Although the standard or all-purpose presser foot that comes with your sewing machine can be used for sewing a variety of utilitarian and decorative functions, specialty presser feet are designed to make many sewing tasks faster, easier and more enjoyable.
This information includes instructions for the following presser feet:
| Overcast | Narrow Hem | Blind Hem | Cording |
| Darning | Applique | Gathering | Pintuck |
| Roller | 1/4 inch | | |
Sewing Tips
- Become friends with your machine by previewing the instruction book, studying the line drawings and learning the name and function of each part.
- Practice using each stitch and each foot. Make a stitch sampler. Lightweight cotton backed with an iron-on stabilizer works well for decorative stitches.
- Clean your machine after every eight hours of sewing time, more frequently if your fabric generates a lot of lint. A fluffy make-up brush or a new 1/2" paintbrush make excellent cleaning tools. The mini vacuum tools used to clean computers also work well.
- Change needles frequently. The average project contains as many as 50,000 stitches! While modern fabrics are a joy to work with, the synthetics dull needles quickly. A dull needle can damage your fabric. A bent needle can damage your machine.
- Treating your machine to an annual tune-up will add years to its life. Even stored machines need to run periodically.
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Simplicity Consumer Helpline
800-335-0025
Attaching and Removing Presser Feet
Presser feet are available in snap-on or screw-on styles. If your machine uses only the screw-on type you can replace the presser foot with a snap-on presser foot holder adapter in order to use snap-on presser feet. Some presser feet are available in the screw-on style only.
Attaching a Snap-On Presser Foot Holder Adapter
- Loosen the holding screw located on the left side of the presser foot on the presser bar. It is not necessary to remove the screw all the way.
- Remove the screw-on foot.
- Slide the Snap-On Presser Foot Holder adapter onto the presser foot bar.
- Tighten the holding screw to hold the adapter in place.
Removing and Attaching a Snap-On Presser Foot
- Turn the handwheel towards you to bring the needle to its highest position.
- Raise the presser foot bar. (fig. A)
- To remove the snap-on presser foot, push the presser foot release lever located behind the presser foot holder. The presser foot will come off. (fig. B)
- To attach a foot, place the desired foot on the needle plate, aligning the metal pin on the presser foot with the groove of the presser foot holder. (fig. C)
- Lower the presser foot bar to snap the foot in place. (fig. D)
Fig. A |
Fig. B |
Fig. C |
Fig. D |
Attaching Screw-On Presser Feet
 - Loosen the holding screw located on the left side of the presser foot on the presser foot bar. It is not necessary to remove the screw all the way.
- Remove the screw-on foot or the presser foot holder adapter.
- Attach the desired screw-on presser foot onto the presser bar.
- Tighten the holding screw to hold the presser foot in place.
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Note: After attaching a presser foot, select the desired stitch and turn the handwheel towards you several times to make sure the needle clears the opening in the foot. Some presser feet require a straight or narrow stitch only.
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Overcast Foot
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Recommended Stitches:
Zigzag Stitch
Three-step Zigzag
Overcast Stitch
Overlock Stitch |
Designed to be used for clean finishing fabric edges or seaming and overcastting in one step
The overcast presser foot has an extension guide on the right toe of the foot to guide the fabric edge and a pin under the foot to ensure the stitches lay flat on the fabric edge. Use the zigzag stitch or 3-step zigzan stitch with the overcast foot to clean finish the edges of a single layer woven fabric. Use the overcast or overlock stitch with the overcast foot to seam and finish in one step.
Technique:
- Attach the overcast presser foot to the sewing machine.
- To overcast a fabric edge, select the zigzag stitch or 3-step zigzag stitch. Place the fabric under the foot so the cut edge of the fabric is aligned with the extension guide on the right toe of the foot and sew. (fig. A)
- To seam and overcast in one step, select one of the recommended stitches and use the seam guides on the throat plate to guide the fabric edge. When stitching is complete trim the seam allowance close to the overcasting stitches.
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Note: Be careful not to pull fabric to help it feed through your machine as you sew. This can damage or break needles and throw the machine out of time.
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Roller Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Any Stitch |
The textured rollers on this foot aid in feeding the top and bottom layers of fabric evenly.
Use the roller foot with specialty fabrics such as Ultrasuede, vinyl, and leather and heavy fabrics such as denim. This foot is also a good choice to use when seaming matched plaids. The large needle opening on the foot permits any stitch width to be used.
Technique:
- Attach the foot to the sewing machine.
- Select a stitch
- Place two layers of fabric under the presser foot and sew.
Cording Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Three-Step ZigZag
Decorative |
Use this foot to stitch up to three rows of decorative cords in place at one time. It can also be used to guide a single cord.
Technique:
 - Cut three strands of decorative cords (pearl cotton, baby yarn, decorative thread) each several inches longer than the desired sewn length. Choose either matching or contrasting threat for the needle. It is easier to place the cords in the foot before attaching the foot to the sewing machine.
- Place the cords under the spring plate and into the slots on the front of the foot. Attach the foot to the sewing machine. Place the cords under the foot and to the back. (fig. A)
- Select the three-step zigzag or a decorative stitch. The foot will evenly guide the cords as you sew the cords in place. (fig. B)
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Note: Using invisible thread with the three-step zigzag stitch to sew over cords will give them the appearance of floating over the fabric. |
1/4" Seam Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Straight Stitch, center needle position only |
Used for stitching perfect 1/4" and 1/8" seams
Technique:
- Attach the presser foot to the sewing machine.
- Align the fabric edge with the right or left edge of the presser foot for exact 1/4" seams or align the fabric edge with the vertical red lines of the presser foot for exact 1/8" seams. Guide the fabric edge under the foot an along these lines.
- Along the side of the foot are 3 red lines. The middle line indicates the needle position. The other two lines are exactly 1/4" from the needle. Use these markings to pivot the fabric.
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Quilting and Seam Guide
 | Recommended Stitches:
Any Stitch |
Use the all purpose presser foot with the adjustable guide to sew evenly spaced parallel rows of stitching.
Technique:
 - Insert the guide through the small hole near the back of the presser foot holder, working from right to left.
- Set the guide the desired distance from the needle by sliding it either to the right or left.
- After sewing a row of stitching, move the fabric to the right, placing the curved arm of the bar on the previous row of stitching. Stitch another row.
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Narrow Rolled Hem Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Straight Stitch |
Use this foot to hem napkins, tablecloths, and scarves as well as making narrow hems during clothing construction.
 Technique:
- Attach the narrow rolled hem foot to the sewing machine.
- Fold a 1/8" double hem to the wrong side of the fabric about 2" at the beginning of the hem. (fig. A)
- Pull the needle and bobbin thread out about 6" and place them behind the presser foot.
- Place the rolled edge of the hem under the presser foot. Lower the foot and take several stitches. Stop with the needle in the fabric. (fig. B)
- Raise the foot. Pick up the fabric end and use the thread tails to roll it into the scroll of the foot.
- Lower the foot and begin stitching slowly. Hold the fabric up and slightly to the left. Make certain you feed the fabric evenly and keep the scroll full. With a little practice, you'll soon be achieving professional results.
Gathering Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Straight Stitch, center needle position only |
Gathers light to medium weight fabrics instantly
Technique:
- Attach the gathering foot to the sewing machine.
- Place one layer of fabric under the presser foot and sew.
- For fewer gathers, shorten the stitch length and sew using normal top tension.
- For more gathers, use the longest stitch length and tighten the top tension slightly.
- Always test sew on a sample of your fabric first to determine the adjustments you’ll need to make for the amount of gathering desired.
Blind Hem Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Blind Hem Stitch
Straight Stitch for topstitching
Decorative Stitch for topstitching |
The adjustable guide on this foot allows you to sew nearly invisible blind hems. This versatile foot can also be used as a guide for accurate edge stitching and seaming.
 Technique:
- Use your serger or sewing machine to finish the fabric edge to be hemmed. Use a 3-thread balanced serger stitch or a sewing machine zigzag or overcasting stitch.
- Attach the blind hem foot to the sewing machine. Select the blind hem stitch on the pattern selector dial. Loosen the tension slightly. Turn up the hem and press. (fig. A)
- Fold the hem back against the right side of the garment with the finished hem edge extending about 1/4". (fig. B)
- Place the garment under the foot with the folded edge along the hem guide. Adjust the guide by turning the screw so that the fabric fold is against the guide and the needle just barely catches the fold as you sew. Stitch slowly. (fig. C)
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Note: Using invisible thread in the needle with regular thread in the bobbin produces a nearly invisible hem.
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Technique: Edge-stitching and seaming with the Blind Hem Foot
- Attach the blindhem foot to the sewing machine
- Select the desired stitch.
- Move the adjustable guide until it is the exact distance you want the fabric edge from the needle.
- Align the fabric edge against the guide on the presser foot and sew.
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Note: If you are a quilter, consider purchasing an extra blindhem foot and adjust the guide for a 1/4" seam. Use 1/4" graph paper under the needle to enable you to measure exactly. Put a drop of glue on the adjusting screw on the guide to hold the guide permanently in place. |
Applique or Open-Toe Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Medium width zigzag with stitch length shortened to 0.5 or 1 for a satin stitch.
Any decorative stitch |
Use this foot to sew appliqués and other decorative satin stitches. The open area at the toe of the foot enables you to clearly see the stitch path. The underside of the foot has a wide channel that allows dense stitching to easily glide under the foot.
Technique: Applique
 - Attach the open toe foot to the sewing machine.
- To appliqué, set your machine for a satin stitch. Fuse a fabric appliqué shape to a base fabric. Place a stabilizer beneath the base fabric. Sew around the cut edges of the appliqué shape guiding the fabric so the left swing of the stitch falls just over the appliqué edge and into the base fabric. (fig. A)
Technique: Decorative
- To sew a decorative stitch, simply select the desired stitch and sew. For best results use a stabilizer underneath the fabric to support extra dense stitches.
Pintuck Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Straight stitch, medium length, center needle position only |
This foot is used with a twin needle to create multiple rows of evenly spaced pintucks.
Technique:
- Attach the pintuck foot to the sewing machine. Replace the single needle with a twin needle. Make sure the flat side of the shank is towards the back. Thread the machine with two spools of thread on two spool pins. Use the same thread path and thread each needle separately.
- Mark the first pin tuck placement line on the fabric using a water soluble marker.
- Align the center of the foot over the placement line on the fabric and stitch.
- Reposition the fabric, placing the previously sewn tuck in one of the grooves on the foot. Stitch a second row using the grooves in the foot as a guide. Continue repositioning the fabric to stitch multiple pin tucks.
Darning Foot
 | Recommended Stitches:
Straight or zigzag stitch |
Use the darning foot for darning or free-motion sewing and quilting. The feed dogs are either dropped or covered and the fabric is guided by hand. This allows "free" movement of the fabric in any direction. The tiny hoop on the darning foot presses the fabric against the needle plate, allowing better stitch formation. Use free-motion sewing to monogram, thread-paint, or quilt by outlining or stippling.
To attach the darning foot:
- Remove the presser foot holder or the screw-on presser foot by loosening the thumbscrew on the left side of the presser foot.
- Hold the darning foot in your right hand so that the "arm" of the foot points upward.
- Press the darning foot on firmly from behind so that the thumbscrew slides into the bracket and the "arm" rests on top of the needle clamp screw. (fig. A)
- Tighten the thumbscrew to hold the darning foot in place. (fig. B)
- Lower the feed dogs or cover the feed dogs with the darning plate cover.
Technique: Free-motion embroidery:
- Attach darning foot. Lower or cover feed dogs. Set stitch length to 0.
- Place fabric and stabilizer into a machine embroidery hoop. Raise the needle to its highest position and slide the hoop under the needle.
- Lower the presser foot lever.
- To lock the stitching, hold the needle thread in the left hand and turn the hand wheel towards you as you draw up the bobbin thread.
- Holding threads firmly, take three to five stitches in one spot.
- Begin sewing at a slow to medium speed. Guide fabric forwards, backwards, and sideways.
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Note: Relax your shoulders and breathe while you work. Place hands firmly around the hoop, using your index and middle fingers to guide the fabric. Be sure to lower the presser foot before sewing! |
Technique: Free Motion Quilting
- Baste or pin-baste the fabric, batting and backing together. It is not necessary to place this in a hoop.
- Select a design already in the fabric or transfer your own using a template.
- Continue with the directions above for free motion embroidering.
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