Free Motion Quilting: My feed dogs don't drop

by Louise Sutara
(Annandale, Va)

My feed dogs do not drop.

What can you do to do free motion quilting without dropping the feed dogs?

Reply

If there isn't a lever or button to drop the feed dogs and your machine is an older machine, there may be a cover for them. You'll need to check your sewing machine's instruction manual. If you've got one, it should be in your accessories box or case.

Machine Set Up for Free Motion Quilting

When you set up for free motion quilting, you lower or cover the feed dogs so that they are out of the way. They aren't needed because YOU are in total control of moving the quilt sandwich under the needle of the machine. You create the stitch length by how fast or slow you run the machine and move the quilt.

With the feed dogs lowered there is more room to move the fabric under the needle. When your machine is property set up for free motion quilting, you will be able to move the sandwich freely under the quilting foot when it is in the down position.

In all honesty...

...many quilters quilt with the feed dogs up...kind of like mental training wheels...when they first start free motion quilting. I did it, too, when I first started, though I don't anymore.

Your feed dogs work to pull the quilt straight through the sewing machine. No problem when you are moving your quilt forward through the machine.

Now when you quilt from side to side or backwards, those same feed dogs are working against you. But if there's plenty of room to freely move the quilt, you won't notice it very much. Set your stitch length to zero and the feed dogs won't move at all.

So if, with your darning foot/quilting foot installed, you can still move the fabric, then you're good to go to get started free motion quilting.

If you can't move it with the presser for down, check your manual to see if there's a setting for 'darning'. On my Singer from the late 1950's the manual has a set up for darning and not free motion quilting, though the use is the same.

If all else fails...

...you may want to try a spring needle (pictured to the right).

It's exactly what it says, a needle enclosed in a spring. It's pricier than a regular needle and comes in packs of 1.

Schmetz makes one, but again, check your manual to see that your machine uses a Schmetz needle. Otherwise do a Google search that includes your brand of sewing machine and the words 'spring needle' as most stores don't seem to carry these needles.

The spring takes the place of the presser foot which gives you more space to move the quilt. Just be careful. There's only a tiny spring between your hands and the moving needle. Sewers use this needle for free motion machine embroidery.

I hope this information helps you get started with free motion quilting. It's so much fun to do!

Readers, if you've had this same problem, what did you do to solve it? Just use the 'Comments' link below to share your suggestions. Thank you!

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com