I get a lot of emails from people wanting to know if the industrial strength sewing machine I am selling is a walking foot machine.  It struck me as odd that I would get this same question over and over.  Then I realized where that was coming from.  It seems that some sellers have attempted to blur the line where walking foot machines are concerned. 

What is a walking foot machine?

A walking foot machine is STRICTLY INDUSTRIAL!  It is basically a straight stitch machine that is designed to feed materials evenly, top and bottom pieces.  It features a two piece foot that moves one side at a time in concert with the feed.  As it moves, it appears to walk. 

There is no such thing as a domestic walking foot machine!  They do make a universal attachment that you can mount on a domestic machine, much like you would mount a buttonholer.  This attachment is made to serve a similar purpose to a walking foot, but it is not the same thing. 

These attachments are sometimes called walking foot attachments, but this is a misnomer.  They do not duplicate the motion that gives a true walking foot machine it's name, nor do they turn your domestic machine into a walking foot machine.  Also known as a plaid matchers, they can be effective, but you should know the difference.  If you are interested in one, they are readily available for all styles of domestic machines for around $20 on ebay.

Do I need a walking foot machine?

If you are buying a sewing machine to use in your home, the short answer is probably not.

Some would have you believe that a walking foot machine is crucial in sewing leather. Then they would point you to a portable machine they are selling with a walking foot attachment. The truth is that you would probably be surprised how well leather feeds in some machines without a walking foot. How well material feeds has much to do with the condition, sharpness, and height setting of your feed dogs and what kind of presser foot you are using. It also depends on the downward pressure setting of your presser foot.

Provided you start with a sturdy, well built, powerful machine, chances are you will be able to experiment with settings and sew through a reasonable thickness of leather, vinyl, denim, etc. without a walking foot.

Who needs a walking foot machine?

Factories, mostly.  In mass production, you cannot afford to spend a lot of time sewing any one piece, so a walking foot is often used to eliminate pinning together of material.  The even feed will allow both pieces being sewn to be fed through with limited slippage, thereby keeping patterns and cut pieces true during sewing.  These machines are a staple in the furniture upholstery industry.

I hope this has been helpful to you!

Marc Woodward