- May 26, 2021 - Explore Susan Hubbard's board 'Pfaff tutorials', followed by 192 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about pfaff, pfaff sewing machine, sewing machine.
- Pfaff ITD by: Laura I have a QE 4.2 and don't like the results I get when machine quilting. The ITD is supposed to act the same as a walking foot, but it's not as good as the Bernina I used for 21 years-I went through 4 walking feet over that time but got great results.
- Only thing is that I’ve been through 3 ‘darning’ feet in the last 2 years with free motion quilting. The foot has a metal spring, like the Pfaff plastic one, which tends to lose it’s springiness and break – OK I know that it’s old now but I still love the machine.
- How To Install Pfaff Open Toe Free Motion Foot
- Pfaff Free Motion Feet
- Pfaff Free Motion Ruler Foot
- How To Install Pfaff Motion Free Quilt Foot
- Pfaff Free Motion Darning Foot
- Make sure the needle is at its highest position.
- Attach the Darning Foot: with your thumb and finger, squeezing the front and back of the foot together. Insert the pin of the Darning Foot as far as it will go into the hole at the back of the presser foot holder.
- The “C-shaped” Guide should be positioned around the presser bar. The long arm must be behind the needle clamp. Tighten the screw.
- Lower the feed dogs.
- If you like, you can hoop the project in a round embroidery hoop for more stability.
- Select a straight stitch and activate the free-motion function, or put the presser foot in the darning/free-motion position.
- Pull up the bobbin thread and sew a few stitches to secure. Clip the thread ends close to the project and continue sewing.
TIP: Remember, when sewing with the feed dogs lowered, the stitch length is determined by
How to attach the FMQ Free Motion Quilting foot to the Pfaff Quiltstyle 2042 machine.Use a straight stitch throat plate, set stitch length to zero and set fo.
you. An even, medium-to-fast sewing speed will allow you to sew a more consistent length
of straight stitch. Sewing too slowly may cause small knots to appear on the reverse side of your work.
..for Free Motion Quilting
This post contains affiliate links for which I receive compensation.
The darning foot (aka quilting foot) is a MUST for free motion quilting.
You may find it called a..
- Free motion foot
- Free motion quilting foot
- Hopping foot, or a..
- Big Foot
There are others, but these are the most common names.
Choose the Best One for You
If you are in the market to purchase a new foot look for one with an open toe and an offset shank.
One that it is engineered specifically for your machine, if possible.
Generic darning feet are available for older models, but you really get the best results with a foot made for your particular machine.
Not sure which to get?
Check with your sewing machine dealer for the correct version for your make and model of sewing machine.
Open Toe
The open toe darning foot helps you free motion quilt a marked design.
Nothing is between your eyes, the marked line and the needle.
Pulling the bobbin thread to the top of your quilt sandwich is easier with the open toe. Getting the thread tail out of the center of the foot is not a struggle
Off-Set Shank
This type of shank provides an open view of the quilt directly behind the needle bar. Truly wonderful regardless of whether you're stitching free motion background fills or marked designs.
Let's Get Setup for Quilting
Find the instructions that came with your foot.
Otherwise follow these general instructions for installation.
Step 1: Install the foot
How To Install Pfaff Open Toe Free Motion Foot
The darning foot has an ‘arm’ that rides on top of the needle screw to produce a 'hopping' movement while you are stitching. The foot moves with the needle.
Try it for yourself. Put a practice quilt sandwich under the presser foot. Put the presser foot down. Use the hand wheel on the right side of your machine to walk through an entire stitch. If the needle is up, the foot is up. Needle down, foot is down.
While you're at your machine take note of one other crucial fact. When the quilt sandwich is under the presser foot and the presser foot is down, you must be able to move the sandwich under the foot.
If it doesn't slide freely, reduce the pressure on the presser foot until it does move. Until it moves, you will be unable to free motion quilt.
Refer to your instruction manual for specifics and suggested presser foot pressure settings.
Step 2: Change Throat Plate
Single or Straight Stitch Throat Plate
Arrow points to the needle hole
Arrow points to the needle hole
Check your sewing machine accessories to see if you have a single or straight stitch throat plate.
My newest machine, a Juki DX-2000-QVP has a throatplate that will the slide of a button transforms from a standard plate to a straight stitch one. Pretty slick!
Pfaff Free Motion Feet
This throatplate is especially helpful for really fine, heirloom-type free motion quilting.
It has a single, small, round hole for the needle to pass through.
Your quilt sandwich cannot be pushed into this hole during stitching The result is less puckering in your quilting stitches.
Install it now if you'll be using it. Remember to only use a straight stitch in the center needle position with it. Otherwise you'll be breaking needles.
Step 3: Drop Your Feed Dogs
With free motion quilting, YOU are in control of the stitch speed and stitch length.
Because the feed dogs don't make contact with the darning foot, they do absolutely nothing to physically help you make and control your stitches.
If you leave them up, you may feel a 'drag' on your quilt.
Want to prove it to yourself?
Go ahead and..
- Turn off your sewing machine.
- Start with the feed dogs up or uncovered.
- Then remove the needle, you don't want to sew through your finger.
- Next remove the throat plate.
- Put your index finger on the feed dogs.
- With your finger in place hand walk (DO NOT USE THE FOOT CONTROL) through a couple of stitches with the hand wheel.
Could you feel them moving?
The feed dogs are there to move the quilt sandwich through the sewing machine in one direction.
You free motion quilt in all directions.
What does that mean?
In all but one direction of quilting (through the machine) the feed dogs, if left up, will actually be working against you.
Now remember to re-insert the needle and the throatplate.
The Mental Part
I confess!
When I first started machine quilting, once in awhile, I would leave the feed dogs up for free motion quilting.
Did it really make a difference?
Mentally, I believe it did. I don't know if it was the sound of the feed dogs moving, or just knowing that they were there, but the honest truth is that I felt more confident with the them up.
If it helps you to gain confidence in your abilities, go for it. A confident quilter is a good quilter! A quilter who will practice and become even MORE confident.
Time passes and I practice.
Now that I am a more confident quilter, I do not leave them up..ever! Now, they're just in the way!
Pfaff Free Motion Ruler Foot
Step 4: Set Stitch Length
What? Didn't we just say that YOU control of the stitch length?
Yes, but..
How To Install Pfaff Motion Free Quilt Foot
Set your stitch length to '0'. This saves a bit of wear and tear on your sewing machine because your feed dogs won't move at all during stitching.
Pfaff Free Motion Darning Foot
And finally..
Check that the quilt sandwich moves freely under your presser foot when the foot is down. Make adjustments as directed by your sewing machine manual.
As you progress in your free motion quilting, you find darning feet are just like potato chips..you can't have just one. As new models are available, try them out!
This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com