In today’s Sewing Basics post, I’m sharing how to use a walking foot and answering common questions like what is a walking foot and why you might use a walking foot. I’m also including a collection of free and premium patterns, tutorials, books, and online classes you can check out to get the most out of your walking foot, so read on for details.
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If you have a machine like the Baby Lock Brilliant, you have a walking foot in your collection of included presser feet. Maybe you just joined a quilting group and have heard folks talking about a walking foot. Either way, if you’ve got walking foot questions, I’ve got walking foot answers!
How To Use a Walking Foot
In this post, I’ll be answering common questions about the walking foot, sharing a video that demonstrates how to put the walking foot on (and, how to take it off and return to your standard presser foot), and sharing resources for getting the most out of your walking foot.
But first, what is a walking foot?
A walking foot is an optional sewing machine presser foot. While many presser feet easily clip on and off of your presser foot holder, a walking foot requires a bit more assembly, so I’ve included a video below showing you how to use it.
Why use a walking foot?
The walking foot is larger than many other presser feet because it has its own feed dogs to move multiple layers of fabric evenly through the sewing machine without shifting. You can use a walking foot for many sewing situations including:
- For straight line sewing of slippery or stretchy fabrics, heavier fabrics, or fabrics with nap (such as corduroy, fleece, knits, leather, minky, velour, velvet, vinyl, or waterproof canvas);
- To work through multiple layers of fabric such as when you’re add binding to quilts, quilting in a straight line, or adding straps to bags; or
- To keep stitching lines very straight, such as when you’re sewing with stripes or plaid fabrics.
How to use a walking foot
To show you how to use a walking foot, I’ve made a short video (below) showing how to put it onto your machine, how to use it to sew on fabric, and how to remove it to replace your presser foot holder and standard presser foot.
If you can’t see the video above showing how to use a walking foot, click HERE to watch it on YouTube.
Please note that you should not do reverse stitching with your walking foot.
Is a walking foot included with my sewing machine?
If you have a Baby Lock Brilliant, the answer is yes! For many other sewing machines, you would need to purchase the walking foot as an optional accessory.
Since the walking foot is included with the Brilliant, the Stitch Setting Chart in the Instruction and Reference Guide lets you know when you can use a walking foot. If you’re using it as an optional accessory, a general guideline is that it can be used with any straight stitch. You can often use a walking foot with zigzag stitches, too.
Where can I get a walking foot?
If a walking foot doesn’t come with your sewing machine, check with the manufacturer or your local sewing machine dealer to see which one would be a fit for your sewing machine. If you want to purchase one through Baby Lock, use my coupon code SAVE10-A424 to get 10% off all machines, accessories and software.
More resources for sewing with a walking foot
If you’re excited about getting started with a walking foot, I’ve gathered together some helpful resources for your next project.
Free patterns and tutorials using a walking foot:
- How To Sew a Fleece Blanket by Underground Crafter
- How To Make a Cheater Quilt by Heather Handmade
- DIY Sensory Mat by Underground Crafter
- Straight Line Quilting Tips by Bonjour Quilts
- How To Sew a Minky Blanket by Underground Crafter (Cuddle Lovey is also made with minky)
- 16 Tips for Sewing with Knits by Heather Handmade
- Modern Christmas Tree Skirt from a Bedsheet by Seam Whisperer
- Casserole Hot Pad by Heather Handmade
Online classes:
- Creative Quilting With Your Walking Foot and Next Steps with Your Walking Foot by Jacquie Gering on Craftsy,
- The Quilter’s Path: Plan It, Stitch It, Quilt It by Christa Watson/Christa Quilts on Craftsy,
- Ready To Quilt: Quick Tips To Get You Started by on Craftsy,
- Let’s Machine Quilt Part 2: Walking Foot Fun by Sherry Duncan on Annie’s Creative Studio
- Machine Quilting Basics by Sue Nickels on Creativebug
- Working With Difficult Fabric by Ashley Hough on National Sewing Circle
Reference and pattern books:
- WALK: Master Machine Quilting with your Walking Foot (from independent booksellers | Amazon) and Walk 2.0: More Machine Quilting with Your Walking Foot (from independent booksellers | Amazon) by Jacquie Gering
- Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day (from independent booksellers | Amazon)
- Foolproof Walking-Foot Quilting Designs by Mary Mashuta (from independent booksellers | Amazon)
- Pat Sloan’s Teach Me to Machine Quilt: Learn the Basics of Walking Foot and Free-Motion Quilting
- Machine Quilting With Style: From Walking-foot Wonders to Free-motion Favorites and How Do I Quilt It?: Learn Modern Machine Quilting Using Walking-Foot & Free-Motion Techniques (from independent booksellers | Amazon) by Christa Watson/Christa Quilts
Curious about presser feet? Learn more in my Sewing Machine Presser Foot Guide!