The feeder plate isn't working. how do I fix?

We don't know what machine you have, but I'm guessing perhaps you dropped the feed dogs for darning. The feed dogs will still move backward, down, then forward, but in darning mode, they never rise above the needle plate to grab the fabric.

If you raise the presser foot, set the stitch length to a 3 or higher, then slowly press the foot control, can you see the feed dogs rise, move backward, then drop and come forward again? If they are not moving, the feed dogs have seized. If they are moving but do not rise above the needle plate, then you have them disengaged.

If they are seized, resist the temptation to run the machine anymore until you can get it serviced. It could damage the motor causing more repair cost.

If they are disengaged (dropped), then you need to find the control lever or dial that engages them.

Make sure the stitch length is set high enough to actually move the fabric. Also check that the feed dogs are actually moving forward and backward when stitching (they should move from front to back, then drop below the needle plate and move to the front, where they rise again,)..

Is the feed dog raised into sewing position and not dropped as for darning? Feed dogs need to be in the raised position in order to pull the fabric through the machine.

If the stitch length is set too short, it will cause the fabric to barely move thereby causing the machine to stitch in one place.

Raise your presser foot and gently rotate the handwheel and watch the feed dogs. Do they rise when coming to the front of the machine, move toward the back of the machine, drop down below the needle plate, and move forward to the front of the machine again? If so, the feed dogs are working properly.

If the feed dogs never rise, they are in the dropped position for darning or free motion quilting when you would move the fabric manually.

If, on the other hand, the feed dogs do not move at all, then they are seized and you should probably get your machine serviced.

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Are the Feed Dogs dropped? Check your manual for the location of the switch. .... otherwise your mechanism has been compromised. Take it in for repair.

the feed dogs are not working, they hold the fabric against the
presser foot, so the fabric is moved forward,they are in the needle
plate, they should be seen & felt in the center of the needle plate.

Make sure feed dogs (teeth in needle plate beneath needle) are showing. Flip switch to UP position to "feed" fabric. Sometimes control fir this located on back of machine lower left side and " hidden" by your extension table, so remove that table and you'll find the switch! Jimmy

Maybe just working that bullet shaped part will get it going. If it's a 930, you need to turn the handwheel to make the dogs get back into 'operational mode' after you move the knob.

Sometimes the mechanism is stuck behind the knob. Don't force the knob. It's possible to take the motor casing off and work it loose. Use TriFlow lubricant (small black bottle Sherwin-Williams) and leave for a while. Push gently with a pencil. Whatever you do, don't whack it with a hammer, like some folks say. It likely needs to move in the other direction (if it's stuck in 'regular' mode) i.e. towards the needle end.

This machine has a pressure regulator on the left side.You should look to see that it is not loosened. When you lift up on the presser foot it should have resistance.
Then look at the feed dogs to see that they are moving, Set the stitch length at 4 and turn the hand wheel. The teeth should move towards the back of the machine. They should also be slightly above the needle plate as they go back and below the surface of the plate as they come forward.
If they don't rise above the plate , remove the needle plate and clean between the slots of the teeth.
sewman7

I had the same problem and had recently posted my own message, with no replies. Took it to a repair person and he fixed it at no cost - it was stuck in reverse because the mechanism(s) were all gunked up. Take off the accessory box on the machine and the bottom plate. move the mechanism so they move freely and take out any gunk you see. The feeder dogs should now move back & forth in addition to up & down, feeding the material properly