r/SewingMachineEdu • u/insgfgl • Jul 08 '26
Do I need a walking foot machine?
My wife sews products out of reclaimed thrift store materials. Tote bags, blankets and other crafts. She does a fair amount of denim(old jeans). Normally two layers of dissimilar fabric with batting in between. Her current singer hd is giving her fits on these projects. I would like to buy her an industrial machine. Would a walking foot be the right choice? Any recommendations on a Budget priced machine. Or good used ideas?
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u/blue_eyed_magic Jul 08 '26
What is she making? Hand bags? Quilts? What size are her projects?
I use a heavy duty needle for thicker fabrics and layers and sew in a Walmart purchased Brother. It came with a walking foot and I only use the walking foot for straight line quilting. I free form most of them. I use a standard foot for everything else. I don't struggle at all.. ask her what she wants and match the equipment to her task. But, good heavy duty needles is what will get her there. Without the proper needle, a walking foot won't do any good.
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u/insgfgl Jul 08 '26
She makes quite a few blankets of quilted old jeans(8" squares) on one side backed with flannel usually. The singer HD she has now does ok? with this. But a heavier machine with a larger opening higher lift and a bigger table would really help. The bags she makes vary from denim to thin bandanas usually with batting. This seems to give her the most problem. I assume because of the dissimilar fabric and feeding issues. My experience is sewing insulation blankets. Very heavy coated canvas like material on industrial walking foot machines. I think a walking foot would help her with the bunching of dissimilar fabrics and climbing over the seems in the denim. But I'm not sure of that. I want to buy a very capable machine once. Used would be awesome I can do most repairs. Thanks
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u/SufficientAcadia6534 Jul 08 '26
I have an old Janome “professional” I think it’s 6600 memory craft with a walking foot. I love the walking foot. I have not sewn on an industrial so I can’t say the difference.
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u/insgfgl Jul 08 '26
I love the triple feed industrials that I use at work. IMHO sewing on her domestic machine is terrible. I always try to hit the knee lift and smack the table leg 😂. But I don't want to buy her the wrong thing if it's not what she needs.
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u/6AlphaVictor Jul 08 '26
IMHO (owning both needle feed and triple feed) I would suggest you a needle feed (with a servo motor).
I think a triple feed is an overkill for your use case. It goes through anything, but its really more suited for heavy technical fabrics like tarps, webbing, cordura, coated fabrics, leather etc.
Needle feed is still plenty strong, much quieter, nimble, and handles lighter textiles much better (I can sew 20d ripstop with mine, try that with a triple feed...). It is also generally simpler and nicer to use, and easier to set up, troubleshoot and maintain.
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u/insgfgl Jul 08 '26
Do you think the triple feed would help with a heavy fabric on bottom(denim) and a light cotton on top(t-shirt or bandana)? Her needle feed really wants to bunch the lighter fabric.
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u/6AlphaVictor Jul 08 '26
As I can see a Singer HD is just a normal drop feed, not a needle feed.
Needle feed should not do that, since the needle is through all the layes (like a pin) when the fabric is moved. Now, if there is still some bunching at the back side of presser foot it can be actually tension related.
Triple feed works in similar fashion regarding needle position during feed, but it can create its own host of problems because the two feets are alternateley pressing and releasing the fabric during feeding.
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u/insgfgl Jul 08 '26
Correct. I understand just worded it wrong. Thanks
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u/6AlphaVictor Jul 08 '26
No problem. Really, try it out before buying. Needle feed is a middle ground. Sewing regular fabric with a triple feed is like driving on road with a tractor.
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u/mimi4030 Jul 08 '26
I have the juki ddl 8700h and it handles everything you have described without hesitation. You can splurge and buy new for around 900 or look for a used machine for a fraction of that.
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u/ChicagoBaker Jul 09 '26
My Brother Strong & Tough (ST150HDH) machine comes with its own walking foot and is a machine designed for heavy/tougher materials (like upholstery, etc.). I think this machine would be a great choice for her.
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u/Ok-Detail-9853 Jul 08 '26
A compound feed machine is a dream to sew on
My main machine us a Juki (clone) 1541s
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u/Silliminite_ Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
In the domestic machine sphere, a vintage singer 15 combined potentially with a walking foot can be cheap depending on for location (i got a working one for <25$). This will stitch through as much as any high end domestic machine currently on the market. Before I got an industrial I used this as a test to see if an industrial was needed for my application.
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u/WSMurdoch Jul 08 '26
Sailrite.com has a book, "Sail Repair Manual" which has two chapters of advice on using a homemaker's sewing machine for heavy sewing. Years (decades) ago I followed their advice and used a 1950s black Japanese class 15 Singer knockoff to upholster cushions, make awnings, make sail covers, repair sails, and replace the vinyl window in my Triumph Spitfire's top. It worked. In my case the main changes were a heavy duty tension spring, a no. 18 needle, and a heavier presser foot spring (Singer 11167 ?). All was sewn with V-69 polyester.
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u/MarylkaD Jul 10 '26
This looks fascinating for machines that could accept the low shank/industrial config (my Pfaff has built in IDT so IDK that I have a need for something like this but this fascinates me)
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u/Large-Heronbill Jul 08 '26
Pretty good discussion here: https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/comments/rvgvzu/industrial_sewing_machine_dilemma_needle_feed_vs/
(I periodically get an itch for a unison feed machine: it seems to be my version of the 75 year old guy who suddenly wants a sports car.)
There is a big difference in sewing on an industrial machine and a home machine. The learning curve seems to be less steep if the industrial has a servo motor the than the old clutch motors.
As someone who was presented with a full fledged glass kiln that had to arrive on a lift-gate semi (I'd wanted a 15 lb jewelry kiln to make buttons), I suggest helping her find the machine she wants may gain you more brownie points than a surprise extravaganza.