Feed dogs are a crucial yet often overlooked component of sewing machines. Whether you’re a seasoned seamstress or a beginner learning the ropes, understanding how feed dogs work can greatly improve your sewing skills and help troubleshoot common problems.
What Are Feed Dogs?
Feed dogs are a set of small, toothed metal bars located beneath the sewing machine’s needle plate. Their primary role is to grip the fabric and move it through the machine during stitching. As you sew, the feed dogs rise through the needle plate, grab the fabric, and move it backward (or forward, depending on the setting) between stitches. This allows for consistent, even stitching without manual intervention.
How Do Feed Dogs Work?
The feed dogs move in a coordinated motion with the needle:
- They rise through slots in the needle plate.
- As the needle lifts, the feed dogs move the fabric one step forward.
- They then drop below the plate and return to their original position.
This process repeats rapidly as you sew, feeding the fabric evenly through the machine.