Sewing machine experts please help!

[HelenThatsHisWilly]

Hi all, I have recently gone on a sewing machine course and loved it. I'm getting a janome 525s for my birthday this weekend and wanted to buy a walking foot/even feed for quilting. However, the janome brand ones are about £40. I have seen universal ones on ebay for far less, but I was worried that they wouldn't work or could damage the machine. Do I need to buy a janome brand one? I'm totally clueless about all of this at the moment. Thank you!

I am no expert and have no idea tbh. I bought a fake Bernina invisible zip foot for £15 which didn't work (real one £33) and gave up after that, I only buy 'real' feet as I can't guarantee that I will be organised enough to try it out within a reasonable time to allow me to return it.

I've found that universal feet don't fit all machines. I bought a zipper foot for my Toyota machine and it didn't quite fit right and the needle kept hitting the foot so i'd buy the brand foot especially as its a walking foot your wanting.

I've had the same problem with off-brand sewing machine feet - sorry!

I just had a saved eBay search forever for a while and eventually one came up second hand. Think it was £15?

I really wouldn't buy a non branded one, but it may be ok?

Do you definitely need one? I've done quilting without one and it was perfectly ok?

How amazing that the replies are all saying that these things don't work - they must work for someone surely as there seems to be a big market out there.

Once bitten twice shy for me and I have paid the extortionate manufacturer prices ever since.

If you are planning on using it quite a bit then it is always worth buying the one specifically for your machine. Cheap universal ones may not fit or work well and may end up costing more in the long run.

Message the ebayer and state your model, they will make sure you know which one to buy that they sell. Mine is Janome & I've bought for it 2 generic walking feet so far (I hope I just bust first one rather than it is crud for not being branded).

I have a sewing shop and a generic low shank foot should fit a Janome just fine. You'll need to unscrew the existing clip on foot then screw on the walking foot. If you plan on quilting, defo get one, they make light work of thick wadding. PM me if you have wobbles x

Thank you all! Much appreciated

I have a Janome walking foot and a generic one I got from Amazon.
They are absolutely identical. I have bought many generic presser feet from Amazon for two different Janome machines and never had a problem.

Thanks minniesmate!

Do you have a link to the one you bought please? Absolutely identical sounds very promising!

Helen , I have sent you a PM.

I wish I bought a walking foot years ago, I didnt know it would make such a huge huge difference. Generic one from Amazon, works brill on my Janome. And vid on youtube was invaluable for fitting it correctly!