A walking foot sewing machine is also known as the even feed foot sewing machine. A walking foot has a built in feed dogs that grip and advance the fabrics upper layer that is travelling through the sewing machine in concert with the sewing machines feed dogs that hold on to the underneath of the cloth. This motion gives the appearance of walking hence the name. This special action of the walking foot sewing machine keeps the different layers from moving or shifting aware as they move through the machine.
The walking foot has within it feed dogs which grip and helps the top layer of the fabric which is going through the sewing machine in accordance with the feed dogs. The movement of this special machine foot will help keep layers from moving apart as they are driven into the sewing machine. It is quite a useful tool to have when one is doing a multi layers rag quilt and also when working with heavy duty fabrics such as the type used in making denim jeans.
There is no existence of a domestic walking foot machine. The machines are strictly for heavy industrial use however there is a universal attachment that can be mounted on a domestic machine. Sort of like how you would mount a buttonholer. The attachment does not make the domestic machine have the capabilities of doing the same work as a walking foot machine. “These attachments are sometimes referred to as “walking foot attachments”, but this is incorrect to do so.
The motion that is created as a result of this attachment does not mimic the true motion of walking foot sewing machine. There is no need for a walking foot sewing machine in a domestic home because it is not necessary for sewing leather. There are specialized leather sewing machines that one can buy at a substantially cheaper cost. You will find walking foot machines mainly in factories, mostly. Mass production sewing it is not cost effective to spend too much time sewing any one piece together, so a walking foot is often used to eliminate pinning together of material.
The even feed allows both pieces being put together to be fed through with minimum slippage. This maintains the patterns. Walking foot sewing machines are a necessary piece of machinery in the furniture upholstery business. Other heavy duty uses for walking foot sewing machines are in manufacturing safety harnesses, truck canvas as well as lifting slings which are used in the oil and gas industry and construction industry for lifting very heavy pieces of equipment like pipes and so on. It can be used for piecing various fabrics that are tough, slippery fabrics, giving added control when working with plaids and sewing on bias grain.
Walking foot sewing machines are expensive and large and require and trained person for its use. It is an important technology for the industrial age despite the fact that it its name is not well known.