How to Adjust Presser Foot Pressure: Part 1 and Part 2
REVERSE and BACKSTITCHING:
The Featherweight has a simple forward and reverse straight stitch. To feed the fabric forward (away from you), make sure the stitch regulator is all the way down, somewhere between 6 and 10 will provide good practice stitches. To feed the fabric in reverse (toward you), raise the stitch regulator as high as it will go.
Backstitching is usually done at the beginning and end of a seam, however, for most quilt piecing, backstitching is not really necessary. Occasionally, it will be needed for certain types of piecing, but the patterns will indicate this for specificity. Back-stitching is important to know for craft or apparel sewing, because it prevents seams from coming unraveled.
Backstitching can be done by stopping and starting the machine again, or it can be done all in one motion while sewing.
PRESSURE ON THE FABRIC:
For ordinary family sewing, it is seldom necessary to adjust the pressure on the presser foot. But, here’s a good rule of thumb: The lighter the material, the lighter the pressure, the heavier material, the heavier the pressure. In other words for lightweight fabric (like silk), decrease the pressure by turning the pressure knob counterclockwise. For heavyweight fabrics, like denim or even forquilting multiple layers, increase the pressure by turning the pressure knob clockwise.