Wednesday, January 04, 2012

a new foot

Well, it's official.
I quilt a LOT.
I wore out my first walking foot.

My walking foot was clunking a bit and it was louder than it had been in the past...so I sent it in to the dealer to check out. I had a feeling it was broken and I didn't know if they could fix it or not. They are expensive little buggers, so I thought I would see if it was repairable before spending the money on a new one. Well, it turns out it was broken. A piece of spring metal broke inside the foot and the part wasn't replaceable. I ended up buying a new one. I asked the sewing machine dealer if that happens a lot, is that a common problem? He said it happens sometimes. When I got off the phone with the dealer my husband laughed at my question. He asked if I quilt a normal amount? Well, there IS that to consider.....

The first walking foot lasted me over 5 years...so I guess I can't complain. Boy, is it nice to be using a working one again!

41 comments:

Farmgirl Heidi said...

Hooray for you! A working walking foot is a must. Have a great week.

DianeY said...

I'm afraid I may have the same problem! Mine starts really jumping periodically. It just started this week

Shawn said...

Pretty picture, yes your walking foot would probably last a "normal quilter" a lifetime!!! lol Happy New Year

Jezibels said...

Somehow I am eeking out about 10 quilts a year without a walking foot and without free motion quilting them (Ive been tying them).Do you think I can find a walking foot for my 1950's Brother Boutique? I wish I could free motion on it too.

path7401 said...

Yours lasted about 4 1/2 years longer than mine did! The little pin that the foot hinges on broke off on one side. Hubby used a little tiny rivet to replace it but I have been afraid to try it again.

michele (maryland) said...

Well, glad you have that problem solved. LOVE what you are working on. So pretty.

tubilinha tiacarminha said...

Quebra sim,e quebra fácil...já estou no meu terceiro em 6 anos + ou -,voce mais cuidadosa que eu...beijos

Cheerful Homemaker said...

I need to figure out which foot I need to do FMQ on my machine.

Jocelyn said...

I had a darning foot break on me once. When I took it in to the dealer he asked what I was doing with it. I looked at him and said "QUILTING"!! At least they replaced it, because it should not have broken. Enjoy your new walking foot :-)

Brandie said...

bhahaha. I love that your husband asked you that!

Nicole said...

Congrats on your new walking foot! Quilt on!

Jo Ann said...

I neverconsidered it possible that they would break. It makes sense! Mine is complaining! Perhaps I should get it checked!

Theresa said...

I'd love to know what he classes as 'normal'! LOL!

ThreadCatcher said...

Who knew you could wear a walking foot out?! Happy quilting with the new one.

DogFeathers said...

These foots are made for quiltin' and that's just a what they'll do! One of these days these foots are gonna quilt all over you! Good to know it was a fixable problem. Not brave enough to quilt yet, but almost there on my machine. You should have heard me after I learned to re-string the old hand-me-down!

Homeschool Mama said...

Mine broke in the middle of making a quilt for a friend, and the dealer was out of feet for my machine. He recommended super-gluing it until I could get a new one. Glad I avoided getting a new foot, since I just gave my old machine away and will get my new one tomorrow via UPS. Gotta love a man in all brown!

Shanna said...

Sad! I am sure you have quilted more in the last 5 years than some people do in a lifetime :o)

Anonymous said...

I had my sewing machine 4 years before trying out the walking foot. I love it!! I have yet to use that metal crooked guide thingy though. Going to learn soon. Need perfect straight lines for a future project.

Glad you are back up and running!!

Donna

Lana said...

Congratulations! I like the new walking foot! It's so much smaller than mine and not as bulky!
I love all your quilts and projects!!! Wear out this one too!

Judy said...

I recently purchased one for my 820 and it was very expensive, almost $200. So glad they last.

Lisa H. said...

Congrats on the new walking foot! I love mine, too. Couldn't live without one! Now get crackin' so you can post some more awesome creations!

Linda said...

One thing that I love about my Pfaff, the IDT system. no need for a walking foot. Glad you were able to get a new one and get back up and running again. :)

Thimbleanna said...

I'm surprised it lasted that long -- I have a broken one from an old machine and it was rarely ever used. Obviously, the quiltings gods were smiling upon you! ;-)

Happy New Walking Foot!

Flaun of I Plead Quilty! said...

I just had to buy a new walking foot, too! Mine was making a chunking sound about every fifth stitch and depositing a black substance (thankfully dry and easy to blow off) on the surface of my quilts. The new one arrived just last night. *whew*

Suzanne said...

If you are like me, you may have used the old one semi-broken for a while before taking action toward repair or replacement. I'd feel like I was driving a brand new car with a new foot on my machine.

Christie describeHappy said...

Oh now that's funny. Must be so smooth now with the new one!! Happy sewing!

Josie McRazie said...

well, I guess we don't buy these things to have them sit around... but it sure does hurt when we use the heck out of them! I guess nothing lasts forever!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Honestly I'm not at all surprised!! Happy you've got a new one :)

Pieces of Cotton said...

I can't wait to see what all that pink leads to!

Eileen said...

I understand your husbands chuckle. I am always complaining that my machine needs to have the computer reset way to often. The man who maintenance the machine just laughs at me and says " normal sewers need their computer reset every 3-5 years" I sew way too much and have the machine in every 9-12 months. I guess it is the price we pay to keep our obsession [ mental therapy] alive and well.

Pieces to Love said...

I had one 'malfunction' less than a year after getting my machine. Thankfully, the 'cheap' one that the big box store sold worked on my machine and I have been abusing it for about 3 years now.

Sarah said...

Just makes you smile when you quilt when something works again, doesn't it? My machine had to go to the hospital when needles & threads kept breaking if I went any more than quarter speed. Turned out the bobbin casing had somehow worked loose and all screws holding it had to be re-tightened. It's now a dream to use & I find myself wanting to sew much more than before!

Love Of Quilts said...

I'm getting a good laugh...I think hubby may be right 5 years is a long time at normal. Blessing Trish

Richard Healey said...

I just started quilting a month ago and bought a walking foot. I belive its connected properly but it has been clunking from time to time since day one and only done a couple quilts. Is their better and worse modles of walkning foot?

Denice said...

I've never heard of that. I've had mine for like 15 years. Ya, you quilt ALOT! Lol.

Amanda Jean said...

richard,

well, i'm not an expert on walking feet, but i do know that walking feet are specific to your machine. certain walking feet are more heavy duty than others, just like some sewing machines are more sturdy than others. but you do need a specific one per machine.

hope that helps!

aj

Leslie said...

i love my walking foot....but you are right they are so expensive. i hope mine lasts me for a good long time more.

Lisa Wysocki said...

I have a two year old Juki also. I have been having lots of problems with it, but not sure if it is just user error. I have been experiencing very large stitches when quilting and my machine seems to get out of tension in the middle of projects. So far, I am not liking the Juki much at all. The space under the arm is fantasic, but the problems with the tension, stitch sizes, and that small little bobbin running out all the time.....irritating! Do you have similar problems? Any solutions?

patty a. said...

I feel some of your pain! I free motion quilt a lot (went thru over 34,000 yards of thread last year) and broke the open toe foot I had. Luckly, they only cost about $22.00 so I bought another one plus a spare. Well, now your back in busness! Hopefully this one lasts a very long time.

Jessica Christensen said...

Your "normal amount" of quilting and mine are probably the same. :) Glad you are back in business.

Alex said...

My walking foot shredded itself on the inside after only 6 months! There was black soot spewing out of it. It was metal shavings! I was sooooo mad. Having to pay for another one after only 6 months of use... sad!!!