Presser Foot Basics
                                                                                                                                                  


















For instance:

Switch to a zipper foot for sewing in a zipper. This foot enables you to stitch close to the zipper teeth.

If you’re sewing a fine, sheer fabric, you may want to switch to a straight stitch foot. It has a smaller
opening to keep your fabric more stable as your needle passes through it. This can help prevent
skipped or uneven stitches.

Note: As a general rule, presser feet with wider holes can be used to make wide stitches and straight
stitches. Presser feet with narrow holes should only be used for sewing straight stitches. If you were to try
to sew a wide stitch using a straight stitch presser foot, your needle would hit the foot and break.

There are many other presser feet available for specific tasks: making a buttonhole, sewing an
invisible hem, over-edging, doing embroidery, making pin tucks, stitching denim, and more. Your
sewing machine manufacturer’s website may have a list of all the different kinds of presser feet
available for your machine.


Changing your presser foot

    Raise your presser foot first before attempting to change it. Presser feet either snap off or
    screw off. Consult your manual for how to change the presser foot on your particular machine.*

    Make sure when you purchase a presser foot that it fits your machine model. Presser feet aren’t
    necessarily interchangeable from one brand of machine to another.


Adjusting the pressure of the presser foot

    Many machines will let you adjust the pressure of your presser foot to accommodate different
    fabric thicknesses. Incorrect pressure from your presser foot can damage your fabric, cause
    skipped stitches, uneven stitches, or puckered seams. Generally, use heavier pressure for
    bulkier fabrics and lighter pressure for finer fabrics.


If you need the manual for your machine, try visiting your manufacturer’s website. They often have old
manuals available for download or purchase.
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Your presser foot is the piece that sits below your
needle and holds your fabric down against your
needle plate as you sew. The presser foot is
moved down before sewing a seam, then lifted
back up when finished.

Your sewing machine likely came with a zigzag foot
(also called an all-purpose foot or a multi-purpose
foot). This foot has a wider hole in the center to
accommodate the side to side motion of a needle
as it makes a zigzag stitch. This presser foot can
also be used for straight stitching.  

Your zigzag foot, however, isn’t the best foot to
use for every sewing task. There are times when
changing to a different presser foot can make a
specific sewing task easier.
*
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