The folks here at Missouri Star work hard to keep you sewing. Not only do we keep the best fabrics, thread, batting, and patterns on hand. We also strive to stay fully stocked with sewing machine accessories. If you need a sewing machine light bulb or a presser foot, we’ve got your back. You can order your sewing parts online with your fabric and have it delivered lickety-split.
If you’re a starting-out-sewist, you may not yet know your way around some of these sewing supplies, but that’s no problem! Our knowledge of sewing machine parts is as extensive as our selection of sewing notions! Call or chat with us, or send us a message! Click on Contact Us at the bottom of the webpage; we are happy to help. But let’s see what we can clear up right here.
First off, whether you’re hand sewing or using a sewing machine, you will need basic sewing supplies. A basic toolkit usually includes a fabric scissors, a seam ripper, tape measure, hand sewing needles, a selection of common thread colors, straight pins, and a fabric marker. You will add more items as you need them.
If you are working on a sewing machine, there are a few other things you’ll need to have. Most sewing machines come with the necessities, such as instructions, cleaning tools, several bobbins, and basic sewing machine presser feet–a standard foot, a zipper foot, and a buttonhole foot.
If you haven’t spent much time with a sewing machine, you probably have questions. What are presser feet? How does a presser foot work? Must I use a presser foot to sew? Are presser feet universal? What are feed dogs on a sewing machine?
Let’s work from the bottom up. Feed dogs are the teeth-like metal ridges that protrude from the needle plate on the bed of your sewing machine. Their job is to grab the fabric from underneath and pull it under the sewing needle. Presser feet press the fabric down from above and hold it flat over the feed dogs. They provide control and stability while the needle stitches the layers of fabric together. You actually can sew without a presser foot, but then it becomes your job to keep your fabric steady as you stitch. Sewing machine feet are not universal; it is wise to do a bit of research before purchasing presser feet for your machine.
There are several different types of presser feet, each designed to do a special job. For example, a zipper foot is skinny which allows you to stitch close to the teeth of a zipper. An overcast foot allows thread to wrap around the edge of fabric to prevent raveling, giving an edge similar to that of a serger. There are two types of feet for sewing hems–a rolled hem presser foot and a blind stitch foot. These will help you make different styles of professionally finished hems. A zipper foot is generally included with even basic sewing machines, but feet for finishing raw edges and sewing hems often are not. These may be sewing machine feet you would like to purchase as you increase and vary the kinds of sewing you do.
A stitch guide foot is a clever little device. This foot has a horizontal bar with score marks every millimeter. This foot gives the sewist extra help guiding the fabric. For example, if you want to add a decorative second or third line of stitching, the sewing machine foot guide will help you do it.
Another foot you may want to purchase is a free motion quilting foot. This foot is also sometimes called a darning foot, an embroidery foot, or a quilting foot. This foot allows sewists to guide the fabric in any direction they desire. It is useful for repairing tears or holes in clothing, stipple quilting with a home machine, and free motion machine embroidery.
A walking foot is a clunky looking thing, but there is a reason for that. Unlike other presser feet, a walking foot has feed dogs that grip the top layer of whatever you are sewing while the machine’s feed dogs grip the bottom layer. This double grip action is enormously helpful when you are sewing something bulky–like a quilt. A walking foot can also be helpful when you are sewing stretchy fabrics or sticky fabrics such as leather or vinyl. Any time that you feel the top and bottom layers of your project are not moving through your sewing machine together, a walking foot may solve the problem. Before you purchase a walking foot, do your homework; it needs to be specific to the brand of your sewing machine.
Whether you’re looking for a replacement foot or you want to add a new foot to your toolkit, Missouri Star is happy to help you find your “footing.” We are also ready to help with machine essentials such as cleaning brushes, extension tables, bobbins, LED sewing machine lights, and sewing machine mats. We hope to keep you stitching smoothly and in proper tension!
