6 Sewing Feet to Make Your Quilting Neat

Quilting is not just a hobby, it's also an art-form. As with any artistic outlet, using the right gadgets can make the difference between a doodle and a masterpiece.

It's easy to think that you need an expensive, full-on bells and whistles machine to create quality quilts that will win prizes. You don't! Any sewing machine is capable of producing highly professional, accurate quilts that will last a lifetime.

All you need, is imagination, creativity and the right feet.

The Darning Foot

Also known as the Embroidery Foot or the Free Motion Quilting Foot (FMQ), the darning foot has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a foot for darning your socks. It is the go-to foot for any avid Free Motion quilter. Lower those feed dogs and put the movement of your fabric in your own hands. Literally. You are in control. Whether its forwards, backwards, sideways or in a circle, the stitching will follow wherever you guide the fabric.

The Standard Foot & The Applique Foot

Both of these feet do the same job, pretty much. They can both be used for straight stitch or zig-zag and are interchangeable. It doesn't really matter which one you use as the main difference is the size. The standard is the larger of the two. A little black button on the back keeps the foot flat when going over bumpy seams. Being shorter, the applique foot, can go round circles or shapes easier making it an ideal choice for stitching on appliques.

The Binding Foot

Adding a binding to a quilt can put you in a bind. Whether you stitch the front on first or the back, there is always a chance that one side will be missed, leaving gaping holes to go back to. The binding foot can help eliminate those issues. By feeding the binding through the foot, it sews both sides down – at the same time. Saving time and frustration, this foot is a little gem!

The Walking Foot

Sewing machines pull the fabric under the needle using feed dogs, those strange little bumpy things that live under your presser foot. Unfortunately, they only move the bottom layer. Sometimes, particularly with slippery, stretchy or bulky items, this can lead to the top layer getting left behind. Not pretty. Especially when quilting. It causes uneven seams and puckering.

The walking foot has its own feed dogs that move the top layer of fabric so both layers go under the needle at the same time. A must have tool for every quilter's sewing space, this simple little foot has revolutionized quilting!

The 1/4 inch Foot

Although sewing machines have guides to help you keep to seam allowances, it's easy to go off course. The fabric can move a little, covering the guide. This makes it tricky to keep stitching in a straight line. The handy 1/4 inch foot eliminates those wonky seams and keeps your points sharp. The foot is ¼ inch wide. So now, with your guide on top of your fabric, straight lines are effortless.

The Zipper Foot

Mainly used for the addition of zippers and piping, the zipper foot can also help with top stitching and stitching in the ditch. The ditch is the seam line between the edge of a quilt block and the borders or the binding. The zipper foot can help you position the needle right where it needs to be and to stay on course. Although there are other feet that can help with this, the zipper foot is the one I use.

The Quilter's Foot

Without a doubt, this is the most important foot of all – the quilter's foot! Although this one doesn't have to be an actual foot, it could be a push button or even a knee lift. The point is, without the imagination, creativity and skill of the quilter guiding the machine and its feet, quilts would not exist.

So with just a few simple feet, a standard sewing machine and you – you're just a stitch length away from the quilt of your dreams.