Want to sew fabric layers without them slipping? Need to stop your fabric from bunching up as you stitch? Looking for perfect stitches on thick or tricky materials? A walking foot is a sewing machine attachment that can help with all of this. It acts like a second set of feed dogs on top, gripping the fabric from above while your machine’s feed dogs pull it from below. This keeps the layers moving together evenly. This article will show you how to use this helpful tool to get great results on many sewing projects.
Image Source: sewcanshe.com
What is a Walking Foot? (Also Called an Even Feed Foot)
A walking foot is a special part you can add to your sewing machine. People also call it an even feed foot.
A regular sewing machine foot just holds your fabric down. The machine’s feed dogs, which are little teeth under the fabric, pull the fabric along.
But when you sew more than one layer, or sew on fabric that is slippery or thick, the layers might not move together. The bottom layer gets pulled by the feed dogs, but the top layer can lag behind. This causes the fabric to shift, pucker, or mismatch, especially if you are doing matching plaids sewing or sewing multiple layers.
A walking foot has its own set of teeth or grips that move up and down with the needle. As the needle goes down into the fabric, the walking foot grips the top layer and moves it forward at the same time as the feed dogs move the bottom layer. This “walking” action feeds all layers through your machine evenly. This is why it is called an even feed foot.
Why Use a Walking Foot?
Using a walking foot solves many common sewing problems. It helps you sew many kinds of fabric and projects more easily and with better results.
Here are some main reasons you might need one:
Sewing Multiple Layers Easily
This is one of the best things a walking foot does. When you sew quilts, bags, or thick clothes, you often have two, three, or even more layers of fabric and batting or lining. A standard foot struggles with this. The walking foot keeps all those layers moving together smoothly. This stops bunching and makes sure your seams line up nicely.
Preventing Fabric Puckering
Puckering happens when fabric gathers or wrinkles as you sew. This often happens when one layer of fabric feeds faster or slower than another. It also happens on slippery fabrics or when stitching thick seams. Because the walking foot moves the top layer at the same pace as the bottom, it greatly reduces or stops puckering. Your stitches lie flat and smooth.
Stitching Thick Seams
Sewing over bumps like where several seams meet can be hard. A regular foot might tilt or get stuck. A walking foot can handle these thicker spots better. Its design helps it step over bumps, keeping your stitch length even and preventing skipped stitches or broken needles.
Sewing Slippery Fabrics
Fabrics like silk, satin, rayon, or lining material love to slide around. They are hard to control with a standard foot. A walking foot grips these tricky fabrics from the top. This extra grip helps feed the slippery material through the machine evenly. You get straight seams without the fabric wiggling away.
Matching Plaids Sewing and Stripes
Matching patterns like plaids or stripes across seams can be tricky. If the fabric layers shift even a little bit, your patterns won’t match. The even feeding action of a walking foot helps keep your fabric layers aligned as you sew. This makes it much easier to match those tricky patterns perfectly at the seams.
Binding with a Walking Foot
Adding binding to a quilt or garment involves sewing multiple layers right at the edge. This can be hard to keep straight and even. A walking foot is perfect for attaching binding. It helps feed the binding and the project layers through the machine smoothly. This gives you a clean, professional finish on your binding. Some walking feet even come with binding guides.
Quilting Foot Uses
While free-motion quilting uses a different foot, straight-line quilting or sewing rows of stitches needs an even feed. The walking foot is the standard quilting foot for these jobs. It helps keep your stitch length consistent across the quilt layers and prevents them from shifting or stretching.
Helpful Sewing Machine Attachment
Think of the walking foot as a problem solver in your box of sewing machine attachments. It’s not for every single job, but when you face the challenges listed above, it’s the tool you need to get perfect stitches and avoid frustration.
Choosing Your Walking Foot
Walking feet are popular sewing machine attachments. But you need the right one for your machine.
Different Machines, Different Feet
Sewing machines vary in design. The main differences for a walking foot are:
- Shank Type: This is the part of your machine the foot attaches to. Most home sewing machines are either high shank or low shank. Some have slanted shanks. Your walking foot must match your machine’s shank type.
- Machine Brand: Even with the same shank type, the bar the foot attaches to can be different sizes or shapes. It is best to buy a walking foot made for your specific machine brand and model. Or buy a good quality generic one designed to fit many models of a certain shank type.
How to Find Your Shank Type
- Check your machine manual: It should say if your machine is low shank, high shank, or slanted shank.
- Measure it: Put a ruler under the needle bar (the part the needle goes into) with the presser foot down in the normal sewing position. Measure the distance from the bottom of the foot to the screw that holds the foot on.
- Low shank: About 1/2 inch (13 mm)
- High shank: About 1 inch (25 mm)
- Slanted shank: These are less common now, mostly on older Singer machines. The shank is at an angle.
Always check that the walking foot you buy is listed as fitting your exact machine model if possible. This gives you the best chance of it working correctly.
Extra Features
Some walking feet come with extra guides:
- Quilting Guide: A metal bar you can put into a hole on the foot. It helps you sew lines a set distance apart, good for straight-line quilting.
- Binding Guide: A guide that helps you fold and feed binding evenly onto the edge of your project.
Think about what you will use the foot for when you buy one.
Installing Your Walking Foot
Installing walking foot is a simple process. It takes only a minute or two.
Here are the steps:
- Turn Off Your Machine: Safety first! Always turn off your sewing machine before changing the foot.
- Raise the Presser Foot Lever: Lift the lever that raises your normal sewing foot.
- Remove the Current Foot:
- On most modern machines, there is a button or lever at the back of the ankle (the metal part the foot snaps onto) that you press to release the foot.
- On older machines, you might need a small screwdriver to loosen a screw holding the foot on.
- Once the foot is loose, take it off.
- Remove the Presser Foot Ankle (Sometimes Needed): Some walking feet replace the whole ankle. If your walking foot has a big metal arm that goes over the needle bar screw, you will likely need to remove the ankle first. There is usually a screw holding the ankle onto the machine’s presser bar. Unscrew it and take the ankle off. Keep this screw and ankle safe!
- Position the Walking Foot: Place the walking foot under the presser bar. Make sure the arm on top of the walking foot (it looks like a U or C shape) goes over the needle bar screw. This arm is what makes the walking foot move, so it must be on top of the needle bar screw.
- Lower the Presser Foot Lever: Lower the lever. This brings the presser bar down and helps line up the walking foot.
- Attach the Walking Foot:
- If your walking foot snaps on, line it up and lower the presser bar until it clicks into place.
- If your walking foot screws on (usually replacing the ankle), line up the hole on the foot/ankle with the hole on the presser bar. Put the screw back in and tighten it. Make sure the arm on the walking foot is still over the needle bar screw as you tighten it.
- Check It Moves: Gently turn the handwheel on your machine towards you (the direction you normally sew). Watch the walking foot. The front part of the foot should “walk” or move slightly back and forth as the needle goes up and down. The arm on top should move with the needle bar screw. If it doesn’t move, check that the arm is correctly placed over the needle bar screw.
- Turn On Your Machine: You are ready to sew!
Installing walking foot is pretty quick once you’ve done it a couple of times. Just remember to turn off the machine first.
How to Use Your Walking Foot Well
Using your walking foot is similar to using a regular foot, but keep these tips in mind for best results:
Machine Settings
- Stitch Length: Do not use very short stitches. Walking feet work best with a normal stitch length (around 2.5 to 3 mm). If the stitches are too short, the walking action can make tiny tucks or puckers.
- Stitch Type: A walking foot is great for straight stitches. You can use it for some zig-zag stitches, but check your machine manual and the foot’s guide first. Some walking feet are only for straight stitches.
- Tension: Your thread tension usually stays the same as for regular sewing. However, if you see loops on the top or bottom, you might need to adjust tension slightly. Test on scrap fabric first.
- Needle: Use the right needle for your fabric layers. For quilting or thick seams, you might need a sturdier needle like a denim or topstitching needle.
Guiding the Fabric
- Let the Foot Do the Work: The most important rule with a walking foot is do not push or pull the fabric. The walking foot and the feed dogs are doing the work of moving the fabric evenly. If you push or pull, you fight against the even feed and can cause stretching, shifting, or even break your needle.
- Gentle Guide: Just gently guide the fabric to keep your seam straight. Keep your hands lightly on the fabric to keep it flat, but do not force it through.
- Use Guides if Needed: If your foot came with a quilting guide, use it to keep your lines straight and evenly spaced.
Applying the Walking Foot to Projects
Let’s look at how the walking foot helps with specific tasks we talked about:
Quilting Foot Use (Straight Lines)
A walking foot is essential for straight-line quilting or sewing in the ditch (stitching right along a seam line).
- Lay your quilt sandwich flat (backing, batting, top).
- Start stitching from the middle of the quilt and work your way out. This helps push any fullness towards the edges.
- Use a quilting guide to sew lines parallel to your first line.
- Sew at a steady speed.
The walking foot keeps the three layers moving together, stopping creases or tucks on the back of your quilt.
Sewing Multiple Layers (Bags, Garments)
Making a tote bag often means sewing through layers of outer fabric, interfacing, lining, and maybe straps.
- Pin your layers together well before sewing.
- The walking foot will easily feed through these thicker sections.
- It is great for sewing on pockets through several layers or attaching handles.
Using a walking foot makes sewing these layered projects much smoother and gives a better finish.
Preventing Fabric Puckering & Sewing Slippery Fabrics
Working with fabrics like chiffon, satin, or even knit fabrics can cause puckering or stretching.
- Use fine pins or clips to hold slippery fabrics.
- Start sewing slowly.
- The walking foot’s even grip from the top helps keep the fabric flat and moving evenly. This is key for preventing fabric puckering on delicate or slinky materials.
- Try putting tissue paper under very fine or stretchy fabrics, then tear it away after sewing. The walking foot handles sewing through the tissue paper too.
Stitching Thick Seams
When sewing clothes or bags, you often have to sew over places where seams cross, making a thick bump.
- Sew slowly as you approach a thick seam.
- The walking foot will “walk” right over the bump. Sometimes you might need to help it slightly by lifting the back of the foot just a tiny bit as it goes over, or using a “hump jumper” tool (a small plastic tool that levels the foot).
- Do not force it. Let the foot walk smoothly.
- Using a heavy-duty needle helps prevent breaking when stitching thick seams.
Matching Plaids Sewing
To make plaids meet perfectly at a seam, you need the fabric edges to stay exactly aligned as they feed under the foot.
- Carefully pin your plaid pieces together, making sure the lines match up at the seam line.
- Sew with the walking foot. The even feed helps prevent the top layer from shifting ahead of the bottom layer. This keeps your carefully matched plaids aligned as you stitch.
- Sewing slowly helps keep things precise.
Binding with Walking Foot
Attaching binding requires sewing through several layers right at the edge.
- Press your binding strip correctly.
- Line up the raw edge of the binding with the raw edge of your project.
- Use clips or pins to hold it.
- Sew with the walking foot, keeping your seam allowance steady.
- The walking foot helps feed the binding and the project layers together without stretching the edges. This gives a neat, even binding line.
Using the walking foot for binding gives a much cleaner look compared to a regular foot, especially on quilts or thick edges.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with a walking foot, you might have small problems. Here are some fixes:
| Problem | Possible Cause | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric is still puckering. | Stitch length too short. | Increase stitch length (try 2.5-3 mm or longer). |
| You are pulling/pushing fabric. | Let the foot feed the fabric. Guide gently only. | |
| Tension is off. | Test tension on scrap fabric and adjust if needed. | |
| Walking foot is not moving. | Arm not over needle bar screw. | Turn off machine. Reinstall foot, making sure the arm sits on top of the needle bar screw. |
| Foot is not installed correctly. | Turn off machine. Remove and re-install the foot carefully. | |
| Fabric won’t feed at all. | Feed dogs are lowered. | Raise your machine’s feed dogs (check your manual). |
| Stitch length is set to 0. | Set stitch length to a normal setting. | |
| Stitches are uneven. | Going over very thick spots too fast. | Sew slower over bumps. Use a “hump jumper” or carefully lift the back of foot slightly. |
| Needle keeps breaking. | Wrong needle size for fabric. | Use a stronger needle (e.g., denim, topstitching) for thick layers. |
| You are pulling fabric. | Do not pull fabric. Let the foot feed it. | |
| Fabric shifts slightly anyway. | Very thick or very slippery layers. | Pin/clip more often. Sew slower. Test different stitch lengths. |
| Foot might not be right for machine. | Check foot compatibility. A poor fit can affect performance. |
Most issues come from fighting the foot or using the wrong settings. Remember: Let the walking foot do the work!
Caring for Your Walking Foot
Like any sewing machine attachment, taking care of your walking foot helps it last longer and work better.
- Clean It: Lint and thread bits can get stuck in the moving parts. Use a small brush to clean around the foot regularly.
- Store It: Keep it in its case or a safe box when not using it. This stops it from getting damaged.
- Check Screws: If any screws seem loose, gently tighten them. But do not overtighten.
- Oil (If Needed): Some older or industrial walking feet might need a tiny drop of oil on certain points. Check your foot’s instructions. Most modern home machine walking feet are sealed and do not need oiling.
Treat your walking foot well, and it will help you get perfect stitches for a long time.
Walking Foot vs. Standard Foot
Here is a quick look at how the walking foot is different from the standard presser foot that comes with your machine.
| Feature | Standard Presser Foot | Walking Foot (Even Feed Foot) |
|---|---|---|
| How it Moves | Holds fabric down. Stays put. | Grips top layer & moves with feed dogs. |
| Fabric Feeding | Relies only on bottom feed dogs. | Feeds top and bottom layers together. |
| Best For | Single layers, light fabrics. | Multiple layers, thick, slippery, stretchy fabric. |
| Common Uses | General sewing, straight seams. | Quilting, bags, binding, slippery fabric, matching patterns. |
| Prevents | Less help with shifting/pucker. | Stops layers from shifting & puckering. |
| Handles Bumps | Can struggle with thick spots. | Steps over thick seams more easily. |
| Appearance | Usually solid metal or plastic. | Bigger, has moving parts on top, often a metal arm. |
The walking foot is a special tool. It is not needed for every seam, but it is the right tool when you need even feeding and control over multiple or difficult fabric types.
Making the Most of Your Walking Foot
To get the very best out of your walking foot:
- Practice: Like any new tool, try it out on scrap fabric first. Use the same number of layers you plan for your project. See how the foot moves and how the fabric feeds.
- Be Patient: Sewing thick or slippery fabrics can still be slow work. Go at a steady, unhurried pace.
- Use Pins or Clips: Even with the walking foot, pins or fabric clips help keep your layers aligned before they reach the foot. Remove them as you sew.
- Test Stitching: Always sew a sample on scrap fabric before sewing your project. This lets you check stitch length, tension, and how the layers are feeding.
Adding a walking foot to your collection of sewing machine attachments opens up many new project possibilities and improves the results on challenging tasks. It makes sewing multiple layers simple and helps you achieve smooth, flat seams every time, preventing fabric puckering and making tricky jobs like matching plaids sewing or binding with walking foot much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Walking Feet
Here are answers to some common questions about using a walking foot.
h4 Is a walking foot necessary for quilting?
It is necessary for straight-line quilting and sewing the layers of a quilt sandwich together before quilting. For free-motion quilting, you need a different foot that lets you move the fabric freely in any direction. But for stitching straight lines or sewing the binding on, a walking foot, or quilting foot as it is often called in this context, is very helpful.
h4 Can I use a walking foot for zig-zag stitches?
Maybe. Some walking feet are made to handle zig-zag stitches, while others are only for straight stitches. Check the instructions that came with your walking foot. If you try a zig-zag stitch with a straight-stitch-only foot, you could break your needle or damage the foot.
h4 Does a walking foot work on all sewing machines?
No. You need a walking foot that fits your machine’s shank type (low shank, high shank, or slanted) and often its specific brand and model. A foot made for a low shank machine will not fit a high shank machine, and vice versa. Always check compatibility before buying.
h4 Why is my fabric still shifting even with a walking foot?
Several things could cause this. Make sure the foot is installed right and the arm is over the needle bar screw so it is actually “walking.” Check your stitch length is not too short. Make sure you are not pulling or pushing the fabric. For very slippery or thick layers, you might still need more pins or clips, or need to sew slower.
h4 Can I sew backward with a walking foot?
Yes, you can sew backward with a walking foot. This is useful for securing the beginning and end of your seams, just like with a regular foot.
h4 Is an even feed foot the same as a walking foot?
Yes, an even feed foot is just another name for a walking foot. They both mean the same type of sewing machine attachment that helps feed multiple layers of fabric evenly.
h4 Can I use a walking foot for binding?
Yes, using a walking foot for binding is very common and works well. It helps feed the binding strip and the project edge together smoothly, which is important when binding with walking foot, especially on quilts or thick projects.
h4 Do I need special bobbins or thread for a walking foot?
No, you use the same bobbins and thread as you normally would for your machine and fabric. The walking foot changes how the fabric feeds, not the stitching itself in terms of thread handling.
h4 How do I know if my machine is low shank or high shank?
Measure the distance from the screw that holds the foot to the needle plate when the foot is down. About 1/2 inch is low shank. About 1 inch is high shank. Your machine manual will also tell you.
h4 How long does a walking foot last?
With good care, a walking foot can last for many years. Cleaning it regularly and storing it safely helps keep the moving parts working well.
By understanding what a walking foot does and how to use it, you can improve the look of your sewing projects and tackle jobs you might have found frustrating before. It truly is a tool that helps you get perfect stitches on challenging fabrics and multiple layers.