How to Use a Walking Foot

1. 1

   Step 1: Get to Know the Parts of a Walking Foot

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   Hold the walking foot and look at it before you fit it. The white housing holds the top feed teeth, which you can see under the foot. The lever arm on the side rides on your needle clamp; every time the needle goes up and down, the arm moves those teeth. The bent metal bar in the box is the quilting guide. Every walking foot looks a little different, so check your manual.

   Tip:

   Keep the guide bar with the foot. It is easy to lose and handy later.

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   Used in this stepBrother walking foot with quilting guide

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2. 2

   Step 2: Remove the Regular Presser Foot and Holder

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   Raise the needle to its highest position and lift the presser foot lever. A walking foot replaces the whole foot holder, not only the snap-on foot. Take your screwdriver and loosen the screw on the side of the presser bar to remove the holder. Ashley keeps the holder and screw together so neither goes missing, since that is the foot she uses most.

   Tip:

   Turn the machine off before changing feet so it cannot start by accident.

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3. 3

   Step 3: Line Up the Walking Foot Under the Presser Bar

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   Bring the walking foot in under the needle. The slot on the foot goes around the presser bar screw, and the arm needs to sit over the needle clamp. It is a little fiddly. Loosen the presser bar screw a bit more if you need room. Ashley calls this the finicky part, so take your time rather than forcing it.

   Tip:

   Lower the feed dogs or lay a scrap of paper on the plate so small parts cannot drop in.

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   Used in this stepBrother walking foot with quilting guide

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4. 4

   Step 4: Hook the Walking Foot Arm Over the Needle Clamp

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   Lift the lever arm and slide the foot onto the presser bar at the same time, so the arm straddles the needle clamp screw. The needle clamp moves up and down with the needle; that motion is what drives the top feed dogs. If the arm is not on the clamp, the foot will not walk. Check both points before you tighten.

   Tip:

   Look at the machine from the side. It is easier to see the arm and clamp line up.

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   Used in this stepBrother walking foot with quilting guide

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5. 5

   Step 5: Tighten the Walking Foot Shank Screw

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   Hold the walking foot in place and tighten the presser bar screw with your screwdriver. Lower the presser foot and give the screw another small turn so it is snug. A loose screw lets the foot wobble, and the needle could strike it. Turn the handwheel toward you once to make sure the needle passes cleanly through the opening.

   Tip:

   Always test with the handwheel first, never the foot pedal.

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   Used in this stepsewing machine screwdriver set

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6. 6

   Step 6: Check the Installed Walking Foot

   Watch this step · 3:42

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   Lower the foot onto the needle plate and look underneath. You should see the walking foot's own teeth sitting over the machine's feed dogs. Now you have two sets pulling the fabric together. Lift the presser foot a little higher than usual when you slide fabric under, because those top teeth can catch the edge.

   Tip:

   Many machines have an extra-high lift position on the presser foot lever. Use it here.

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   Used in this stepBrother CS7000X sewing machine

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7. 7

   Step 7: Sew Quilt Layers With the Walking Foot

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   Ashley tests it on a small quilt sandwich: a top, batting and backing held with safety pins. Slide it under the raised foot, lower the foot and start sewing at a steady speed. Watch the top teeth move with the needle. Even with pins, layers can shift under a regular foot. With a walking foot they stay together.

   Tip:

   The foot is a little noisy and may squeak. That is normal.

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   Used in this stepcurved safety pins for quilt bastingWarm and Natural cotton battingGutermann sew-all thread

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8. 8

   Step 8: Attach the Walking Foot Quilting Guide Bar

   Watch this step · 6:30

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   The guide bar slides into a hole at the back of the walking foot, on either side. Push it in and set the bent tip at the distance you want between quilting lines. For lines one inch apart, measure one inch from the needle to the tip of the guide. Tighten it if your foot has a set screw.

   Tip:

   Measure from the needle, not the edge of the foot, so the spacing is true.

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9. 9

   Step 9: Sew Parallel Lines Along the Walking Foot Guide

   Watch this step · 7:04

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   Move the fabric over until the tip of the guide bar sits on your first stitched line. Sew, keeping the guide on that line the whole way. Keep your eyes on the guide, not the needle. Each new line follows the one before, so you can cover a whole quilt in evenly spaced rows with no marking at all.

   Tip:

   Keep your hands flat beside the foot. Guide the fabric; do not push it.

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   Used in this stepGutermann sew-all thread

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10. 10

    Step 10: Check the Evenly Spaced Walking Foot Quilting Lines

    Watch this step · 7:36

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    Lift the foot, pull the fabric out and look at your lines. They should run parallel, with the same gap from top to bottom. Ashley shows two lines that match. Snip the threads with small scissors, or bury the tails between the layers with a needle so they cannot work loose on a finished quilt.

    Tip:

    Burying thread tails takes a minute and keeps lines from unravelling in the wash.

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Keep going

How to Make a Quilt Backing

10 steps · about 17 minutes

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