See my article on how to tell what shank type you have on your sewing machine. Many machines other than Janome can use the Janome ruler foot when fitted with the proper convertible free motion foot set. The Janome 'ruler toe' is part of the Frame Quilting Foot Set and fits on the Janome Convertible Free Motion Foot Set for high shank machines, low shank machines, and special versions for specific models like the 8200/8900 (9mm machines) and the 1600P. It hadn't been designed with the idea that someone would hold a ruler along with moving the quilt, but that's what I did. You just need to match the shank type of your machine to the foot.Ī ruler foot made to be used on the Janome 1600P when mounted on a frame system is what got me started with rulers. But now there are several options for ruler feet, both made by machine makers and after market feet, usually made by ruler companies for a wide variety of machines. Using rulers on a stationary machine when free motion quilting is still a bit of an out-of-the-box technique and until about two years ago, you may have had to try some out-of-the-box thinking about finding a ruler foot. When using a ruler foot, always lower the foot before lowering the needle. Many quilters tend to bring up the bobbin thread with the foot in the up position and then lowering it for sewing. The very simple habit of lowering the ruler foot into the stitching position before lowering the needle and not raising the foot when the needle is down solves this issue. This also has potential to damage your machine. This means that the clamp and bar that holds the needle in position can run into the top of the foot if the needle is lowered while the foot is in the raised position. A machine 'out of time' will have trouble forming stitches.Īdditionally, the high edge of a ruler foot reduces the clearance between the needle bar and the foot on a domestic sewing machine. Without the sturdy, high edge around the needle, you run the risk of having a ruler slip over or under the foot and breaking the needle and possibly throwing the machine out of timing. Using a "ruler foot" is highly important with this technique. These machines usually have a ruler foot available and the content I provide here is applicable to these machines. Sit down long arm systems have become popular in the last few years and these machines use the same "move the quilt" method of quilting as those who quilt on a sewing machine. It took some practice, but is totally doable! After some research, other feet were found (and some created by others) to use with this technique. I first experimented with a Janome ruler foot that was intended for use with a machine in a frame system, instead moving the ruler and quilt along the foot as a unit. See the ruler feet by clicking this link.Įvery single bit of this quilt in progress was quilted with rulers. My recommendations and descriptions are detailed and informative, service is fast, and shipping is reasonable. It can also help more experienced quilters by giving more structure to a quilting design.Įdited Septemto add: I am excited to let you know that Amy's Quilting Adventures now carries a wide variety of quilting rulers and the feet needed to use them safely. Using rulers to quilt can be a little like training wheels for a new free motion quilter, helping to form designs. I didn't create ruler work, rather I found a ruler foot and adapted what long arm quilters were doing with rulers, which allows the creation of straight lines and smooth curves. Using rulers to guide free motion quilting on a domestic machine is my signature technique.
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