What is a Presser Foot?
Presser feet are devices that help to increase the efficiency of sewing machines. Essentially, the presser foot is the lever that is used to hold material in place as the fabric is fed through the machine. The presence of the presser foot helps to keep the material taut and steady while the needle passes through and creates stitches in the fabric. In design, a presser foot somewhat resembles the letter “L”. As the needle lowers into position to initiate a stitch, the presser foot is placed firmly on top of the material. The section of the presser foot that rests on the fabric is split. The needle actually makes the stitches in the area of fabric that is exposed between the opening in the presser foot. Because the device holds the material in place, it is possible to quickly make a series of stitches that are evenly spaced and in a straight line with relatively little effort.