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BROWSE SCHOOLHOUSE
Is the presser foot misaligned? Is the fabric swimming or wandering under the presser foot? Are their skipped stitches when sewing over thick seams? Then this tutorial will help with troubleshooting these common problems.
In a previous tutorial we showed how to properly adjust the actual pressure on the presser foot. Today we will discuss the proper height and position of the presser foot and how to set it accurately.
Parts Discussed:
The pressure on the presser foot as well as its height and position are important to proper stitch formation. When the presser foot is lowered and compressed on the fabric, a balanced pressure to hold and feed the fabric is required. This pressure can vary, depending on the type or thickness of fabric layers. The previous tutorial illustrated how to add more pressure to the foot, but if the foot is not at the right height to begin with, adding pressure will not help.
NOTE: Setting the presser foot height and alignment is best accomplished using the vintage original presser foot that came with your Singer Featherweight 221 or 222. It must not be bent or twisted in any direction so that it sits evenly on fabric. If you do not have an original presser foot, a new replica presser foot will work as well.
If the presser foot is set properly, the space between the underside of the presser foot and the throat plate will be 5/16 of an inch when the presser foot is raised.
If the presser foot is set too high, it will not have enough compression, inhibiting complete contact with the fabric. This causes stitches to wander or skip and feels like the fabric is "swimming". If the presser foot is set too low, this causes too much compression. The fabric will pucker and pull, preventing the fabric from feeding easily and forming an accurate stitch length.
Adjusting the presser foot height is not a difficult task, but obtaining the exact 5/16 height measurement, aligning and centering the presser foot as well as allowing needle clearance (all at the same time) takes mechanical strategy. Here at The Featherweight Shop, we are always thinking of ways to help the Featherweight community accomplish maintenance adjustments simply and without the downtime of taking the machine in to a repair shop. Therefore, for this type of adjustment, we have manufactured a Presser Foot Gauge that accomplishes all three alignment tasks. And, in true Featherweight fashion, we designed it to look like a little Singer Featherweight.
The Presser Foot Gauge has a precise 5/16" thickness, a raised guide along the side for the presser foot alignment, and a hole for the needle to pass through while making adjustments simultaneously.
Here's how to set the height and alignment of the presser foot:
Congratulations! You've successfully adjusted both the height and alignment of the Singer Featherweight presser foot! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us here.