From Wikipedia,
Quote:
Feed dogs are the feeder mechanism in a sewing machines which is typically used to pull fabric through a sewing mechanism.
A set of feed dogs typically resembles two or three short, thin metal bars, crosscut with diagonal furrows, which move back and forth in grooves slightly larger than the bars. The type of motion used (forward, then down, then backwards, then up) serves to pull the fabric through, since the "dogs" are in contact with the material on the forward stroke, and are pulled down below the main plate on the backward stroke by the sewing machine's mechanism. The result is that, between stitches, the fabric is pulled along in discrete steps.
|
Feed Dogs work from underneath the fabric. A Walking Foot provides a similar coordinated feeder mechanism from the top, so that the two layers of fabric feed through without slipping out of alignment. This is useful for boat sewing, since much of the fabric is stiff and/or slippery, and does not like to STAY PUT unless strongly spoken to and dealt with.
I have a $300 Singer I bought new; seems to be working ok, but is struggling to feed the heavier fabrics. I've done alot of sewing, so I've got strategies to make the thing work; however, I have an older Singer model (Golden Touch & Sew), that is gear driven (as opposed to the newer belt driven models) that I suspect would feed and handle the fabric better.
If you decide to go for an older Singer, I'd look for the gear driven ones.