5 Best Walking Foot For Sewing Machines (2024 update)

I have eavesdropped on sewists for years as they boasted about a sewing machine foot, popularly known as the “Walking Foot.” In your capacity as a professional sewer, you must already be aware of what a walking foot is and how crucial it is when working on bigger projects. However, you must have never heard of a walking foot if you are an amateur sewer. For smaller projects, sewists use presser feet and if you’re interested in that, read our article on the buying guide for presser feet.
So, in this article, you will see the list of the best walking feet for your sewing machines and also a complete buying guide to selecting the right walking foot for your machine.

What is a Walking Foot?

A walking foot attachment is a peculiar-looking, large presser foot. It is typically not offered as an option on home sewing machines. It needs to be purchased separately.
Walking feet are pretty large in size, which offers your sewing machine additional powers. It provides your machine with an extra pair of feed dogs to sew on top of fabrics.
A regular press foot will slide along the top of your material and press down on it. It might sometimes touch the fabric as the feed dogs try to move it toward the back of the sewing machine. The misalignment is fixed by moving the bottom layer with a walking foot at the same speed as the top layer.

Our Top Picks For The Best Walking Foot For Sewing Machines

Best Overall: Singer Even Feed Walking Presser Foot (jump to review)

Best Budget: Denaly Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best for Quilting: Bequilter Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best Open Toe: Honeysew Open Toe Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best for Brother Machines: Yicbor Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

Detailed Reviews Of The Best Walking Foot For Sewing Machines

Best Overall: Singer Even Feed Walking Presser Foot

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Best Budget: Denaly Even Feed Walking Foot

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Best for Quilting: Bequilter Even Feed Walking Foot

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Best Open Toe: Honeysew Open Toe Walking Foot

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Best for Brother Machines: Yicbor Even Feed Walking Foot

Buying Guide – Best Walking Feet

What is a walking foot?

A walking foot attachment is a peculiar-looking, large presser foot. It is typically not offered as an option on home sewing machines. It needs to be purchased separately.
Walking feet are pretty large in size, which offers your sewing machine additional powers. It provides your machine with an extra pair of feed dogs to sew on top of fabrics.
A regular press foot will slide along the top of your material and press down on it. It might sometimes touch the fabric as the feed dogs try to move it toward the back of the sewing machine. The misalignment is fixed by moving the bottom layer with a walking foot at the same speed as the top layer.

What are the advantages and disadvantages (pros and cons) of a walking foot installed in sewing machines?

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can tackle sew foam, upholstery fabrics, heavy canvas, slippery fabrics, vinyl, quilting materials or soft leather	A walking foot mechanism can harm the fabric’s surface while sewing very thin delicate materials like silk
Consists of forward as well as backward sewing	Is quite heavy and difficult to reposition or lift
Can hold more powerful, thicker needles for difficult materials	It can occasionally get a little noisy.
Is able to traverse various heights throughout the entire project with ease	Provides a minimal number of stitching options
Long hours of sewing could be accomplished with a leather walking foot along with a heavy-duty machine setup	In order to maintain its overall performance, proper care and maintenance is required
Can perfectly manage layers without slipping	Is expensive

When Should You Use A Walking Foot?

• Sewing knit materials

Knit materials tend to stretch as you stitch them because they are stretchy.  This is especially true when stitching in the direction of a stretch, such as on a T-shirt’s hem, or sewing with extremely flexible fabrics, like in rib knits. A walking foot makes it easier for knit fabrics to move in the same way and keeps them from stretching out of shape.

• Sewing to bind quilts

While binding, the bottom layer may sometimes slide in front of the top layer, which results in wonky binding and puckers. When sewing on mini-quilt binding or quilt binding, these problems go away when you use a walking foot.

• Sewing heavy materials and thick seams

Because they are thick and bulky, fabrics like upholstery fabric, terrycloth with many layers, and thick wool don’t feed well. This problem can be handled by a walking foot, which makes sewing heavy-weight fabric quite simple. It is also great for sewing thick seams. Using a walking foot also makes it much easier to work with leather, oilcloth, vinyl, plastics, and other similar materials.

When Should You Avoid Using Your Walking Foot?

• Backwards sewing

Reverse use of a walking foot is not intended. The fabric can be moved forward by the walking foot’s feed dogs and backward by the sewing machine’s feed dogs.

• Multi-layer sewing

A walking foot has hardly any use while dealing with multiple layers of any fabric that you are sewing with. Its only use is to push the feed dogs against a regular presser foot. This creates the friction that the clothing layers need to move through smoothly.

• Sewing on delicate materials

If you try using your walking foot on a silk jersey, you’re going to stop using it immediately, as the material will be gnawed up by your walking foot. Walking feet are great, but you should never use them on delicate fabrics without first testing the seam on some scraps.

What Is the Difference Between a Walking Foot Sewing Machine and a Walking Foot Sewing Machine Attachment?

The fundamental distinction between a walking foot accessory and a walking foot sewing machine is that the whole machine can help the foot move over the fabric.

• Walking Foot Sewing Machine

A regular sewing machine pulls on the top piece of fabric, which makes the stitches uneven. A walking foot sewing machine, on the other hand, has a unique design that feeds both the bottom and top pieces of fabric at the same rate.

A sewing machine with a “walking foot” will appear to be moving its foot while you are sewing. Mostly for industrial use, a walking-foot sewing machine is constructed.

• Walking Foot Attachment

The walking foot attachment, which has a unique appearance, is intended to add an extra pair of feed dogs for the top of your fabric being sewed.

This facilitates easy handling of uncommon fabrics. Because the presser foot that is on top of the fabric runs alongside the feed dogs available below, it makes sewing thick layers easier.

Where Can I Get a Walking Foot?

A walking foot provided by the manufacturer is included with most machines. If not, the maker of your machine may sell this unique foot as an optional extra. However, the foot meant particularly for your sewing machine needs to be found online. Although walking feet come in varying prices, they are usually more expensive than regular presser feet. Amazon is a great place to find a wide variety of walking shoes.

Summary: The Best Walking Foot For Sewing Machine Is

Best Overall: Singer Even Feed Walking Presser Foot (jump to review)

Best Budget: Denaly Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best for Quilting: Bequilter Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best Open Toe: Honeysew Open Toe Walking Foot (jump to review)

Best for Brother Machines: Yicbor Even Feed Walking Foot (jump to review)

In all honesty, one should always use a walking foot while working with thick materials. The main benefit is that it helps to stop fabric slipping, and you’ll be able to make same-length stitches in all directions. By adding an extra walking foot to your accessories, you may be able to change it quickly.
Use this guide to select the best walking foot for your sewing journey.

If you are an advanced sewist, have a look at our best sewing books and best sewing magazines posts and if you are looking to get a basic, heavy duty or industrial sewing machine, have a look at some of our great articles. If you are a beginner sewist, review our best sewing books for beginners and best sewing machines under $200 to get started. Happy Stitching.

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