Did your sewing machine come with a handful of questionable different presser feet? No worries, this may look a bit overwhelming at first, but these sewing machine feet are actually a great tool to have to help you.  Your standard presser foot will get you far.  But don’t let being new to sewing intimidate you to try the others.  Here are a few standard feet and what they do:

standard presser foot

The standard presser foot that comes attached with most all sewing machines can also be called a universal, or zig zag foot. This foot can be used for stitching with both a straight and zig zag stitch.

Blind hem foot

A blind hem foot in another that comes standard with most sewing machines, but it can look a bit different depending on the brand. This foot is used to create a professional finish on pants.

Zipper foot

Most machines will come with a zipper foot. This foot slides along the side of a zipper and allows you to stitch closer to the zipper teeth.

Buttonhole foot

Standard to most sewing machines, buttonhole foot allow you to accurately stitch buttonholes of varying lengths for consistency.

Overlocking, Overcasting or Overedge foot

Another foot that comes standard with most machines is also known by several names: overlocking, overcasting, or overedge foot. This foot, used with a standard zig-zag stitch, can be used to finish the raw edge of the fabric.

There are several other sewing machine feet that you can purchase to help in sewing specialty items. However, as a beginner, the majority of what you will be practicing making can be done with the attachments above.

It may also be helpful to know that most of your feet will be labeled with a letter. If you are using a digital sewing machine, the screen will tell you which foot to attach for the stitch that you have selected. If your machine is not digital, refer to your manual to see which feet you will need to use for decorative stitches.

Joan Mantini

About Joan Mantini

After several years of being the Facebook page owner at Beginner Sewing, I noticed there was a desperate need to have a single go-to spot for members to be able to find answers to their common questions, get some useful tips & tricks, as well as find reputable places to purchase sewing products online. Taking my role as a trade publication editor by day, and combining it with my knowledge of frequently requested beginner sewing advice, I created www.https://beginner-sewing.com/. An outlet that gives new sewists a free digital magazine geared for entry level sewing as an extra bonus!