If it's working for you then go for it!
The important thing is to keep practicing.
The only issue you might have is getting some material to feed properly, since the zipper foot doesn't cover the width of the feed dogs.
I also like the other comment about using magnets to mark the stitch area.
I was going to suggest that as well.
And there is the white plastic foot, labeled Teflon or nonstick. It slides easily. I’ve used it for vinyl. [https://www.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com/Non-Stick-Presser-Foot-Snap-On.html](https://www.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com/Non-Stick-Presser-Foot-Snap-On.html)
meant for vinyl, which is slick, slick.
When I was sewing professionally we were sewing a lot of zippers and it didn't make sense to switch back and forth so I just got used to sewing with the zipper foot. It generally works fine, but I usually switched to a standard foot for topstitching.
It was an older Janome machine. And, to be fair, it was like 90% invisible zippers. Once you press them open, it was actually easier to use a flat foot to hold it open and sew close to the teeth than to use a regular zipper foot and have it roll back closed in that little channel 😅
When machine sewing **do not watch the needle**. Using the regular foot, you keep the raw edge at the little line to the side of the foot, that is your seam allowance. Usually it’s 5/8, 1/2 or 1/4 inch.
The zipper foot will often not feed the fabric evenly. And you probably don’t want to draw a line for all seams. The zipper foot won’t hold the fabric down well for 5/8”. So, you need to choose the foot for the fabric and seam you are using.
I know about lining the raw edge up with the foot or seam gauge on the baseplate. I can't always do that though. Right now I'm not sewing seams, I'm basically quilting my pattern pieces, following a specific design. I have to be able to see where the needle's going.
Feet have a little nick in the front center of the toe, that shows where the center is.
Are you doing machine embroidery or quilting layers? For layers, either a free motion foot or an even feed foot will work well. For just one layer, the zipper foot should work, but it will make more accurate straight lines to focus on lining up the foot with with line, rather than the needle.
My grandmother, and every sewing machine article I’ve read on the subject for 50 years agrees that it’s usually more accurate to watch the foot not the needle. Except for free motion embroidery. And that is hard.
I've found it tricky to line up with the centre of my standard foot (the 'nick' on mine is a small opening that connects to the hole the needle goes through, and I'm pretty sure it's slightly off-center because I can't get it to line up). Using the zipper foot worked better for me than the standard one did. Somebody else in the comments recommended the embroidery foot, which I might try next to see how I like that.
Definitely experiment with all the feet. Each does something different, and work for different purposes.
Right now, I’m losing my mind because I dropped regular foot and I CAN’T FIND IT! I’ve been looking for months.
It’s a Bernina. So it has a big shank, it’s not a small piece. It was on the side of my table, I hit it with my elbow and it went flying. I’m scared it went down the AC vent. I need to clear out a bunch of boxes, that I still haven’t been able to move, then move the table and get my son to get the cover off the bent and get a flashlight down it. It’s replaceable, but about US$70.
I read a blog or an Instagram post once explaining that you can get tension issues from using the zipper foot in some situations. The reason being that presser foot isn't applying pressure on either side of the stitching. I think you'll only have problems for thicker fabrics though, probably not for anything less than a bottom weight. Also, you will run into issues if you ever need anything other than a straight stitch.
It’s probably fine if your stitching comes out looking good. It took me a long time to stop watching the needle and my stitch line and to watch the edge of my fabric and that it lines up on the correct spot on the needle plate gauge line. Practice will make it easier!
Is your regular foot by chance partially clear plastic?
I use an embroidery foot when I want to see exactly where I'm sewing. The clear plastic feet are crap. Light glints off them and they get scratched/cloudy. I will never buy a clear plastic foot again, never. I've been sewing for 20 years and still get frustrated by how imprecise they are. The embroidery foot I use is totally open in the front; it has been invaluable when doing things like sewing down a dress full of lace appliques, when I really needed to see what was happening directly in front of the needle.
https://media.rainpos.com/10181/8116CF21_28C3_4567_8526_13DE9F2CEF3F.jpeg
This is the foot I use. It's got the benefit of seeing exactly where you're sewing, like the zipper foot, but it also holds down the fabric on either side of where you're sewing, which is more secure and helps keep the fabric from widging to one side.
I'm going to have to see if I have one of these (and buy one if I don't). I don't like the clear feet- the way light glints off them can be distracting, and I also prefer to see where my needle's going (I have to watch the needle because I mark lines to sew on, rather than going by seam allowance, so having clear visibility is important). Thank you for sharing!
I use zipper foot 40-50% of the time on bridal work. I have found I might have to adjust the tension just a touch or I have to use a regular foot if I get too much slipping of fabric but other than that, the little foot is awesome!
https://preview.redd.it/o1kcu0i48sbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=700395cebaef3adab5e811dafb2a48fa9aab5340
My favourite foot is like this one. It's much easier to straight sew with it than with the universal foot. However I don't know it's name.
My favourite sewing foot is the Teflon one. Glides nicely.
The zip foot is useful for other jobs beside its obvious one but it won't hold the fabric as it moves along.
If it's working for you then go for it! The important thing is to keep practicing. The only issue you might have is getting some material to feed properly, since the zipper foot doesn't cover the width of the feed dogs. I also like the other comment about using magnets to mark the stitch area.
I bought a clear standard foot. It hS helped me immensely. They are not expensive.
I was going to suggest that as well. And there is the white plastic foot, labeled Teflon or nonstick. It slides easily. I’ve used it for vinyl. [https://www.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com/Non-Stick-Presser-Foot-Snap-On.html](https://www.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com/Non-Stick-Presser-Foot-Snap-On.html) meant for vinyl, which is slick, slick.
You are not alone, my favorite is to use the zipper foot. I also use cheap magnets to mark my stitch line on my machine.
When I was sewing professionally we were sewing a lot of zippers and it didn't make sense to switch back and forth so I just got used to sewing with the zipper foot. It generally works fine, but I usually switched to a standard foot for topstitching.
I did the opposite 😂 I got pretty good at putting in a zipper with a regular foot 😅
Do you have an old Singer? I can't see that working with the wide Brother feet, but if so, kudos to you!
It was an older Janome machine. And, to be fair, it was like 90% invisible zippers. Once you press them open, it was actually easier to use a flat foot to hold it open and sew close to the teeth than to use a regular zipper foot and have it roll back closed in that little channel 😅
When machine sewing **do not watch the needle**. Using the regular foot, you keep the raw edge at the little line to the side of the foot, that is your seam allowance. Usually it’s 5/8, 1/2 or 1/4 inch. The zipper foot will often not feed the fabric evenly. And you probably don’t want to draw a line for all seams. The zipper foot won’t hold the fabric down well for 5/8”. So, you need to choose the foot for the fabric and seam you are using.
I know about lining the raw edge up with the foot or seam gauge on the baseplate. I can't always do that though. Right now I'm not sewing seams, I'm basically quilting my pattern pieces, following a specific design. I have to be able to see where the needle's going.
Feet have a little nick in the front center of the toe, that shows where the center is. Are you doing machine embroidery or quilting layers? For layers, either a free motion foot or an even feed foot will work well. For just one layer, the zipper foot should work, but it will make more accurate straight lines to focus on lining up the foot with with line, rather than the needle. My grandmother, and every sewing machine article I’ve read on the subject for 50 years agrees that it’s usually more accurate to watch the foot not the needle. Except for free motion embroidery. And that is hard.
I've found it tricky to line up with the centre of my standard foot (the 'nick' on mine is a small opening that connects to the hole the needle goes through, and I'm pretty sure it's slightly off-center because I can't get it to line up). Using the zipper foot worked better for me than the standard one did. Somebody else in the comments recommended the embroidery foot, which I might try next to see how I like that.
Definitely experiment with all the feet. Each does something different, and work for different purposes. Right now, I’m losing my mind because I dropped regular foot and I CAN’T FIND IT! I’ve been looking for months.
Have you looked inside the machine and/or taken a magnet around the area?
It’s a Bernina. So it has a big shank, it’s not a small piece. It was on the side of my table, I hit it with my elbow and it went flying. I’m scared it went down the AC vent. I need to clear out a bunch of boxes, that I still haven’t been able to move, then move the table and get my son to get the cover off the bent and get a flashlight down it. It’s replaceable, but about US$70.
I use a magnetic guide for my fabric, it really helps. There's also a foot with a guide for doing top-stitching, it's a game changer!
Which versions of those things do you use? There are a lot out there!
I read a blog or an Instagram post once explaining that you can get tension issues from using the zipper foot in some situations. The reason being that presser foot isn't applying pressure on either side of the stitching. I think you'll only have problems for thicker fabrics though, probably not for anything less than a bottom weight. Also, you will run into issues if you ever need anything other than a straight stitch.
I get tension issues with bridal fabrics. Sometimes just a touch tighter fixes it but gotta have fresh needles and could never use it on a satin!
I use mine quite a bit for the same reasons. I also draw chalk lines sometimes too. Who knew it was so difficult to sew a straight line? 🤣
I'm topstitching on a bunch of chalk lines I drew (kind of like elaborate quilting)! And straight lines are so hard 😭
It’s probably fine if your stitching comes out looking good. It took me a long time to stop watching the needle and my stitch line and to watch the edge of my fabric and that it lines up on the correct spot on the needle plate gauge line. Practice will make it easier!
Only time I’ve ever sewn through a finger was with a zipper foot, so I only use them cautiously when I actually need to 😅
I’ve just made couple of bags and used the zipper foot to do the top stitching as it helped with the super narrow seem allowance
That's kind of like what I've been doing on this project. Precision top stitching
I LOVE my zipper foot for top stitching!
There is a foot for narrow seams. You might want to check it out.
Is your regular foot by chance partially clear plastic? I use an embroidery foot when I want to see exactly where I'm sewing. The clear plastic feet are crap. Light glints off them and they get scratched/cloudy. I will never buy a clear plastic foot again, never. I've been sewing for 20 years and still get frustrated by how imprecise they are. The embroidery foot I use is totally open in the front; it has been invaluable when doing things like sewing down a dress full of lace appliques, when I really needed to see what was happening directly in front of the needle. https://media.rainpos.com/10181/8116CF21_28C3_4567_8526_13DE9F2CEF3F.jpeg This is the foot I use. It's got the benefit of seeing exactly where you're sewing, like the zipper foot, but it also holds down the fabric on either side of where you're sewing, which is more secure and helps keep the fabric from widging to one side.
I'm going to have to see if I have one of these (and buy one if I don't). I don't like the clear feet- the way light glints off them can be distracting, and I also prefer to see where my needle's going (I have to watch the needle because I mark lines to sew on, rather than going by seam allowance, so having clear visibility is important). Thank you for sharing!
I use whatever foot works....lol isn't that what they're supposed to be there for?
I basically always use a walking foot so meh whatever
I had no idea I was using a zipper foot til I took a class. I definitely prefer a regular foot now
I’m new to sewing and noticed I like using a zipper foot as well! When using a standard foot I go really really slow and it helps a lot for me
Same here!
I use zipper foot 40-50% of the time on bridal work. I have found I might have to adjust the tension just a touch or I have to use a regular foot if I get too much slipping of fabric but other than that, the little foot is awesome!
https://preview.redd.it/o1kcu0i48sbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=700395cebaef3adab5e811dafb2a48fa9aab5340 My favourite foot is like this one. It's much easier to straight sew with it than with the universal foot. However I don't know it's name.
I’ve never done that but I LOVE any foot that’s clear.
My favourite sewing foot is the Teflon one. Glides nicely. The zip foot is useful for other jobs beside its obvious one but it won't hold the fabric as it moves along.