what is the diffrence between a walking foot and a quilting foot?

Question

i am just learning how to quilt do i need both of these attatchments?

Answer 1

"Quilting foot" is kind of vague. Do you mean a 1/4" quilting foot? Or a free motion quilting foot? If you mean the 1/4" foot, that would be your best bet. The right edge of the foot is 1/4" from the needle, which gives you a guide for where your fabric should be to maintain a 1/4" seam when piecing. A free motion quilting foot is for "quilting" (as opposed to piecing) - when you sew the three layers together. It holds the fabric while still allowing you to see the placement of the needle as you slide the quilt sandwich around. You drop the feed dogs so the fabric slides easily, and you move the fabric manually. Free motion quilting isn't necessarily difficult, but it does take a bit of practice for you to feel comfortable with it.

A walking foot is important when you are quilting (not piecing) straight lines. With the walking foot you leave the feed dogs up, and they move the fabric through the machine. But because you have a thicker three-layer sandwich, they can move the bottom layer faster than the top layer. A walking foot moves the top layer at approximately the same speed, keeping every thing together.

Honestly, if you're just learning to quilt, you don't need ANY special attachments. The 1/4" foot is handy, but if you create a guide along the bed of your quilt you're results will be just as good. If you try to maintain a 1/4" seam by watching the position of the needle, it's too late. You need to watch the position of the fabric a couple of inches before it reaches the needle, so you have time to correct it. It's really easy to make a guide. First, mark a very fine line 1/4" from the edge of a piece of paper. Put the paper in your machine and put the needle down through the line. Sew a few inches, to get the page straight. Draw a pencil line directly on the bed of the machine along the edge of the paper. When you sew, the edge of your fabric should always stay just inside this line, and you'll have perfect seams.

You can also take a roll of blue painters tape (it doesn't leave a residue, so it's the best choice). With a sharp knife or utility blade, cut through the roll 5-10 layers. Turn the tape and cut again a couple of inches along. Pull this section out and flatten it against your sewing machine bed, right along the pencil line. Now when you piece the fabric will easily run along the edge of the tape, keeping itself straight.

Answer 2

a darning foot regularly sounds like a circle so there is various section to work out what you're doing. A quilting foot can likely also be used if the hollow is sufficiently huge that you'll be able to locate what you're doing.

Answer 3

I'd get the quilting foot first. Then if I was really into it, the other.