Sewing machines came with various (usually 4-12) presser feet that differ in every model. The presser foot is utilized for most general sewing tasks like hemming, zippers, seaming, buttonholes, and more.
Many sewers utilize the presser feet in all their sewing work and not in any way pay attention to specialty presser feet, with a notion that there's no need for them.
Perhaps, they don't; however, there are 5 reasons to use specialty presser feet for your sewing projects.
For Better Sewing
Your skills will instantly be improved when using specialty presser feet.
For fans of Bernina sewing machines, like me, one example is the use of Edgestitch Foot #10/10C/10D. The Foot #10 which has a center blade that functions as a guide for edge stitching, topstitching, connecting pieces of fabric using a flat stitch, plus a lot more of techniques to use for all kinds of your sewing needs – from quilting, making a garment and home decor sewing.
More Creative in Sewing
At times, there are some techniques you are not capable of sewing if you don't have the aid of this specialty presser foot.
A technique called Couching wherein cords, fibers, and yarns is stitched on the fabric to add texture and color. It will be difficult or even impossible to hold the fiber to its place while you are stitching them down. The specialty presser feet can hold different kinds of cords in various ways – single narrow cords, narrow cords side-by-side for a flat couching, rounded cords, and so on.
To do this, you'll need a specialist couching foot. If you sew with Janome, this may be the foot for you:
More Precise Sewing
Precision is beneficial in nearly all sewing circumstances and absolutely essential in many cases.
In assembling a quilt block, the seam's allowance should be exactly 1/4” seams steadily all through the quilt. Without the 1/4″ foot, this is nearly impossible. The patchwork feet are designed to get by easily in guiding the fabric along with the edge of its foot, positions the 1/4″ needle at the edge of the fabric that results to 1/4” seams.
Less Frustration in Sewing
There are times that instead of having fun in sewing, it becomes frustrating.
Using the correct tools helps a lot to keep the process run smoothly. Nothing could be more frustrating other than being excited about creating a project like the Fabric and Leather Handbag but caught up without the right tools. There's no pleasure if the leather would not be allowed to slide smoothly beneath a smoot teflon presser foot.
Faster Sewing
Anyone can be fast in sewing, simply stepping on its pedal and repress while a fabric races beneath the needle.
Sewing fast without wavering accuracy is the key. You accomplished more in no time, which gives you plenty of opportunities to sew! An attachment like a Ruffler foot makes a fast work in creating tiny pleats that is evenly-spaced. Measuring, folding, pressing, and pinning them before starting to stitch is a slow and tedious process.
If you're using Singer, this may be the foot for you:
How To Get More Presser Feet Fast
A good way to build your collection of specialty presser feet it to buy an inexpensive kit with a large number of attachments. I've written an entire article on my experience called More Presser Feet Than You Will Ever Need.
Make sure to check out the free downloadable guide that is available in the article.
I have found this information extremely helpful in knowing how to use the variety of feet that I have, except one. It came with a Toyota Jeans machine but there are no instructions with the guide book.
how do you know what size to choose from the finished garment measurements for wide leg pants? if body measurement is hip 34″ do you then choose a size 12 or 14 so it is not too tight. What is the average extra needed for movement?
HI Allwyn, Chose the size by the high hips measurement, I would choose for you size 8 because I have the feeling you have a 7 to 10 inches difference between your hips and waist… Am I correct? The pants do not have a zipper so they need to sit snuggly on your waist but be able to go through your hips. Check my fabric suggestion you need the right fabric for these pants to work well. The best fabric is jacquard jersey. Let me know how you go, please.
I have the multitudinous presser foot kit, but I find them to be cheap, and not engineered with enough clearance (e.g. needle would break if the foot were in a bind in the least and I had the correct set for my machine). Another example the 1/4″ foot with the gate is very rickety and did not travel well over seam intersections. I ended up paying up and getting the Bernina foot (with the gate). It is all of the difference in the world. The gate is sturdy and it is built for all terrain sewing.
The right tool for the job extends to presser feet as you note. It helps ensure a less frustrating experience by speeding up work and increasing quality outcomes.
I learned the hard way that presser feet can be unique for certain machines. Bernina’s are obvious but I was surprised to learn that the problem I was having with my button holes on my Brother machine were because I was unaware that I was using my Elna button hole foot. Although they look practically the same the ELna foot is thicker than the Brother foot. As soon as I switched to the slimmer Brother foot my troubles were over. I’ve now labeled my feet so I can’t mix them up again.
I totally agree with your love of specialty feet, especially the Ruffler attachment. You should also try the Rolled Edge foot. That was a game changer before I bought a serger that also does a gorgeous rolled hem. Has anyone used a bias binder for sewing or serger/coverstitch? That has always been difficult to get it just right.
Great information about some of the feet for our sewing machines.
as a person who loves Bernina I will say there is a Bernina version for most, if not all, of the feet you mentioned. Although as a frugal person, I will say that in some cases buying a less expensive foot is good enough. If you have a Bernina there is an adapter that will let you use other feet.