Do you quilt on your featherweight?
#23
On the top of the machine, right over the pressure foot, is a screw. By turning the screw anti-clockwise, the pressure on the foot is lessened. Do not remove the screw; rather, keep turning it until the quilt sandwich can easily move under your darning foot.
#24
Was sewing Stockings for charity the other day, couple hours or so. My FW started slowing down and I reached around to feel the motor, it was hot. Had not been sewing constantly, but sewing. Had to shut it down and finish up on a Kenmore. Haven't had the FW back out to sew on it yet and check it out, but the motor did get too hot to hold my hand on.
#25
Sorry, but the width of those feeddogs on the walking foot look too wide for a FW! If you look at the one at April's site, you'll see how narrow her FW walking foot is, and how the foot has "off-set" teeth. The one you posted a link to looks to be just a generic, low shank walking foot and if the feeding teeth are wider than the FW feed dogs, it's not going to feed the quilt properly through the machine.
#27
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Look at the width of the feeddog teeth on the walking feet. The one from April's is the only walking foot I know where the width of the walking foot is narrow enough to engage the FW feed dogs. The ebay one is too wide. Yes, it will fit your machine and yes, it will move some fabric, but it won't work in conjunction with your FW feed dogs to move the fabric in the manner walking feet are supposed to. Walking feet are supposed to match the width of the feed dogs in your machine. Also the one from April's matches the shape of the FW feed dogs and the other one does not. Maybe someone other than Aprils carries that brand, but I've never seen it elsewhere.
#28
Sorry, but the width of those feeddogs on the walking foot look too wide for a FW! If you look at the one at April's site, you'll see how narrow her FW walking foot is, and how the foot has "off-set" teeth. The one you posted a link to looks to be just a generic, low shank walking foot and if the feeding teeth are wider than the FW feed dogs, it's not going to feed the quilt properly through the machine.
#29
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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All of the other walking feet on the market "fit" the FW but they don't actually work as they should..except for the one on April's site:>
Does this make sense or am I just yodeling in the forest? LOL.
Last edited by Candace; 12-13-2011 at 02:33 PM.
#30
Look at the width of the feeddog teeth on the walking feet. The one from April's is the only walking foot I know where the width of the walking foot is narrow enough to engage the FW feed dogs. The ebay one is too wide. Yes, it will fit your machine and yes, it will move some fabric, but it won't work in conjunction with your FW feed dogs to move the fabric in the manner walking feet are supposed to. Walking feet are supposed to match the width of the feed dogs in your machine. Also the one from April's matches the shape of the FW feed dogs and the other one does not. Maybe someone other than Aprils carries that brand, but I've never seen it elsewhere.
I have seen differing opinions from people about whether or not the Featherweight can handle quilting. My gut tells me yes because they are still going strong after 60+ years. Would today's machines last that long? I seriously doubt it! They are built so well, they probably could handle it, maybe not for extended periods of time, but for the few hours a week of quilting I do, it's probably fine. I have sewn with mine for 8-10 hours on the weekends and never had a problem. I do keep it oiled and frequently remove lint. Anyway, I did email April and ask her opinion on the subject. She says she agrees with me and she has used hers for quilting many times. I'm sure there are many people that want to preserve the condition of their machines. I didn't buy mine as a collection piece; I bought mine to be used, and it is a pleasure to sew on it! For me, it's more of a workhorse than a delicate piece of machinery. But she's a beautiful workhorse! If I ever work her to death, I will surely replace her with another one.
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