Sewing machine feet (totally) demystified.

I had to make a large amount piping for my book because it's a very useful technique and I've never seen red and white polka dot piping in the shops.  Have you?

  Pretty and perfect polka dot piping (say that fast 3 times) made a whole lot faster, easier, and more professional looking with the aid of my new piping machine foot.  This piping foot has grooves running vertically underneath the foot.  The groove keeps the piping under control whilst you cover it with polka dot prettiness.

It would appear that there is a sewing machine foot for every job known to human. I haven't yet identified a machine foot that will walk the dog when it's raining or even pay for my car insurance, but I'm sure that's only because I haven't looked hard enough.

I won't pretend to know about the squillions of different machine feet out there, I only know that each time I use a new and mysterious machine foot I think to myself "bloody 'ell where have you been all my life?!"  So I thought it might be helpful to bring these very handy sewing machine foot links out of my book marks and put them in one place on the blog. 

Very helpful sewing machine foot links - (stick 'em on the fridge):

• Florence does a fantastic job of demystifying machine feet.
• This USA shop site has fab pics of various feet in action.
• USA site with 2 pgs of clear pics and descriptions of feet.
• Informative blog post on various machine feet.
• Explanation of high vs low shank and snap-on vs screw-on.
• ...and then we have this FER-LIPPING amazing list of video clips for loads of different machine feet in action. All taken from this comprehensive UK sewing machine shop site.

Play sewing machine Video:  Adjustable Overcast Foot  2.4 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Applique Foot  2.7 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Bias Binder  5.6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Bridging Guide  3.2 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Circular Embroidery Guide  2.6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Couching/Braiding Foot with IDT  1.8 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Eyelet Plate  4 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Felling Foot  2.9 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Free-Motion Quilt Foot  2.5 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Fringe Presser Foot with IDT  1.7 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Gathering Foot plastic  998 KB
Play sewing machine Video:  Invisible Zipper Foot  2.6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Knit-edge Foot  2.8 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Stitch in the Ditch 1/4 inch with IDT  2.2 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Non-stick Decorative Stitch Foot  2.9 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Non-stick Maxi-stitch Embroidery Foot  2.7 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  1/4 inch Quilting Foot with IDT  2.8 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Open Toe Applique Foot 6mm with IDT  1.5 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Pintuck Blade  5.3 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Pintuck Foot: Five Seven or Nine Groove  1.6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Pintuck Foot with Decorative Stitch Guide  5.7 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Piping Foot  3.3 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Quilting Guide  6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Rolled Hem Foot  1.8 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Roller Foot  1.4 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Ruffler Attachment  5.6 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  7/9 Hole Cord Foot with IDT  2.4 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Sew-on Button Foot  7.9 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Straight Stitch Foot with Round Needle Hole  2.1 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Straight Stitch Needle Plate  1.2 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Three-Groove Cording Foot  1.9 MB
Play sewing machine Video:  Twin Welting Piping Foot  2.4 MB
Play overlock Video:  Band and Braiding Foot Q  5.5 MB
Play overlock Video:  Beading Foot P  3.2 MB
Play overlock Video:  Bead Needle Plate P  7.6 MB
Play overlock Video:  Blindstitch Foot D  3 MB
Play overlock Video:  Bridging Guide F-2  5.3 MB
Play overlock Video:  Clear Foot N  5.1 MB
Play overlock Video:  Cording Guide K-2  10.1 MB
Play overlock Video:  Cording Tongue K-1  3.7 MB
Play overlock Video:  Curved Seam Guide  9.3 MB
Play overlock Video:  Elastic Gathering Guide  6.7 MB
Play overlock Video:  Gathering Shirring Foot  4.6 MB
Play overlock Video:  Gathering Shirring Tongue  7.5 MB
Play overlock Video:  Hemmer Guide H-2  4.6 MB
Play overlock Video:  Lace and Bias Tape Guide H-3  8.2 MB
Play overlock Video:  Lace Guide F-3  5.8 MB
Play overlock Video:  Piping and Welting Accessory  14.5 MB
Play overlock Video:  Piping and Welting Foot E  2.7 MB
Play overlock Video:  Retaining Screws for Attachment Holder  2.6 MB
Play overlock Video:  Strap and Beltloop Foot L  4.4 MB
Play overlock Video:  Tape Binder 40mm  9.6 MB
Play overlock Video:  Transparent Presser Foot F  7.7 MB
Play overlock Video:  Universal Tape Binder  4.5 MB