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I have a friend who has an old Necchi Lydia (about 38yrs old) she uses it extensively for quilting. I am wondering if there is a walking foot and/or darning foot for this machine. Ii is her birthday soon and I an thinking this would be a great gift
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There are a lot of accessories available for free motion quilting. However, in reality, FMQ can be done with a darning foot (usually included with your machine). Of course, you can opt to purchase a multitude of FMQ presser feet for your machine, ie open darning foot, clear foot, hopping foot...plus many quilting rulers. The only other change is to drop the feed dogs. From there, it's just a lot of practice, practice, practice. It helps to practice drawing FMQ designs on something like a blackboard or whiteboard that can be erased and used multiple times. The idea is to get your movement smooth and consistent--muscle memory--like you used to do when learning how to write in grade school. It may also be helpful to have some gloves that will grip the fabric since your skin will become dry from constant contact with the fabric and begin to slip. There are special "quilting" gloves for $$ or you can try some cheap rubber gloves from the dollar store or rubber garden gloves.
Quilting with a walking foot is technically (IMHO) not free motion quilting. With a walking foot, the feed dogs are still activated so they can work in conjunction with the walking foot to (hopefully) prevent wrinkles in the fabric sandwich. Quilting with a walking foot is more suited for stitching in straight lines or stitching in the ditch. In this mode, you would not pull or push the fabric as the machine should do that.
FMQ Free Motion Quilting requires the operator to manually move the fabric sandwich under the needle. There are some sewists who do not use a presser foot, however, if you value your fingers, it would be best to use, at a minimum, a darning foot. Darning feet and free motion quilting feet are shorter than a regular presser foot so it does not make contact with the feed dogs or the needle plate. The space between the needle plate and darning foot is what allows a sewist to maneuver the fabric. Usually, the feed dogs are lowered when performing FMQ, but there are some sewists who don't. It's probably a matter of preference.
Most older sewing machines included a darning foot in the accessory kit. Newer sewing machines may have several presser foot options for FMQ. In addition, there are many FMQ presser feet available on the market that can be ordered to fit your specific machine, ie Big Foot. Nancy Notions Trusted by sewing enthusiasts for more than 3 decades
There are a wide variety of FMQ presser feet, some have springs so they "hop" on the fabric, some are metal, others are clear plastic, some are full circles, others are not round or may be open toe. There are also special presser feet that have a thicker base made for FMQ with rulers--the thicker base helps prevent the ruler from slipping under the presser foot and being struck by the needle.
In addition to the multitude of FMQ presser foot choices, there are a variety of other tools available, ie quilting gloves, quilting hoops, marking tools, pattern transfer supplies, silicone mat that covers the sewing machine surface making it easier to glide the fabric. Amazon com Queen Size Supreme Slider Free Motion Machine Quilting Mat...
There are tons of tutorials for FMQ. Just as there are many different methods, the right method is the one that works best for you. There are also lots of rules, but rules are made to be broken, so don't let someone else squelch your creativity. Quilt to please yourself.
Above all, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. I have a small whiteboard that I practice drawing designs. Muscle memory will make FMQ easier. There is also the need to get a comfortable sewing speed along with the speed at which you move the fabric. If you are breaking needles, your fabric movement is probably too fast for the sewing speed. Also, practice moving the fabric while keeping the sewing speed consistent.
Good luck! Remember, those awesome FMQers didn't learn it overnight. Many have been doing it for over 20 years, so don't be overly critical of yourself. You'll see improvement with every project you complete.
Hi JoEllen,
The walking foot replaces the normal pressure foot on your machine. There is a screw on the left-hand side of the pressure shaft that holds the ankle (if your Necchi uses snap-on feet) on the shaft. Loosen this screw until the pressure foot (or the pressure foot/ankle combination) comes off. Now slip the walking foot on where the other foot came off and tighten that screw. You're ready to go!
The foot control you use should be readily available at any sewing machine parts supply source. There are models that range in USD from $35.00 to 69.00 for the replacement foot control.
I would look in the yellow pages under sewing machines and parts for a local replacement source not being concerned about brand name when it comes to a foot control other than like connections.
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