Sewing Machine Presser Feet
Pick a specialty foot for gathers, piping or decorative cord
A specialty foot pays off when it handles a specific part of the job. Decide whether you want the fabric gathered, cord enclosed inside a seam, or cords held in place on top.
A gathering foot gives a soft gather
Janome describes using its gathering foot on lightweight fabric and joining the gathered layer to a flat layer in the same pass. Choose this kind of foot when the project calls for a soft gather. When you need more pronounced or regularly spaced pleats, compare a ruffler and the settings in its manual.
Match the piping groove to the cord
A piping foot supports the cord under the sole as you make or attach piping. Compare the groove and the diameter the manufacturer specifies, particularly when fabric wraps around the cord. Check the mount separately. Janome describes its 202088004 as a screw-on piping foot for supported models.
Count guides for cords sewn onto the surface
Brother’s SA157 holds up to five narrow cords for embellishment on documented machines. Compare the number of guides with the planned design and check that the stitch can catch the cords. For a single covered cord at the edge of a cushion, compare a piping foot instead.