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Pressure Adjustment - Parts of a Sewing Machine

By , About.com Guide

Sewing machine pressure adjustment

Pressure Adjustment on Singer Fashion Mate Model 237

Debbie Colgrove, Licensed to About.com

What the Pressure Adjustment Does:


  • The pressure adjustment sets that amount of pressure that the presser foot will exert on the fabric. Downward pressure on the presser foot, holds the fabric between the feed dog and sewing machine foot. The amount of pressure would need to vary if you were switching between light weight sheer fabric and multiple layers of denim for the machine to feed the fabric.

When to make adjustment to the Amount of Pressure:


  • If you find that the fabric will slip when the presser foot is down, you need to increase the pressure on the presser foot.

  • If the fabric is held so tightly that the feed dog is unable to move the fabric, decrease the amount of pressure on the presser foot.

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