How to set up your machine for free motion
Foot, feed dogs, stitch length and a test.
Step by step
- Fit the free-motion foot.
- Lower or cover the feed dogs.
- Set straight stitch length to zero, or as close as possible.
- Fit a fresh machine embroidery needle and rethread.
- Back the fabric with stabiliser, pinned or basted in place.
- Test on a scrap of the same fabric.
Watch
How to set up your sewing machine for free motion embroidery (13:32)
By Alison Whateley Design · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 13-minute video from Alison Whateley Design on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
All guides ›Free-motion embroidery
Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.