Have you ever struggled with hemming thick jeans or sewing over bulky denim seams? These projects can be challenging even for experienced sewists, with uneven stitches, skipped threads, or that frustrating “hump” at the seam. But I recently discovered a gliding presser foot (also known as the Magic Jeans Hemming Foot). This foot is designed specifically to make hemming denim and heavy fabrics smoother, easier, and more professional-looking.
This presser foot offers unique advantages for challenging sewing projects. With its distinctive design and versatility, the gliding foot deserves a spot in your sewing toolbox. So, let’s explore what makes the gliding foot so special, its alternative names, detailed features, and how to use it effectively.
What Is a Gliding Foot?
I’ve noticed that few people even know this presser foot exists, let alone what it can do.
The gliding foot is designed to handle challenging fabrics that traditional presser feet struggle with. It is particularly beneficial when sewing over thick seams (like on jeans, coats or upholstery). Unlike a standard presser foot, which can get stuck or uneven when transitioning over bulky seams, this foot smoothly feeds the fabric through your machine.
The foot is useful for materials like fur, leather, vinyl, denim, or laminated fabrics that can resist movement under the needle. The foot’s unique design ensures smooth, even feeding of fabric, so it’s an essential tool for tricky projects with bulky seams.
The gliding foot is sometimes known by other names depending on the brand or context. It is occasionally called a “jeans” foot. It’s sometimes also called a “hump-jumper foot” due to its ability to handle thickness changes.
Not many major sewing machine brands offer their versions of the gliding foot yet. It’s a bit larger than some other presser feet.
One of the defining features of this foot is its dual metal “arms” or guides on either side. Here’s how these “arms” contribute to its functionality.
- Stabilization
The two metal arms provide additional stability to the presser foot. This is especially important when sewing over uneven surfaces, such as bulky seams in denim or textured fabrics. - Smooth Movement
These arms work together with the smooth base to reduce friction. Unlike a Teflon foot, which relies on a slick surface, the arms press down uniformly on the fabric, ensuring it feeds evenly under the needle. - Consistent Pressure
The design ensures that pressure is distributed evenly across the width of the foot, preventing the fabric from puckering or sticking as it moves through the machine. - Gliding on Tough Materials
The arms allow the foot to “lift” slightly as it encounters thick layers or sticky materials, preventing drag. This makes it an excellent choice for materials like fur, leather, coated fabrics, or thick quilts.
The front of the foot has a quite narrow opening for the needle, designed to provide extra support when sewing through thick or tough materials like denim or canvas. So the foot can be only used with a straight stitch. Don’t try to use zigzag or decorative stitches that need wide opening.
From the side, you can see the sloped bottom. This slope helps the foot glide over bulky layers, such as folded seams or hemmed edges. It reduces the risk of the foot “hopping” or uneven stitches when transitioning between thick and thin fabric layers.
The back shows a raised profile, which helps accommodate the thickness of materials, ensuring the foot does not drag or create uneven pressure on the fabric.
The gliding foot features a built-in spring mechanism that adapts to the varying thicknesses of bulky hems. For example, when you are hemming jeans your machine must sew across sections that shift from 3 layers of fabric to 5 or even as many as 7 if your jeans have flat felled seams. These abrupt changes can lead to big problems and difficulty maintaining straight, even stitches.
The gliding foot adjusts dynamically to these differences in thickness. This ensures the foot stays level and provides consistent pressure. It transitions smoothly over the layers without skipping stitches or creating uneven lines. So this foot is an effective solution to one of the most common struggles in sewing bulky seams.
✅ Related tutorial: Sewing Machine Presser Foot Guide: Types to Elevate Your Projects
If you want to try out this specialized foot, it’s available on Amazon. I recently purchased one myself, just about a week ago.
Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you order a product through one of my links. I only recommend products I believe in and use myself.
Gliding Foot fits Toyota Brother Singer Janome Sewing Machines
Snap On Gliding Foot for Toyota RS-2000 Singer Brother
My initial experience with this foot has been quite positive. While I’ve only had the chance to use it for a short time, I’m already impressed with its performance. It’s handled the thick materials with ease, living up to its promises so far.
Of course, long-term durability and performance are yet to be determined, but based on my first impressions, I feel confident recommending this foot to fellow sewists who frequently work with heavier fabrics. Your mileage may vary depending on your specific needs and projects, but so far, so good.
How to Use the Gliding Foot Effectively
To get the best results with the gliding foot, follow a few simple techniques.
Attach the Foot Correctly
Ensure the gliding foot is securely attached to your sewing machine. Some models will snap on easily, while others have to be screwed in.
✅ Related tutorial: How to Change a Presser Foot on Your Sewing Machine
Adjust Stitch Settings
Use only straight stitch and its variations. For sticky or bulky materials, use a longer stitch length – around 4 – 5 mm. This reduces the risk of puckering or perforating delicate fabrics like vinyl. Lower your presser foot pressure slightly if your machine allows, to avoid creating drag.
✅ Related tutorial: What is the stitch length and how to adjust it for different fabrics – a sewing tutorial
Test on Scrap Fabric
Always test your settings and foot on a scrap of the material you’ll be sewing. This allows you to fine-tune tension, stitch length, and foot pressure without risking your project.
Use the Right Thread and Needle
The gliding foot is only part of the equation. To achieve good results, pairing this foot with the correct needle and thread is essential. Using the wrong combination can still lead to skipped stitches, broken threads, or poor tension control, even with the best presser foot.
Choosing the Right Needle
The type and size of the needle you use will depend on the material you’re sewing.
Jeans: A jeans/denim needle in size 100/16 is ideal for sewing through the multiple layers of thick fabric and flat-felled seams typical of jeans. These needles are designed with a sharp point and a sturdy shaft to penetrate dense material without bending or breaking.
25 Schmetz Jean & Denim Machine Needles
Leather and Vinyl: For non-woven materials like leather or vinyl, use specialized leather or vinyl needles in size 100/16. These needles have a wedge-shaped tip that cuts through the material cleanly, preventing skipped stitches and excessive perforations.
Sherpa or Plush Fabrics: For sherpa, fleece, or similarly thick fabrics, a universal needle in size 100/16 works well. It provides the strength needed to pierce through the dense texture without damaging the fibers.
Always start with a fresh needle for heavy-duty sewing to ensure sharpness and precision. A dull or slightly bent needle can wreak havoc on your stitches, especially when working with thick seams.
✅ Related tutorial: How To Choose The Right Sewing Machine Needle For Your Project
Selecting the Correct Thread
The right thread is just as important as the needle. For sewing thick fabrics or layered materials, you’ll need a strong, durable thread that can handle the stress of heavy-duty stitching. Consider these options:
Special Denim Thread: Designed specifically for sewing denim, this thread is thick and durable, offering excellent strength for seams that will endure wear and tear.
Extra Strong Polyester Thread: A high-quality strong polyester thread is a suitable option for heavy fabrics. It should be strong enough to handle the strain of thick layers and offer consistent tension for smooth stitching.
Gutermann White 100mtr/110yd Extra Strong Polyester Thread
Avoid using lightweight or cotton thread for these projects, as they can break under the pressure of sewing through multiple fabric layers. If you’re unsure about the thread choice, test it on a scrap piece of the same material before starting your project.
✅ Related tutorial: What Is The Best Thread For Sewing Machine Projects? Let’s Find Out!
Gliding Foot vs. Walking Foot
Both the gliding foot and the walking foot are designed to manage the same issues: ensuring smooth fabric feeding and avoiding common problems like sticking, dragging, puckering, or uneven stitching. While their purpose overlaps significantly, the way they operate and their ease of use can make one a better choice for specific scenarios.
✅ Related tutorial: How to use a walking foot
Similarities: The Same Purpose
At their core, the gliding foot and the walking foot aim to solve the same sewing challenges.
- Prevent sticking or dragging: Both feet work to eliminate resistance that can occur when sewing difficult fabrics like leather, vinyl, fur, or laminated materials.
- Maintain smooth fabric feeding: They ensure even stitching by helping the fabric glide effortlessly under the needle.
- Manage thick or multi-layered fabrics: Whether it’s bulky denim seams or quilting layers, both feet are designed to handle fabrics that could otherwise create uneven stitches or fabric shifting.
If you’re sewing sticky or bulky fabrics, either foot can be great to get professional-looking results.
✅ Related tutorial: Walking Foot Attachment For A Sewing Machine: What It Is And Why To Use It
Differences in Design and Installation
How They Work
- Gliding Foot: The gliding foot relies on its smooth, non-stick sole (often plastic or Teflon) to reduce friction between the foot and fabric. It works with your machine’s existing feed dogs to guide the fabric through evenly.
- Walking Foot: The walking foot takes a more mechanical approach by adding a set of feed dogs on the foot itself. These additional feed dogs move in sync with your machine’s feed dogs, gripping both the top and bottom layers of fabric to feed them evenly.
Ease of Installation
One significant difference between the two is the ease of installation:
- The gliding foot attaches just like a standard presser foot, usually snapping into place or requiring a simple screw attachment. This makes it quick and straightforward to switch out when needed.
- The walking foot, on the other hand, is bulkier and requires more effort to install. It often involves attaching an arm to the needle clamp in addition to securing the foot to the machine. This can make it cumbersome for sewists who frequently switch presser feet during projects.
For those looking for convenience, the gliding foot is the clear winner.
Other Considerations
Speed and Precision
The gliding foot offers a more compact design and operates at the same speed as a standard presser foot, making it easier to maneuver and control. The walking foot, due to its mechanical feed dogs, can feel bulkier and may slow down your sewing slightly.
Versatility
While both feet are versatile, the walking foot often comes with the ability to change out soles (like open-toe or stitch-in-the-ditch soles) for different types of sewing, adding to its flexibility for advanced projects.
Price
The gliding foot is generally more affordable than a walking foot, making it an attractive option for sewists who don’t need the extra functionality of the walking foot’s feed dogs.
If you work with challenging fabrics, the gliding foot is a fantastic addition to your sewing accessories. Whether you’re sewing leather handbags, creating something from fur, or sewing a bulky denim jacket, this foot can make your projects easier and more enjoyable.
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