Can You Sew A Zigzag Stitch With A Walking Foot
Stitching has become everyone’s need today. Whether it is to mend torn clothes or to create something decorative, you would need stitching for different purposes. There are plenty of things that you need to learn regarding stitching in order to make your project successful—for instance, using the right stitching technique to make things easier. There’s no doubt in asserting that sewing machines have made the stitching process a lot easier.
It has automated the whole process enabling people to stitch with ease. When you stitch with a sewing machine, you would need to learn plenty of things. There are several elements on a sewing machine that needs to be adjusted correctly in order to make the stitch successful. Walking foot is one such important component that determines the accuracy of your stitching pattern. Beginners who have just started their sewing journey are often confused among the right stitches that can be done with a walking foot.
A walking foot is the sewing machine foot that holds the fabric for the stitching. It helps the needle to move under it, providing a definitive path to stitch. There are different stitches that can be used with a walking foot. In this article, you will learn whether a zigzag pattern can be made with a walking foot.
Can You Sew A Zigzag Stitch With A Walking Foot?
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Yes. People generally have a perception that walking foot is only used for straight stitching. But, it can be used for other stitches as well, like zigzag pattern. As the zigzag pattern has forward stitches, you can easily use a walking foot to sew it. There are many decorative patterns made with zigzag stitch with the help of a walking foot. You just need to find the right walking foot for a zigzag pattern.
How To Zigzag Quilt With Walking Foot?
The zigzag pattern is majorly used for decorating and quilting purposes. Though there are many applications of a zigzag pattern, primarily it is used for quilting. You can easily quilt with zigzag quilting using a walking foot on your sewing machine. It? is best known for its amazing pattern that gives an appealing look to the quilts. You can also find different zigzag patterns for the quilting.
What You Will Need For Quilting
- Walking Foot: If you regularly quilt using a zigzag pattern, it is important to use a walking foot. There are many brands that will provide you with an interchangeable walking foot as well.
- Sewing Machine With Zigzag Pattern: You will necessarily need a sewing machine that has a zigzag pattern. There are many machines that only have a straight stitch. Look out for ones that have zigzag and other stitches as well.
- Quilting Needles: If you don’t have a quilting needle, you can also use the normal needle in your sewing machine.
- Thread: Choose your thread wisely that will be ideal for quilting.
Step 1 – Baste Your Quilt
Initially, you need to baste your quilt and adjust the direction in which you want to quilt. Sew some basting stitches along the top edge of the quilt to get a start.
Step 2 – Zigzag Stitches
Set the zigzag stitch length according to your preference. Generally, a 3.0 length and 7.0 width are considered ideal for stitching.
Step 3 – Start Quilting
Start with the edge of the quilt and work it through the entire way through the other side. It is important to go slower in the beginning and then take up the pace. Start quilting and skip the alternate lines.
Step 4 – Repeat Your Quilting
When you have completed a line quilting, repeat it again and work on the lines that you have skipped earlier. Start over from the beginning and work it through the end.
With all these quick steps, you can easily quilt in zigzag patterns with a walking foot.
Common Problems Related to Zigzag Walking Foot Stitching/Quilting
It is not always showers and rainbows when you are using a zigzag pattern with a walking foot. There are some common problems as well that you might need to face. Here are a few problems that you might need to juggle with-:
Uneven Zigzag Quilting: It is important to understand that when you use zigzag quilting, it is not necessary that your patterns will be even every time. There might be instances where your stitches can go uneven and out of the track. It is completely normal to get uneven stitches; all you need to do is adjust your walking foot a bit and keep stitching.
Running Out Of Thread: ?This problem will occur every time you sit for stitching. There’s no perfect solution for this problem other than keeping all the supplies with you. When it happens in the middle of the quilting, make sure to start back from the middle of the line to complete the stitches.
Messy Backstitch: When you are backstitching your quilt, there can be a little mess with the threads. You need to play your backstitch well and make sure there are no excess threads coming out. Trim the excess thread earlier, before it starts creating loops on the fabric.
When To Use A Walking Foot?
Walking foot is used for different purposes at different times. It is important to understand when to use it optimally for your stitching benefits. Here are a few instances where you would definitely need a walking foot.
- Matching Stripes and Plaids: When you make plaids, there are chances your fabric might pucker. A walking foot will ensure that your fabric doesn’t shift unnecessarily.
- Straight Stitches: One of the common uses of the walking foot is to do straight stitches that requires forward stitching.
- Slipper Fabric: A walking foot is necessary while stitching slippery fabric as you would need a proper alignment while stitching.
- Quilting: Quilting requires intricate detailing and stronghold on the quilt, so you cannot possibly avoid the use of a walking foot. It will also help in keeping the layers together.
- Garments Creation: When you are creating garments/apparel, a walking foot will hold the fabric and ensure precision.
- Heavyweight Fabric: When you need to stitch heavyweight, it is essential to use a walking foot to get control over the fabric.
- Align The Seams: Seams need to be perfectly aligned with the fabric, and walking foot ensures that the fabric layers do not shift and move from the place.
When Not To Use A Walking Foot?
- Reverse Sewing: Never use a walking foot with a reverse stitch.
- Free Motion Stitching: Walking foot is never meant free motion.
- Some Decorative Stitches: When you use decorative stitches, do not use walking foot.
Related Questions
Can You Reverse Stitch With A Walking Foot?
It is essential to understand that the foot is made for forward stitches. All the stitching techniques that involve forward stitches can be done with foot. Reverse stitch is undoubtedly impossible with a walking foot. It would restrict the fabric from moving side to side. There are some decorative stitches that would need side to side stitches where the fabric will move. So, you cannot possibly use a walking foot to make a reverse stitch.
What is Zigzag Stitch Used For?
Zigzag is one of the decorative variants of lockstitch. It is basically a back and forth stitch that creates a decorative pattern. Ideally, it is used to join two fabrics together or stitch stretchable fabrics. Over the years, the applications of zigzag stitches have evolved, making it one of the popular decorative stitches. You would also see a zigzag pattern in embroidery stitches as well. It is one of the strongest stitches as well that will create a stronghold on the fabric with the help of a walking stitch.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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