It's confusing. Not only is it confusing, but everyone just starts
talking in this strange language, while you're looking at them like they
have a third eye. And they just keep going.
So! Here
is a list of terms and definitions EVERY quilter, sewer, and crafter
needs to know before reading any tutorial or post by any quilter.
Sewing Machine Lingo
Presser
foot - The foot that you will be attaching to your sewing machine. It
holds the fabric onto the sewing machine so that your needle can feed
through the fabric
Walking foot - A type of presser
foot used to feed fabrics through the sewing machine evenly. This
prevents the fabrics from shifting, and is essential for quilting. You
can use this foot for piecing and straight-line quilting ONLY. There is
an accurate picture of what a walking foot looks like here.
Straight
Stitch foot - A type of presser foot used for straight-stitching ONLY.
When using this foot, you want to always have your needle in the center
position, or risk having your needle hit the foot and break! There is an
accurate picture of a straight stitch foot here.
1/4
inch seam foot - A type of presser foot used for piecing fabrics with
1/4 inch seams. This foot is essential for quilting, but I've found it
to be very useful for every-day sewing. There is an accurate picture of
this foot here.
Feed
Dogs - This is the mechanism that feeds your fabric through the
machine, and they look like metal teeth and are located on the sewing
machine, just below the presser foot. The only time you will not be
using the feed dogs in sewing, is when you use a darning stitch. There
is an accurate picture of feed dogs here
Darning
Foot - A type of presser foot used in quilting. It allows the sewer to
sew freely, holding down the fabric only when the needle is being
brought up through the fabric. There is an awesome video demonstrating
free-motion quilting using a darning foot here and a picture of a darning foot here.
This
list will be added to as needed. If you think of anything I may have
left out, simply leave a comment and I will be sure to add it!
About Me
- SkippityDoDahQuilts
- I'm just a new wife who has an obsession with my sewing machine! In Oct. 2010, my mother and I created my first sewing project - Euro pillow shams. I was hooked! I read everything I could get my hands on that had to do with sewing! Books, magazines, online tutorials. I experimented and found that I get so much enjoyment from making quilts, and that it's where I found my niche. I'm still a beginner, but I've learned so much in just 5 short months, that I want to share it with someone!