IDT/Built in Walking Foot

Okay, so I've been doing some research and have yet another question.

How important/useful is the IDT feature on a machine? For those of you who have it, is it REALLY that amazing, and if so, when do you normally use it? All of the time, or only for certain projects?  I primarily sew accessories and then sew together the odd torn pair of jeans for the boys.

I'm so confused as to which machine I should go with!

Thanks in advance!

Julie

HI Julie, I have 2 Pfaff machines with built in IDT's. I find them great in my work (sewing dog leads harnesses etc) and for quilting and for sewing fine, slippery fabrics.  I have only ever used the built in IDT and may be showing my ignorance here, but I 'believe' that if you use a machine that you buy a separate walking foot for, the walking foot is not supposed to be used in reverse.  With the built in IDT, I reverse heaps and it works well by reversing over the previous sewing line acurately.  I have had one pfaff for 5 years and bought a new model last year. I work them pretty hard doing about 20 hours sewing for work a week and in my free time I use them for free motion embroidery (NOT using the IDT!)and well, you get the idea... I spend a lot of hours on them with no trouble.  (Hope I have't jinxed them!)  Barb.

Hi Barb!

Thanks so much for your feedback.

I have no idea if I need to buy a machine with or without the IDT feature.  I would have to not buy it and then find out that it would have been a wonderful feature to have.

Thanks again!

Julie

The basic Pfaff machine without the idt sews quite well, and you can always buy a walking foot for about 30.00, if you just do a little bit of quilting. I taught for two years on the Hobby, and think its a pretty solid machine. It has some annoying features: the bobbin comes out of the tension slot when it gets low on thread, the seam allowance guides are very hard to see, the reverse is a little hard to use, and it doesn't have an electronic foot pedal or a very strong motor for going through a lot of layers. On the up side, they are good basic machines that sew nicely and are tough. I'm seeing them for sale at under 300.00 right now, which is really reasonable. Also you usually have year to trade up and get all your money in trade-in.

I just bought a new machine and know how confusing it is. I would check the return policy an make sure I could bring it home and sew on it for a day or two. Good luck.