Welcome back to The Whimsical Workshop blog!
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for following along with us. I hope you're having lots of fun setting up or rearranging your sewing area and feeling inspired to start your next project.
Before you jump into your next quilt, let's talk about sewing machine feet. There are so many options out there, it can be hard to know which ones you need, which ones are fun extras to have, and which ones are crucial for specific projects.
When it come to quilting, most of us use a ¼” foot for all our sewing needs. However there are plenty of other feet that can help with piecing and appliqué. I have picked out the top 5 sewing machine feet that I've found myself reaching for over the years, and listed them out for you below:
1. The 1/4" Foot: This is the main foot you'll use for quilting. The majority of quilt patterns call for 1/4" seams, and this foot will make following those patterns much easier. If you don't have a 1/4" foot, I absolutely recommend investing in one. There are two versions of this foot. Some have a guide on the foot that the fabric can push up against it. If you have not used a 1/4" foot before, I recommend starting with this style over one without the guide.
2. The Walking Foot: This is also a foot that is super important to have in your toolbox as a quilter. A walking foot will help pull in your fabric evenly, which comes in handy if you're sewing thicker fabric, or lots of layers all together. The walking foot has feed dogs built into the bottom of the foot to evenly feed the fabric layers through the machine. If you have a newer machine, check to see if you have dual feed dogs is already built in, which is what a walking foot creates for any machine without this feature.
3. The Open Toe Foot: This sewing machine foot really allows you to see what's going on while you work. It's ideal for finishing raw edge appliqué, blanket stitching and machine appliqué. If you're going to be doing fusible appliqué, this foot will give you added visibility and control as you work our the edges of your piece. Check out our video on finishing the edges of your fusible applique with an open toe foot on our YouTube Channel.
4. The Zipper Foot: Most machines now a days come with a zipper foot, but if your machine does not, this may be useful to have if you're going to be working on garments or bags. Unlike other feet, this foot will let you run right up alongside the edge of a zipper. It can also be useful if you're sewing in piping or cabling.
5. The Top Stitch Foot: This foot will help you get a beautiful top stitch right along the edge of your fabric. It will help you get an accurate, controlled straight stitch and helps give your project a much more finished and polished look.
If you'd like to see more on how to use each of these feet, I do go into more detail about them all in a video on our YouTube channel, here. 
Bonus Tip: If you have a lot of different feet that you want to keep handy and in good condition, I recommend a regular bait box (you can find these on Amazon or in sporting good stores that have fishing equipment). The small compartments are perfect for keeping sewing machine feet organized and travel-ready.
Next week I'll be talking about some of my essential notions that I keep at my sewing station, so be sure to come back and keep following along!
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