So what they are in order from the top pic left to right....Piping foot for piping (duh), gathering foot (yeah, it really works!), bias tape foot (I was a little disappointed by this foot because it takes some work to get the bias tape in the right place but it did work when I got it in), 1/4" hem foot (I thought this was more than it was when I bought it. I thought it would actually make the hem but it's just basically a guide), and a 1/8" hemming foot (this one actually hems the fabric but I was VERY disappointed in it. It did not work. AND it was VERY difficult to get the fabric in the foot correctly. It would be much easier to just do it yourself. I think I'll be returning this one.)
Stay tuned for a Frock by Friday post later today!
Like not spending money? 
47 {comments}:
I just bought a piping foot a couple weeks ago, and since have wondered what I ever did without it!!! Gathering foot next on my list :)
The 1/4 inch hemmer is one of my favorite things, you can't just send it back. Try leaving the foot up and rolling the fabric in the grove and than lowering the foot and start sewing. You want to keep the fabric curling over the foot. It may not take at first but you can unpick or cut it off when you serge the seam. Also when sewing over a seam you want to trim the corner off at a 45 degree angel, it allows the seam to bend over the foot.
I also love my 1/8 inch foot if its the same as a rolled hem? It does take a little work to get it, but once you figure it out it's heaven!! PERFECT for ruffled edges.
It's so funny that you have this post, because just yesterday I was saying on my blog that I need to buy a piping and gathering foot for my machine. My last project had piping and I did it with a zipper foot. I feel like it was way harder than it needed to be.
I agree with Bolo heads, I love my hemmer foot. I have 2mm, 4mm, and 6mm rolled hem feet and I love them. I use them on light weight fabrics as well as cotton twill. It took a little time to learn to start the fabric in the foot, but once you get then hang of it they can save a lot of work. I use mine whenever I can.
Bolo heads, I do not know what you mean, because I'm a novice sewer, but I would like to see what you're talking about. Maybe we can get a video tute someday? I have one of these feet for quilting, but it's useless for that because the guide isn't anywhere near a 1/4" on my machine (and yes, it is manufactured specifically for my machine).
Bolo heads, I do not know what you mean, because I'm a novice sewer, but I would like to see what you're talking about. Maybe we can get a video tute someday? I have one of these feet for quilting, but it's useless for that because the guide isn't anywhere near a 1/4" on my machine (and yes, it is manufactured specifically for my machine).
Uhm yah I have an 1/8 hem foot or what my book calls a narrow rolled hem foot and I cannot stand it! It made the ickiest hems ever! Not straight at all and I was cursing it the whole time! I kept thinking maybe it is just me, maybe I need to work with it more. But alas it is not just me and it sucks! Luckily it came with my machine so I wasn't out anything!
Love and Hugs, Jess
those narrow hemmer feets are THE PITS!!! I have hemmer feets on my '42 Westinghouse that are fabulous, but these new ones suck!
what kind of machine do you have, because i think you have the same one as me and i've had a heckuva time finding feet--only one store in town sells them and they are very aware of that fact and price accordingly...
I have the 1/8" hem foot, too. And it stinks. I was so disappointed. But the 1/4" is amazing!
the 1/8" narrow hem foot is perfect once you get the hang of it... it is useful only for lightweight fabrics. here is an excellent tutorial!
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3744/mastering-the-narrow-hemmer-part-one
I've just been doing research on feet because I don't have any for my old machine, and let me tell you, the right foot makes all the difference! I'm getting a little burned out putting in zippers with my regular foot.
Here's a video by briansews for using a hemming foot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlXaq4PsrlU
And here is a link to the post he made about it:
http://www.briansews.com/2010/05/call-me-hem-master.html
I wish i had those. I do not get any such add on foot off the shelf here for my Singer MARS model. I would love to have a piping foot, pintuck foot. Gathers, i manage my pressing the normal foot while sewing with 5-5 tension, and believe me it works.... I would like various width hemmer foots as well... anyone planning a giveaway of foot for sewing machines, pls keep me posted :)
I LOVE my piping foot. Use it ALL the time!
You know I think the reason why the hemmer might not work so well for me is because it is for a Kenmore. The needle misses the hem by a HAIR. I would have mentioned that in the post but it was also awkward for me to feed through so I just didn't like it. BUT, I might try the 1/4" hemmer. That sounds like it could work for me.
And Mitzi Green, I have a Brother Project Runway CE5000. I never buy feet in the store. They are ALWAYS overpriced. If you do a lot of scouring you can usually find feet for around $4-$12 on the internet. That's including shipping. I bought a whole bunch of feet at once from the sears site because I wanted to feel like I got my money's worth as far as shipping was concerned but here's another great place for Brother feet:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_kitchen?_encoding=UTF8&node=1055398&field-brandtextbin=Distinctive
You can get free shipping if you order more than $25.
Ooooo....
And I've been thinking of getting this package:
http://www.amazon.com/Distinctive-Rolled-Hemmer-EdgeStitcher-Package/dp/B0035UU8VI/ref=sr_1_19?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1286390490&sr=1-19
They showed me how to use the rolled hem feet when I bought my machine because it is something I hadn't tried. What she did was fold the fabric over twice by hand like the hem foot will do. Place is under the foot, not in the rolling guide yet. Put the foot down and put the needle down in the fabric. sew a couple of stitches and then stop, lift the foot and pull the fabric into the rolled part of the foot, out the foot back down and start sewing. You'll need to hold the edge of the fabric in up in front of the foot so it will guide the fabric in right. I hold the fabric up the whole time and that keeps it sewing right. I really love it and it's easier than I thought it would be.You will love it.
The 1/4" foot is actually for quilting I believe (from what I can see). I don't know why it's called a hemmer. The rolled hem feet I would call hemmers. There are old feet that look like giant rolled hem feet but I haven't used them.
Oh and for the binder (I love this foot too), You can cut the binding at an angle as someone said and use a pin to pull it through the guide. Pull the binding out a bit, put the foot down on it and sew a little to start is and adjust your needle position (if you need too). Then stick your fabric in the guide and sew. Again hold the binding so it will go through the guide correctly.
You know , now that I think about things, I might be able to use the hemmer foot if I use a twin needle. That way the one needle will be more to the right. I think I'll try it and let you know how it works out.
I just bought a bunch of feet. I just need to try them out! I've also had frustrating experiences with my rolled hem foot.
Sounds like love or hate for the hemmer foot. I love mine. It's perfect for hemming lining, which I think is always a pain. And, as much as you use piping, I'm surprised you're just now getting a piping foot! :) You might just take that one wherever you go you'll love it so.
I have most of those feet, although I sew on a different brand of machine.
The bias tape foot and the hemmer foot take practice, but they really are worth it!
I did read your comment that the needle is missing the fabric with the one foot, but maybe you could move your needle position?
There's also a trick to getting the fabric started-you roll the fabric at the beginning and finger press it. Then start sewing with it under the presser foot and as you sew along it should pop up into the groove. Now that I've used the foot a bit I don't have to start that way, but I do use that trick when I get to seams. All of the bulk won't fit through the guide, so I finger press and pull it out of the guide to get over the hump.
Hi! It's birthday time for me and I was thinking of REALLY treating myself and getting a sewing machine and serger...What type do you have? Which do you recommend? I'm an intermediary sewer but am trying to step it up this winter and make a few coats (down and wool)...Thanks!! I'm planning on doing some research too but there are sooooo many and you always make such beautiful items...figured I'd start with you. :)
I had one of those 1/8" hemmers in with my sewing machine when I bought it, I have NEVER used it, It looks way to complicated to use ;) you've just cemented for me that I should just leave it sitting there lol!
My sewing machine also came with a little attachment for the normal foot to use for the 1/4" hem so I dont have to buy the other ones.
I do like the look of that bias tape foot though :)
Instead of the twin needles, can't you just move the needle position to the right as far as needed? I know your machine is capable of this because I saw you do it in your blind hem tutorial!
My machine is annoying. It has a left setting, a middle setting, but no right straight stitch setting. It can stitch a zigzag in the right position but it does not stitch a right going straight. Frustrating.
Tiffany,
I have a Brother CE-5000. I'm actually not a good person to ask about these things. I don't know anything about other machines. BUT I will tell you to look for a machine that comes with a lot of different feet, a lot of stitch settings (ie blind hem buttonhole and decoratives), drop in bobbin, droppable feed dogs, has a threader, and the newest feature I've seen....an automatic thread cutter. So cool. I've also heard that some machines have a 'flexi stitch' or a 'elastic stitch' which goes and back forth making a stitch that has give without having to use elastic. Never used that but it sounds cool.
Good luck.
I just bought a ruffler foot the other day, but it is really complicated looking compared to the gathering foot. Would you recommend the gathering foot instead since they are essentially the same thing?
I wouldn't give up on the hemming foot prematurely. I have one for my brother which looks very similar... it take a while to get used to because you have to fold the hem over twice (like how you want the finish product to look) and get it in there and then back the fabric up a little (maybe 1/2 inch to where you want to start). It has seriously changed my life. I do a lot of hemming on wedding and bridesmaid's dresses and it is a dream. It makes a beautiful hem in no time at all. The time I save ironing over twice is in the past.
Are you sure the position of your left setting straight stitch can't be adjusted? I have a Brother CS6000i which is very similar model to yours in terms of features, etc. On mine, if you use the stitch 0 (the default - left straight stitch) and increase the "stitch width", it moves the needle in 0.5mm increment all the way to the right. Would be annoying indeed if yours doesn't do it. I definitely needed to adjust the needle position for the hemmer foot so that it sews in the correct place.
Brian, over at Brian Sews! has this video tutorial http://www.briansews.com/2010/05/call-me-hem-master.html. If you watch, you can see how he lines up the edge of the fabric in the groove of the foot. The guy sews a beautiful hem, even on curved edges and over seams! I also think there's the practicing part, which I never have the patience to do...
Hope this helps.
Ooh a piping foot! I've never seen one of those before. I think I see a technique tuesday post in my future!!!
WOW! Thanks so much Kathleen. :-)I'll be sure to include all of those features in my search.
I bought a ruffler/gathering foot a while back and am confused on its use. There area few tutorials online, but I like yours. If you ever get the chance, would you show me how to use it ( via blog post?)??
Darci and Kelley,
I also have a ruffler foot. And it was a big pain for me. Since you have to hook it onto the bar that screws the needle in place, it kept slowly unscrewing it and every so often the needle would completely fall off.
The gathering foot was super simple. Just run it through. But you don't have the different options in gathering like you do with the ruffler.
But changing the gathering foot was a million times easier than changing the ruffler which was a HUGE pain.
Based on my experience, I have to recommend the gathering foot over the ruffler. But I can easily see how someone would prefer the ruffler.
PetitePear,
I honestly never thought of trying that. I will try it first chance I get tomorrow and let you know! Thank you!
The 1/4 inch foot would be essential if you ever got into quilting. I'm intrigued by the piping and gathering feet.
I have a Brother CS-6000i. I love it. And I recently broke down and bought a gathering foot that is an actual Brother product, but I cannot get it to work! I keep thinking I am doing something wrong, but I cannot figure out what that might be. Do you change any stitch settings when you use your gathering foot? I'm ready to go crazy!
The Hillbilly Banjo Queen,
I think what might be your problem is that a lot of brothers don't have a lot of bobbin tension. Here's how I fixed mine:
http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2010/08/shirring-with-your-brother.html
The tutorial is showing you how to shirr but instead of loosening my screw to where it was when I was done, I left it a little tighter and this seemed to solve my problem. And yes, I can still sew with no problems.
PetitePear,
OMG! It worked! I'm so thrilled. Thank you! I was so busy today I haven't gotten a chance to try the rolled hem foot again with your new trick but I will tomorrow.
Thank you so much again! I'm so glad someone out there knew my problem:)
So glad to hear it. :)
I was lucky enough to track down a ruffler for my old Viking, and I just can't gush enough about it. I have a bunch of other feet for that machine, and your post has made me want to dig them out and see what they can do! Thanks for sharing :)
Sue
I saw this book The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook while browsing at a bookstore a few months back. I should have just bought it then and I can't find it now.
About a year ago I bought about 10 feet at a flea market for $2. They came in a nice little container with how to directions, but all the text and 1 measely picture doesn't do it for me.
I have slowly been learning to use them. I am determined to figure out the bias tape attachment. I know it will be amazing once I do.
I also have other hemming feet--1/8", 5/8" and 17/18" or something like that. The larger the hem, the easier I find it to use. I will definitly check out some of the video sites mentioned in earlier comments. =]
we DO have the same machine! :) THANK YOU--i'm off to buy some feet!
I'd love you to make some tutorials about how to use these feet (technique tuesdays?). I got a gathering foot that's been sitting in a drawer because I can't get it to gather :( And I'd like to see the others in action too...
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