Sewing Machine Feet - Sewing Supplies - Notions

Satinedge™ Foot

Satinedge™ was our first foot and was designed in its original, non-adjustable form for a visually disabled and hearing-impaired sewer named Mary by Clare Rowley-Greene. The following is her story of how it was created.

Mary came in to our former sewing machine store requesting a sewing machine. Normally this would be a simple task, however she was completely blind and deaf. There were no sewing machines available for a blind person to use without assistance from a sighted person. So I selected a computerized machine I felt might serve her needs. I took the sewing machine home for one month to adapt it for her.

In an effort to understand what Mary had to endure when sewing, I sewed with earplugs and covered eyes. Using small drops of acrylic to create the Braille alphabet and numbering system, I designed the machine specifically for Mary. I taught her machine use instruction for a little over one year. She continued with garment construction at the Braille Institute. Upon completion of her class, she constructed a tailored suit!

Mary then expressed a desire to sew satin edged napkins for Christmas. Was I surprised to hear this? No! I told her I would probably fail this test, because even fully sighted people could not sew a perfect satin stitch on the very edge of fabric. However, soon afterward the Satinedge™ foot was born.

Mary inspired me in many ways, her determination and achievements continue to challenge me today. Whenever the temptation to not follow through comes to me, I am reminded of what true challenge is and how Mary overcame it. It would have been easy for her not to try and to feel sorry for herself, yet she is the happiest person I have ever known. Recently, I learned that she continues to take classes and still sews to this day. So, whenever you become frustrated as you are sewing, think of Mary and smile.

Pearls ‘N Piping™ Foot

The Pearls ‘N Piping™ foot was the second foot I designed. I consider it a gift from God because it came to me in a dream.

A woman came into the store and said she was advised by her physician to discontinue hand beading. If she did not, she would soon lose all use of her hands to severe rheumatoid arthritis. She depended on beading because she made wedding gowns for a living. She had lost her husband not long before to cancer, and never had children. She was alone. Her emotions were out of control causing her to cry off and on as I helped her.

At that time, the zipper foot was used for sewing on beads by machine. The problem with the zipper foot is that the sewer is responsible for guiding the beads. She tried, and finally cried because she could not master it. I was very distraught by this experience. To send someone away unhappy and in need upset me deeply. During my sleep that evening, I observed myself sleeping, yet dreaming—it was a surrealistic experience. In this dream, I was in the store looking for a presser foot for the woman’s sewing machine. After hours of searching, I found a foot to alter for sewing down beads. I spent the rest of my dream modifying the foot and succeeded. Then I awoke from my dream a dream so vivid it was if I had already made the foot. When I arrived at the store, I felt driven to duplicate the foot I made in my dream. The foot was modified in minutes!

So you see, this foot is not of my creation, but his….

Sequins ‘N Ribbon™ Foot

The Sequins ‘N Ribbon™ foot was designed for a costume designer. Her desire was to sew rows of sequins next to each other without flipping them over. Someone had designed a foot for her but it failed to satisfy her. This was the easiest foot for me to design because it was purely business, and no emotion. The only problem was that it took over an hour to make one foot, and she had told all her friends.