trouble w/ walking foot! RESOLVED!

[CaroleJ]

I am so sad...I can't get my new walking foot to work! I don't know if I didn't install it properly, or if it's a problem with my machine.

I have a Singer 401 Slant-O-Matic. Got my new toy yesterday, sat down to play...and the machine needle was hitting the edge of the foot. Not all the time, though, just SOMEtimes. Infrequently enough to encourage hope! I did notice I can't backstitch at all without the needle hitting the foot; that was broken needle #1.

I messed with it and adjusted it, sewed for a bit, and finally gave up after breaking three needles. It's especially frustrating because the stitches look absolutely beautiful, and not a ripple in sight on the back of my sample. Whaaaaaah.....I guess when I pick Sadie up at the shop, I should bring Flossie in for a look-see. I'll bring the foot with me and see what they have to say.

*********************
Update: turns out the walking foot I bought doesn't fit the machine properly so the alignment was off. WHEW! I thought it might be something wrong with my machine. Of course, they were happy to sell me another foot, but we tested it out right there in the shop and it is working beautifully!

I didn't have the chance to return the other foot; didn't have the receipt in my purse with me. Will do that another time.

Once I have had some practice and am feeling more confident, I can turn some of these UFOs into quilts! Yaaaay!

[Georgiapeach]

Oh Carole, what a bummer! I don't know anything about your Singer Slant model, but you might check to see if you've got the bar thingy on the walking foot attached properly where it raises like it's supposed to. Also, can you adjust your needle position? So sorry you can't get it to work right, hopefully the repair place can figure it out quickly for you.

[sunsup]

How disappointing. I sure hope the shop can get the foot and your machine working together.

[HomespunMary]

Carole, how annoying! Hope your dealer can get it sorted!

[CaroleJ]

Still sniveling here...kinda like opening a present to find it's a box of plastic grocery bags...big letdown. <weh, weh, weh> Thanks, everyone for the sympathetic ears.

Peach, I am pretty sure I've got the doohickey on properly, even went to a website and checked it against some photos. It raises fine. The needle strikes the posterior edge of the foot; adjusting the needle position horizontally didn't help. >-(

I don't want to mess up my lovely Flossie the 401, so I won't make any more attempts on my own. We were so looking forward to our playdates! I will have to give her some attention today.

[cindyg]

Isn't it aggravating when our toys don't want to work right? I hope your repair person can fix it quickly for you.

[CoyoteQuilts]

Is the foot for a 'slant' shank machine??? The needle hits different when you use a low or high shank on a slant shank machine. I have never heard of a slant shank walking foot, but lots of improvements have been made since I worked with machines.

Good luck, Sharon V.

[gmaann]

I'm hoping to hear what the dealer says about the problem, Carole! It's so frustrating when things don't work the way we WANT them to work, isn't it?? I had a little trouble with the walking foot on my new BabyLock Espire, but discovered that I had installed it incorrectly. Whew!

[Susie]

I'm so glad you got the right foot now! That walking foot is wonderful. I use mine for straight stitch quilting and for putting on the binding. No puckers. I am happy for you!
Susie

[CaroleJ]

AAAK, now I can't find the blasted receipt for the wrong foot I bought at the other shop!!!

Oooooh wellllll!