PatternReview.com online sewing community
Online Sewing Class: Beyond the BoatNeck
Register Today!
Join our community of 579,243 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,243 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
12 
Member since 8/8/05
Posts: 111
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 1/31/13 2:41 AM ET
I'm starting to learn shoemaking and I have a Bernina Activa. The perfect thing would be foot #55 but if there is a better option I'd like to hear especially generic options.

If not does anyone know how much the #55 roller foot is?
------
http://sewunnecessary.blogspot.com
  
Member since 12/10/07
Posts: 7528
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 1/31/13 5:23 AM ET
In reply to Tbird
Quote:
If not does anyone know how much the #55 roller foot is?
Around $75


------
⚜️ Diana ⚜️

Bernina 830E 💙 Babylock Enlighten 💙

✝️The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1✝️
  
Member since 4/22/09
Posts: 3698
Send Message
Posted on: 1/31/13 10:45 AM ET
It's an awesome foot to have. A friend uses hers for upholstery to get close to the piping. Another foot is the #50. Neoprene just sails along with that foot. It has little rollers on the bottom so those sticky fabrics feed perfectly. It's the gizmos that make the machine operate to it's potential. My rule of thumb is the machine is half the cost...the other half are the gizmos.
------
"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." Theodore Rubin
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw


Brand preferences Bernina and Babylock
  
Member since 8/13/06
Posts: 5976
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 1/31/13 11:25 AM ET
I've used the Leather Roller foot for echo quilting with some success.
  
Member since 9/12/05
Posts: 2403
Body Type:
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 1/31/13 4:03 PM ET
You have aroused my curiosity. Where are you taking a shoe making class? I have read the book that was out some time ago, but never really bitten the bullet and tried it. The closest I got was some plaster of paris lasts.
I am also sewing with leather and I am having a hard time finding a machine that is strong enought to handle it. I am using a Janome and a walking foot and it works OK, but when I use heavy duty thread for top stitching, the top thread can loop quite a bit.
------
http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/

Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
  
Member since 3/2/11
Posts: 2923
Send Message
Posted on: 1/31/13 7:52 PM ET
The roller foot is a unique and versatile. Great for certain parts of leather work, Im Making leather bags, and also for piping, echo quilting. Watch the video on the Bernina web site, so you can see it in action.
Cost was 78 but had a 25% off coupon, so not so bad.
-- Edited on 1/31/13 7:53 PM --
------
Bernina 790Plus, 635E, Juki 2010
Babylock Evolve Babylock Sashiko2
  
Member since 8/8/05
Posts: 111
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 1/31/13 8:23 PM ET
In reply to Re Becca
Actually I'm just learning through a combo of old books and shoemaking blogs and youtube. It's going ok so far.

I'm assuming from the plaster last that you read the Wales-Loomis book. I'm actually using a plastic last like they use in a factory. You cover the last with masking tape then draw your design on and remove it and stick it on some pattern card and then refine the pattern from there.

I've made a complete pair of sandals so far that turned out ok.

I used to splurge a lot of bernina feet but over the years I've amassed a lot that I don't use at all so I switched to using industrial attachments and was wondering if there was something like that.

If not then I'll get the bernina one.

The one tip I've gleaned on sewing leather is to use a smaller sharper needle which doesn't have to be a leather one. Makes sense because then the machine needs less force to push a smaller diameter shaft through vs a big hulking leather needle
------
http://sewunnecessary.blogspot.com
  
Member since 9/9/07
Posts: 1112
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 2/1/13 10:47 AM ET
In reply to SewBusy63
Quote: SewBusy63
[QUOTE]If not does anyone know how much the #55 roller foot is? Around $75


My dealer charges $95 retail (If you get a cleaning that year you get 20% off all Bernina, so clearly, they mark up!!!)

They feature it frequently during classes (though never on leather) for "free motion" quiting and applique. It's a fun foot, but the cost has put me off. They mention it was designed for the fingers of leather gloves.
-- Edited on 2/1/13 10:48 AM --
  
Member since 3/2/11
Posts: 2923
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 2/1/13 11:43 AM ET
In reply to Skittl1321
That is very interesting Skittl1321
Pump up the price to pretend to sell something on sale.
Hmmmm
------
Bernina 790Plus, 635E, Juki 2010
Babylock Evolve Babylock Sashiko2
  
Member since 9/9/07
Posts: 1112
Send Message
1 Replies
Posted on: 2/1/13 12:11 PM ET
Well, the VIP card also gets you 20% off fabric, and those are fairly standard prices- but I've found my feet are almost always way more than what people on here say.
  
12 
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns