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Is there a Walking foot for mc15000?

Donna Altieri
 

I know the 15000 has the special dual feed but you can't do zig zag or specialty stitches with it.  i used to do those with a walking foot on quilts and now i can't.  does anyone know how i can still accomplish this?

thanks,

donna


Using only a single keyboard, Jim says:

This is easily done. After attaching your dual feed foot just don't turn on the Dual Feed option. It will work without turning the option on - the only thing turning it on does is activate the dial on the side of the machine. You almost never need to change the dial, so sewing with it deactivated is no problem. It would seem that Janome planned on you using that foot with zig zag stitches, since it has a wide opening.
Anne Parker <annegparker@...>
 

Thanks for confirming my suspicions Jim!

I had gathered that turning it on and off on the screen only seemed to grey out certain stitches, it didn't stop the action. I hadn't realized that that activated the dual feed balancing guide dial on the side though as I haven't had to change it yet.  Am I right in thinking that the dual feed should only be used for forward stitches though, as is the case with normal walking feet - so decorative stitches with forward and backward movements are out or is it ok to do those as well?


Anne
​ in Stubbington, UK​

www.sewingtales.wordpress.com

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.  "Desiderata" Max Ehrmann

Using a non-walking keyboard Jim says:

You can use the dual feet feet with any decorative stitch without causing any harm to the machine. It really doesn't care. The issue is the fabric. On a quilt "sandwich" the reverse parts of a decorative stitch may not be as nice as they would on a single layer of fabric. Diane recommends testing before you commit. She also uses the dual feed foot on a regular basis with decorative stitches of all types.
ceilsews <no_reply@...>
 

JIm,
When you have time would you please explain some things to me about this.  I've read it over and over and am still confused.
I didn't think a walking foot could do anything except go frontwards (maybe a few can go backwards but not usually).  Is that not the case?  Also, if you use a Dual Feed foot without turning on the dual feed, what is the point? And what does it mean about activating the dial on the side of the machine?  I get it that the dual feed foot can be used for zig zag, but I thought the Dual Feed foot wasn't exactly the same as a walking foot. I try to read all these posts to hopefully absorb as much as I can but this one just has me in a haze.
I hope my voice comes across as "confused", which I am and not snippy which I don't mean to be.
Thanks,
Ceil

Nearly always coming across as confused, Jim says:
It's helpful to look at how the "walking" foot works. Like the dual feed option, it's essentially a set of feed dogs that come down on the fabric from the top, clamping the layers so they move together in unison. The actual fabric movement is driven by the bottom feed dogs. The top ones just go along for the ride. On most machines the feed dogs come up from below the plate at a slight angle, so the front edge engages first, then the rest rise up with the back edge engaging last. This is OK when moving in a standard front-to-back direction, but doesn't work as well when reversing. Janome's feed system on all of their to-load machines, sometimes called a "box" feed, works by bringing up the entire feed dog in a straight line, so all of the feed dog engages with the fabric at the same time. This system works much better, and eliminates the need for a dual feed mechanism in a lot of applications. (I'm looking at you Pfaff, with your built-in walking foot - you really need it!)

So why the dual feed option on the 12000/15000, when the dual feed foot works without it? It comes down to fabric. If the fabrics are very different, say knit against woven for example, they may not feed the same. The feed dogs against the knit side may sink in and not pull the same as those on the woven side. To overcome this you need a differential feed (also available on many sergers under that name, but applying to front and back feed dogs) that moves the upper and lower fabrics at slightly different rates. When you activate the dual feed option it also activates the mechanism that does this. The difference in feed rates is set by the dial on the right end of the machine. You don't need to do this often, and it really only works for certain stitches, which is why many of them are grayed out when the option is turned on. However the upper feed dog action on the dual feed foot is activated mechanically, when you snap the little hook in at the back. That's why you can use it without turning on the option on the screen.

---In janome12000@..., wrote :

I know the 15000 has the special dual feed but you can't do zig zag or specialty stitches with it.  i used to do those with a walking foot on quilts and now i can't.  does anyone know how i can still accomplish this?

thanks,

donna


Using only a single keyboard, Jim says:

This is easily done. After attaching your dual feed foot just don't turn on the Dual Feed option. It will work without turning the option on - the only thing turning it on does is activate the dial on the side of the machine. You almost never need to change the dial, so sewing with it deactivated is no problem. It would seem that Janome planned on you using that foot with zig zag stitches, since it has a wide opening.
Donna Altieri
 

thanks so much - i didn't realize turning on the dual feed didn't do anything.  i thought it needed to be on so they worked properly.  i wish that was in the directions some where!  love your videos, by the way!

donna
ceilsews <no_reply@...>
 

Thanks, Jim for lifting (most of) the fog.  I'll have to take time to play with this and different fabrics!
Ceil
Anne Parker <annegparker@...>
 

Thanks for that explanation Jim

In my head this translates into,
1.  the dual feed is on all the time though of course you need to use a dual feed foot to clip into the mechanism to take advantage of it.
2.  You only need to use a dual feed foot if the box feed isn't coping with the fabric.
3.  The dual feed balancing guide/differential feed dial is only activated if you actual select the dual feed icon.
4.  You only need to adjust the feed if you are still having problems with the fabric feed when using the dual feed foot.

I'll have to try out using the dual feed foot with the decorative stitches as you mentioned Diane does that all the time :0)

Anne
​ in Stubbington, UK​

www.sewingtales.wordpress.com

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.  "Desiderata" Max Ehrmann

Translating a reply from Texan to English, Jim says:

You are correct Anne, on all points.
cas@...
 

Ceil you are asking the same questions I’m wondering about.  Thanks for explaining it Jim. 
 
I’m not sure I understand.  Are you explaining that because of the way the Janome feed dogs work we probably don’t need a walking foot, and the the dual feed foot is for times when we need differential?
 
Also, I didn’t realize the walking foot was just along for the ride.  I thought it actually had moving feet that helped bulky fabric feed better, when quilting for example.
 
I’m glad we can go backwards with the dual feed because I’ve been doing it until I read someone mention we shouldn’t recently.
Cas

Hoping he's not digging a deeper hole, Jim attempts further clarification:
There are some machines that need a walking foot in order to achieve what Janome's feed system does without one. That's not to say that there aren't times when a walking foot is necessary - two layers of cotton with batting in between being a perfect example of when it is a must.

I wouldn't say that the only time to activate the dual feed option is when you need to adjust the differential. The only time you don't need to activate it is when you want to stitch decorative or zig zag stitches.

The feed dogs do the job of feeding the fabric, but that doesn't mean the dual feed foot is just "along for the ride". It must clamp the fabric together so that all the fabrics are fed when the feed dogs move. The feed dogs in the dual feed foot can move along with the bottom feed dogs, but they are not powered.

I hope this explains it. I think I need to go lie down now.
cas@...
 

Thanks Jim, I’m happy we can assist you growing new neurons in your brain, it keeps it healthy.  Enjoy your rest!
 
I thought the feed dogs in the foot were powered, so much to learn....
Cas
 

Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: [janome12000] Re: Is there a Walking foot for mc15000?
 
 

Ceil you are asking the same questions I’m wondering about.  Thanks for explaining it Jim. 
 
I’m not sure I understand.  Are you explaining that because of the way the Janome feed dogs work we probably don’t need a walking foot, and the the dual feed foot is for times when we need differential?
 
Also, I didn’t realize the walking foot was just along for the ride.  I thought it actually had moving feet that helped bulky fabric feed better, when quilting for example.
 
I’m glad we can go backwards with the dual feed because I’ve been doing it until I read someone mention we shouldn’t recently.
Cas
 
Hoping he's not digging a deeper hole, Jim attempts further clarification:
There are some machines that need a walking foot in order to achieve what Janome's feed system does without one. That's not to say that there aren't times when a walking foot is necessary - two layers of cotton with batting in between being a perfect example of when it is a must.

I wouldn't say that the only time to activate the dual feed option is when you need to adjust the differential. The only time you don't need to activate it is when you want to stitch decorative or zig zag stitches.

The feed dogs do the job of feeding the fabric, but that doesn't mean the dual feed foot is just "along for the ride". It must clamp the fabric together so that all the fabrics are fed when the feed dogs move. The feed dogs in the dual feed foot can move along with the bottom feed dogs, but they are not powered.

I hope this explains it. I think I need to go lie down now.

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