Feed Dogs up or down??
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 2
Feed Dogs up or down??
I've always dropped the feed dogs when FMQ, but today I listened to a well known quilter and she does not drop the feed dogs. She also recommends using the Supreme Slider, so if feed dogs are up wouldn't that chew into the slider? What about feed dogs up and stitch length very low?
#2
I leave my feed dogs up and set the stitch length at 0. I have a Janome and it will not make a good stitch at any length if the dogs are down. With the stitch set at 0 the feed dogs don't move a lot and I get a good solid stitch. I also have a slider and the feed dogs haven't done any damage that I have noticed, but then I don't use it all the time.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 990
I do recall seeing Leah Day make that recommendation. Her claim was that she thought it made a difference in thread tensions.
I've tried it and found it made no difference on my machine, and that the feed dogs up did damage the slider. I see no reason to leave them up since their purpose is to move the fabric and they have nothing to do with thread tension. They just get in the way when FMQ.
Even with the feed dogs down, I use a slider (actually, a $10 oven liner rather than the pricey Supreme Slider). I tape it down with painters' tape and it definitely helps reduce drag.
I've tried it and found it made no difference on my machine, and that the feed dogs up did damage the slider. I see no reason to leave them up since their purpose is to move the fabric and they have nothing to do with thread tension. They just get in the way when FMQ.
Even with the feed dogs down, I use a slider (actually, a $10 oven liner rather than the pricey Supreme Slider). I tape it down with painters' tape and it definitely helps reduce drag.
Last edited by mkc; 05-01-2020 at 02:20 PM.