We love our industrial sewing machines! In this episode of The Sew Much More Podcast: 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech, Ceil DiGuglielmo and Susan Woodcock talk about the different types of presser feet that can be used on industrial sewing machines.
You can listen to this episode of the podcast here: Sewing Machine Feet
For this podcast, the machine feet shared are for the two most common machines in the small workroom - the regular feed (also called the needle feed or drop feed system) and the walking foot machine. You can learn more about the different machine feed mechanisms on the Sailrite website here: Comparing Sewing Machine Feeding Mechanisms
Presser Feet for the Regular Feed System
The most used foot is the basic two-toe presser foot. This will most likely come with your machine. The width of the foot is the same width as the feed dogs which move the fabric below the foot. The two-two presser foot below has a guard to help prevent getting fingers under the needle - some feet come with this and others do not.
Other two-toe presser feet:
Skinny foot - used when there is a narrow path for sewing like next to snap tape or when sewing a tape trim with thick embroidery or beads.
In the video below Susan shows how the skinny foot is used to sew a difficult trim.
Compensating foot - one two is raised. This is for sewing projects where one side of the seam has a greater thickness of fabric. You can get a left or right side compensating foot.
Roller foot - used to help fabric feed with less resistance. Susan uses this foot when machine quilting.
Specialty Presser Feet
Welt cord feet come in a variety of sizes. Susan recommends using a welt cord foot for an even application of welt cord on pillows, cushions and other projects.
The most common size welt cord foot is 1/4-inch, but she routinely uses 1/8-inch and 3/16-inch for small diameter micro welt cording. A 3/8-inch welt cord foot may be needed for some larger size cording and twist cord. You can get even larger sizes but the jumbo welt cord is not in fashion these days.
There are presser feet designed for for sewing zippers. This includes single-toe left and right feet for sewing standard zippers and a grooved foot specifically for invisible zippers.
The foot shown below is adjustable for sewing larger size invisible zippers.
Another helpful specialty foot is the "stitch in the ditch" foot. It is used to top stitch in a seam. See the video below to see how this foot is used. Susan also shows the "quick change", which is a spring loaded screw used for easy changing of feet.
Presser Feet for the Walking Foot Machine
On a walking foot machine, the feet are in two pieces; a toe foot and a center single toe. This allows the feet to "walk" and feed the fabric from the top, and the feed dogs feed underneath.
You can get specialty feet for sewing welt cord, zippers and a more narrow or skinny foot. The photo below shows the skinny foot mounted on the machine and the standard foot next to it. The narrow toes on the skinny foot will allow for sewing closer to edges and zippers in boxing strips for cushions.
This has been an example of the most popular and common machine feet. There are many others including teflon, snub nose, guide feet and feet for making rolled hems and double welt. To learn more about what sewing machine feet are available, check out the Sloan Machinery Company catalog using the link below
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