Presser Feet

Which presser foot do I need?

Your machine came with a general-purpose foot fitted and three or four more in the accessory box, and for a first year of sewing that box is usually enough. Before buying anything extra, check whether your machine is low-shank, high-shank or slant — the shank is the post the foot attaches to, your manual names it, and a foot bought for the wrong shank will not fit.

A walking foot is the fifth one worth owning, and the moment to add it is when you start quilting or sewing anything slippery: it feeds the top layer at the same rate as the bottom so the layers cannot shift. Everything after that — rolled hem, pintuck, cording, gathering — solves one specific problem, and you will know when you have it.

• Zigzag or all-purpose foot — the one already on the machine. Straight stitch, zigzag and most of what you will sew for months.
• Zipper foot — narrow, and it sits to one side of the needle so you can stitch close to the zipper teeth. There is no good way to set a zipper without it.
• Buttonhole foot — holds the button and sizes the hole for you on a machine with a one-step buttonhole.
• Blind hem foot — has a guide the folded edge runs against, which is what keeps a blind hem barely visible on the right side.

Frequently asked

Are presser feet universal?

No. Feet are made for a shank type, low, high or slant, and snap-on feet also need the matching holder on your machine. Several listings here name the machines they are sold for, but that is the seller's claim, so check the shank type in your manual before buying a set.

Which presser feet does a beginner actually need?

Four, and your machine probably came with them: the all-purpose zigzag foot, a zipper foot, a buttonhole foot and a blind-hem foot. A walking foot is the fifth worth owning once you quilt or sew slippery fabric. A big 32- or 42-piece set mostly adds feet you may never use, which is fine at these prices as long as the shank matches.

What does a presser foot do?

It holds the fabric flat against the feed dogs while the needle stitches, so the fabric moves evenly under the needle. Changing the foot changes how it holds or guides the fabric: sitting to one side for a zipper, feeding the top layer for a walking foot, or guiding a folded edge for a blind hem.