one day I will sit down with scraps of fabric and teach myself how to use them, but obviously "one day" hasn't arrived yet!

Claire said...

Gwen, I join you in the fact that I too have not been introduced to feet other than the few you mentioned. I should come out of my shell and meet them. ;o)

Nancy Winningham said...

Gwen, my machine came with tons of feet, so I haven't used them all yet. I have not used the piping foot, beading foot, and one or two others. I have used narrow hem, felling, zipper, invisible zipper, walking, quarter inch, free motion, embroidery, satin stitch, edgestitch (my favorite) button foot, and a few others. I would recommend using your blind stitch foot. First of all, take some easy to work with cotton and follow your machine's directions for doing a blind hem. After you try it a few times, it will be easy. I also use lmy blind hem foot for any time I need to stitch close to the edge. The "blade" on the foot will run right on the edge or in a seamline and keep your stitching straight. In fact, I used it today to edgestitch the placket on the front of a blouse I am making. It also works great for understitching because you can get close to the seam and not have to worry about going over the edge. Whenever I want to learn how to use a foot, I take scrap fabric and just practice a bunch of times until I get it.

SunnyQ said...

I haven't used all of my feet yet, and I think my zipperfoot looks different (or maybe I don't know which one is the zipperfoot!). :)

I do LOVE my quilter-foot (a "walking" foot?) that came in the "bonus" quilter's pack that came with my machine. I love it because I can adjust it to 1/4" and then slam bam, push the fabric edge up to the guide and no more squinting for me! Hrmm, maybe squinting at the guides on the plate is why my eyes started to change...