Most machines come with a box of presser feet that never gets opened. They get sorted once, put in a drawer, and stay there — usually because it isn't obvious which foot does what, or why you'd swap off the standard one in the first place.
This tutorial takes three presser feet that make a real difference to quilting and explains what each one is for, including the part almost nobody uses: that small adjustable guide bar that comes with a walking foot.
What you'll learn
- Three presser feet worth reaching for on quilting projects
- What the guide bar on a walking foot is actually for
- When swapping feet is worth stopping for, and when the standard foot is fine
Why the walking foot matters on a quilt
A standard presser foot only moves the bottom layer of your fabric, because the feed dogs are underneath. On a single layer of cotton that's fine. On a quilt sandwich — top, batting, backing — the bottom layer feeds and the top layer doesn't, which is why long seams drift and you end up with a pleat you didn't put there.
A walking foot adds a second set of feed dogs above the fabric so both layers move together. That's the whole trick, and it's why it's the standard choice for straight-line quilting and for binding.
Fit comes before function
Before buying any foot, check whether your machine is high shank or low shank, and whether it takes snap-on or screw-on feet. A foot that doesn't fit your shank height won't sit at the right angle to the needle plate, and no amount of adjustment fixes that. Our guide to high shank vs low shank presser feet walks through how to tell which you have.
Where to go next
Our Sewing Machine Presser Feet Guide covers what each foot in a standard accessory box is used for. If you're shopping, feet and accessories live in All Parts, with brand-specific sets under Janome, Brother and Husqvarna Viking.
If free-motion work is where you're headed next, our free-motion quilting tutorial covers setup and foot choice for that specifically.