Yep, still here, still pregnant (38.5 weeks!). Still not sewing, but looking forward to getting back to sewing at some point.
As I mentioned, it was my 30th birthday last week, and I got a little birthday money. I put most of it in the Cartoonist Baby fund (she'll be my REAL present!), but I was considering using some to buy a walking foot for my Viking Platinum 730.
I hear walking feet (aka dual feed feet) are ideal for sewing multiple layers, knits, and tricky lingerie fabrics. But they're so much pricier than other types of Viking feet I've hesitated to get one. And so I have a question: do you have a walking foot for your machine, and if so, how often do you use it? Was it worth the cost?
I realize I have quite the presser foot collection--I've got an invisible zipper foot, an edge-stitching foot, a top-stitching foot, a 1/4 seam guide foot, a flat-felling foot (not that I've ever done such a thing, but I mean to, really), a narrow-hem foot... and more. For my serger I have a piping foot and an elastic guide foot (though the latter hasn't worked so well as just holding the elastic with my hands). So what do you say? Should a walking foot be among them?
Alternatively I was thinking of getting yet another fabulous sewing or vintage style reference book for my over-stuffed library (such as Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s or Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers). But not fabric. I have WAAAAAAAAAAY too much fabric.
Or I could buying a cute nursing dress or some flats--but Cartoonist Husband finds it weird that I would consider clothing or shoes a fun gift (he prefers books and DVDs). Not that he didn't think buying myself a sewing machine accessory was odd, too...
P.S. Update from 2013: I DID get a walking foot for my Viking and it is awesome for stripe matching and sewing knits, even though pricey. If you're interested, contact you sewing machine dealer (that's what I did) OR you can search to see if you can find your walking foot here—I see basic feet for Singers and Brothers, etc.
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I have a walking foot, but primarily used for quilting. I have also used it for sewing denim because of the think layers at the seams. One can NEVER have too many sewing gadgets :)
ReplyDeleteI have a walking foot, which I find pretty handy for garment sewing. I have used it for sewing denim, satin, velvet and knits, as well as Rip-stop nylon and PVC. (I should point out the Rip-stop nylon and PVC weren't items of clothing!). I believe walking feet are very good for keeping plaids perfectly matched while you are sewing too.
ReplyDeleteI find my walking foot really helpful for any fabrics that tend to slip and an absolute necessity for quilting.
ReplyDeleteMy walking foot is built in on my Pfaff, so I use it alllllllllll the time. So yes, I love it.
ReplyDeleteAll of your birthday gift options sound great!
I hade a walking foot for my Viking 1100 (18 years ago) and used it a lot. I did not buy one for my Husqvarna Designer 1. So far I have not needed it and I have done quilting, sewn on leather and vinyl, etc. I think it may depend on what kind of machine you have and your project. A friend and I are about to make Chanel type jackets where you sew the lining to the fashion fabric using multiple parallel lines. A lot of people use walking feet to do this. Hopefully I won't need one.
ReplyDeleteLurve my walking foot. It's the one on the machine 99% of the time. I get nervous when sewing without it, honestly. It's especially useful for slippery or stretchy fabrics, and I'll bet you'll be making lots of knits for Baby in the near future. Mine came with my current machine, but I've bought them separately (for previous machines) for about $30, iirc.
ReplyDeleteMy next machine is going to be a Pfaff with the built-in walking foot that you can use *in conjunction* with things like zipper feet, etc.
Hang in there w/the baby! You'll have a big, fabulously healthy girl after all that time in utero! Don't forget that first-time babies are often late! LOL.
I just ordered one last night after fighting all weekend with a stretchy knit. I'll let you know how it turns out...
ReplyDeleteI can't help you with the walking foot question but everyone else seems to have great advise on that anyway.
ReplyDeleteHowever I have borrowed "the Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s from my local library before and it's absolutely beautiful. It's basically a catalogue full of pictures of sewing patterns of the time. Very inspiring. I'd recommend it.
I find my walking foot invaluable!
ReplyDeleteI try it anytime something doesn't behave, and it usually solves the problem. Most recently used it to sew pompon trim to curtains for the soon to be born little girl's room. For some reason I was having skipped stitches, and when all else failed to fix it (new needle, stitch length and tension adjustment, rethreading, ect), I pulled out my trusty walking foot and voilà! Problem solved. It's of course great for anything that slithers or sticks- like satin or minkee.
My Bernina is fine with knits and most slippery fabrics, but I bought a walking foot anyway for sewing leather, layers, and plastic coated material.
ReplyDeleteIt was awfully expensive, and I very seldom really need it, but when I did need it, it made all the difference to my projects.
I use my walking foot more than any other machine attachment. It's totally worth it! It's great for tricky fabrics, like charmeuse or knits. But I also use it to make sure other fabrics feed evenly - I never get to the end of the seam and find one side has shifted now! It's also great for sewing over thick seams - sometimes the regular foot on my Bernina will balk, so I just load on the walking foot and it sews through just about anything! It's great for anything that requires easing too, as it presses out the little bumps that form. Just don't forget and sew over gathers with it like I did - that doesn't work!
ReplyDeleteI had a little sticker shock when I purchased my waking foot, but I love using it. If I wasn't so concerned that I will wear it out and have to chunk over the cash again, I would use it pretty much all the time.
ReplyDeleteWow, it sounds like it's worth it... I will think about it but I'm definitely leaning towards! Especially because I love sewing with knits and tricky fabrics (I use my serger for a lot of that but some things need to be done on the conventional machine).
ReplyDeleteVikings are known for handling knits well without a walking foot, and I've found this to be true in my experience as well. I've sewn on Vikings for 15 years, so a fair bit of experience. I agree with the comment that machines vary in how well they feed.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I wished I had a walking foot is when I made a queen size quilt. I've made many smaller quilts without one. And for leather and vinyl, the teflon foot works great! I say save your money and buy more fabric!
Wow. I know what my next sewing accessory purchase will be...
ReplyDeleteI purchased one too, not for quilting as much as the slippery knits and tricot for bras and bathing suits.
ReplyDeleteThe walking foot attachment is great for all those things you mentioned, and I end up using mine far more often than I imagined I would - it is a GREAT addition to your sewing machine!
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, those books you mentioned are all awesome as well, and sometimes it just takes a little browsing through some great books to get some sewing inspiration!
YES. Behind my zipper foot, this is my most-used foot. I call it the "magic foot" because if a fabric isn't behaving, I put the walking foot on, and BAM! No more problems. I've got tons of sewing machine feet I never use, but this one I totally couldn't live without.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It keeps my knits from stretching out and feeding unevenly! I use it all the time!
ReplyDeleteYes. A very good investment - mine was $300 big ones and worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteI have one and I like it in a pinch, but I haven't used it since I learned about taut sewing. Here's a link here, just do a search in the doc for "taut sewing." http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelines/4_320_sewing_with_minkee_like_fabrics.pdf
ReplyDeleteI find I get better tension in general from my own hands than the walking foot. The walking foot is also really loud and super bulky, making it difficult to see what on earth is going on. It still works great on really awful knits, but I'd rather interface those anyhow.
I have a Pfaff with built-in walking foot and it's amazing! The only time I don't use it is when I'm easing one layer into the other. I just guide the fabric and the machine does the work, evenly :)
ReplyDeleteAre you able to try the walking foot at a sewing store? That way you could see how much of a difference it makes and whether you like using it.
Oh boy, this is more difficult than I thought. Summer, there is sadly no way I could try in person--my Viking dealer is a $50 car service ride (or a 1 1/2 hour subway/bus ride) away way out in Queens and I'm WAY too pregnant to waddle down into the subway, I'll just have to order and hope for the best!
ReplyDeleteI am leaning towards at the moment though!
I haven't found my walking foot has improved my sewing or my life yet, and the stupid thing cost over a hundred bucks.
ReplyDeleteBut the ruffler foot?! PRICELESS!!! I love it. Simply love it.
Bernina feet are ridiculously expensive, but I fantasize about a walking foot every now and then. Someday...
ReplyDeleteWalking feet seem to range wildly in price. The Viking one is $100 (there is a generic version available for $39, but I've heard it's not worth it). And I saw a comment above from someone where the foot was $300, yikes! That's nearly half of what I paid for my (used) machine in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI have a walking foot. I used it when attaching lining to curtains.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your space on the internet. I've just gone through your entire blog. You've sewn some really nice things, and you are gorgeous pregnant.
Congratulations on your first (almost here) baby and happy birthday.
Trudy
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
Mikhaela:
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about walking feet (although I was considering one, but chickened out at the cost commitment). I love your blog and sometimes comment, but I mostly wanted to say that I saw you and your fella last night in downtown Brooklyn around 7PM, and you were looking great! Looking forward to reading more of your sewing adventures
Oh how funny! Yes we were out yesterday, I managed to waddle to the Greek festival in Downtown Brooklyn for dinner.
ReplyDelete