The Sewer’s Toolbox: Presser Feet & Needles

Class Preview

Choose and use the right sewing needles and presser feet for a polished look every time! Wendy Gardiner helps you make the most of your tools with top techniques.

About This Class

Meet expert sewer Wendy Gardiner and get an overview of the needles and feet covered in your class. Wendy explains how to use the class as a reference guide: Watch the lessons in order or skip to the kind of foot you want to work with whenever the need arises!

Needle Know-How

Wendy takes the guesswork out of needle choices, explaining which kinds and sizes of needles are best suited to projects ranging from heavy-duty sewing with denim and leather to finer work with silks and chiffons. See how to change needles and work with specialty varieties such as twin needles.

Standard Presser Feet

Explore standard feet that make sewing easier. Wendy shows how to change your presser feet, level a zigzag foot for chunky seams and use a zigzag stitch for elastics. Play with the quilter’s guide and quarter-inch foot, the straight stitch foot and even a satin stitch foot for decorative work.

Zipper Feet

Get the most out of a standard zipper foot with Wendy’s guidance, then discover the versatility of an adjustable zipper foot. You can use it for piping, too! Or give the invisible or concealed zipper foot a try for a super-smooth zipper hidden inside a seam.

Hemming Feet

Don’t be intimidated by the blind hem foot. It makes hemming, adding trims and edgestitching a breeze! Learn to secure fabric edges without a serger, make tucks and add decorative fringe with the overedge (or overcast) foot, or use a blind hem foot for a perfect rolled edge or to attach cording.

Button & Buttonhole Feet

Modern buttonhole feet are little miracles of technology. Wendy will show you how to use one, and also how to “trick” your machine into making an extra-long buttonhole. A button foot is also handy for attaching buttons in a jiffy!

Even-Feed Feet

Wendy’s must-have specialty foot is the walking foot, which allows you to feed difficult fabrics through your machine evenly. Similarly, a roller foot can help you feed slippery or thick fabrics for consistent seams. Finally, a Teflon foot is perfect for sticky materials such as oilcloth.

Fancy Footwork

Check out Wendy’s favorite feet for decorative detail on garments and home furnishings. Try a cording foot to add trims, or the pintuck foot for perfectly even, tiny tucks. Add cording to your tucks, or try using an appliqué foot to jazz up your garments!

Finishing Feet

Have fun with finishing feet, including a bias binding foot that creates a tidy edge, or a beading or braiding foot for adding decorative trim. The exciting ruffler foot also can add pizzazz to your garments. Wendy shows you how to use these clever and versatile feet.