Typing the title for today's post I'm thinking of Dr. Seuss' The Foot Book. We love Dr. Seuss here.
Anyway, I got a new foot for my quilting machine! I use a Brother PQ1500S, and the free-motion foot that came with it was weird. It was a metal oval with plastic in the middle that obstructed visibility. It also was connected to the machine in a way that sticks out to the side/back, making it difficult to use rulers at certain angles. These feet aren't designed for using longarm rulers--they aren't thick enough, but it can be done if you're really careful!
My new foot is the Juki foot, shown on the right. I wasn't sure if it would fit, but the Brother 1500 is very similar to the Juki TL series, so I hoped it would work. It does! It is much more sturdy and industrial-looking. It also sits lower on the machine, I had to reduce the presser foot pressure quite a bit. On the up side, visibility is much improved, and I think my machine actually makes nicer stitches, which I wasn't expecting at all. The shape is also more consistent, and will make using rulers much easier.
Something that I've been wanting to share for a while is this picture from a quick-reference guide that came with Darryl (my Brother). Yeah, most of us know that you push down the foot pedal to control the speed of the bobbin winder.
The part I think is really hilarious is the picture of the foot--wearing a slipper. It's not just any slipper either, this looks almost exactly like my husband's 95 year old grandmother's slippers. Is there such a stereotype that old ladies wearing slippers are the ones sewing? This just makes me laugh. I don't own slippers, but if I did, I doubt I would sew in them. I usually sew barefoot, or in socks if my toes get cold.
I've made a fair amount of progress this week, I just need to have a photo shoot and I'll get some of it posted. It's cloudy outside right now so I should go do that before the sun comes out!
Love the slippers!
ReplyDeleteI love the new hopping foot. Where did you get it? I'm still using the oval one--with some success, but the screw does get in the way. Nice tip, thanks. I laugh at the slipper foot too.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get the foot ?
DeleteHi Patti,
DeleteI think I got it at sewingmachinesplus.com, but it doesn't appear to be there anymore. Here's what they have in stock now--the high shank ones should work.
http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/juki-presser-feet.php
The foot I was using actually broke. I got a new one and it broke too! The welding just came apart. I went back to the old foot that came with my machine--I removed the plastic from the middle and had no problems with it after that. I ended up selling the machine for a larger longarm a few months later, so I hope it's working well for the new owner.
I wrote a little about the broken foot in this post:
http://thequiltingmill.blogspot.com/2012/09/broken-foot-legs-in-braces.html
This post made me laugh...thanks!! (And good luck with the new foot)
ReplyDeleteLeft foot right foot feet feet feet!
ReplyDeleteI remember Mom saying she didn't feel comfortable using the foot pedal without slippers on. (Something about the electricity?)