Creative articles about sewing

April Foot of the Month- BERNINA Zigzag Foot #0

The Zigzag Foot #0 is an extremely versatile foot suitable for all forward sewn stitches and 5mm capable machines. Additionally, this foot is great for a multitude of sewing projects including straight-stitch, zigzag, decorative and embroidery. Today, the techniques and features of this sturdy all-purpose foot will be reviewed. Lastly, I will demonstrate this foot with a tutorial for fast and easy corded beverage coasters.

BERNINA Zigzag Foot #0

             Zigzag Foot #0

Picture of zigzag foot #0 with 4 beige and blue corded coasters

                        DIY Corded Coasters made with the Zigzag foot #0

Sewing Projects

The Zigzag Foot #0 is used for seaming, scalloped hems, gathering, shell hems, decorative stitches, elastic hems, working with knits, trim, lace, cording & so much more. Also, to review technique settings, below is a chart derived from BERNINA’s Big Book of Feet. This chart is an effective guide for the sewing settings related to the Zigzag foot #0.

Zigzag Foot #0 Technique settings with stitch , stitch width,length and needle position settings

              Zigzag Foot #0 Technique Settings from pg. 10 in The Big Book Of Feet

 

The Big Book of Feet, A book all about BERNINA Presser Feet

                                       My Copy of “ The Big Book of Feet”  

Features of the Zigzag Foot #0

  • a smooth flat sole that firmly holds fabric against the feed dogs of the sewing machine
  • slight indentation behind the needle allows the thread on the stitched fabric to glide under the back of the foot
  • a slit at the front allowing for thread to be placed behind the foot with ease
  • an engraved center line marks the front of this foot to easily align fabric
  • the 5mm stitch width allows for a variety of practical and decorative stitches 
  • designed for 5mm stitch width however, can be used by all models 
  • works for all needle and fabric types
Back of BERNINA zig zag foot #0 showing the thread slot & Needle opening Indentation

Back of zig zag foot #0

Get to know BERNINA’s Zigzag Foot #0 With DIY Corded Coasters

Corded beverage coasters with blue and yellow fabric and ivory cord

Zigzag foot #0 coasters

Materials Required

  •  12 strips of cotton fabric cut 1/2” x 6” (1.3 cm x 15 cm, the above sample uses 3 different colours, 4 strips of each colour)
  • 4- 48” ( 1.22 m) lengths of 3/16” (4.8mm) clothesline cord or similar
  • Zigzag Foot #0 
  • sewing machine to accommodate a 5mm stitch width- for this project  my 350 Special Edition worked perfectly, very similar to a BERNINA 350 PE
  • thread to match the cord, polyester recommended
  • denim needle 100/16 recommended
  • stiletto recommended
  • small scissors
Image of BERNINA 350 PE.

BERNINA 350 PE

The BERNINA 350 PE – wide range of functions, ultimate ease in handling: BERNINA’s young model for ambitious beginners.

Learn more
Clothesline cord, mettler metrosine white thread, 3 different colours of fabric strips, BERNINA Zigzag Foot #0

Materials to make corded coasters

Steps to Sew the Corded Coaster
  • make a small spiral by coiling the cord to start the center and zigzag through the center with a Zigzag #0 foot and stitch #2 set at 5mm. To hold the coil in place, zigzag stitch horizontally & vertically in the center. The indentation on the back of the foot allows for the thickness of the cord
Zigzag stitch 2 with a width of 5mm selected on a BERNINA 350 sewing machine

Zigzag stitch 2 & 5mm selected 

clothesline cord wrapped into a 1” coil

1” (2.5cm) of clothesline cord coiled and zigzagged    

  • set stitch length at 2.5mm
  • once the center is secure, pivot to start more coiling and zigzag stitch into the left and right sides of the coil. The center marking on the foot will be between the left and right sides of the cord.
  • Evidently, this project requires some hand strength to hold it together, therefore using a stiletto as a 3rd hand it’s very helpful
Using a stiletto to hold the clothesline together while coiling

Using a stiletto to assist in keeping the cords tight together

  •  finally, it’s  time to wrap the fabric strips tightly around the cord in random spots and zigzag stitch. Another key point, make sure all fabric to be wrapped is completed before the last coil so that there is no fraying fabric on the outside of the coasters
Wrapping the first fabric tightly around the close line and zigzagging with the zigzag foot #0

Wrap the first fabric tightly around the cord and zigzag stitch with the zigzag foot

Coasters getting bigger with blue fabric wrapped tightly around the clothesline and the Zigzag foot #0 stitching the cord together

Coaster is getting bigger as more clothesline is wrapped with fabric and coil is zigzag stitched

  • sew with the Zigzag Foot #0 until there is only approximately 1.5” (3.81cm) remaining
Finishing the Ending 
Coaster completed with 1 1/2” ( 3.81cm) left to finish

Coaster completed with approximately 3.81 cm 1.5” left to fold back

  • fold the remaining cord back on itself as shown and stitch to secure with a straight stitch as shown using about 3 lines of stitching back and forth 
Cord now folded back and stitched with a straight stitch

Cord end folded back & stitched with a straight stitch

  • use the sharp point of the stiletto to fray out the ends and zigzag the remaining gap on the fold over ( optional)
  • admire you efforts!
4 finished coasters made with the Zigzaf Foot #0 and clothesline cord and fabruc

4 finished coasters made using the BERNINA Zigzag Foot #0

If you don’t have this zigzag foot perhaps you should get one in the month of April while it’s on special discount in some countries & while quantities last. Check in with your local BERNINA retailer to order. Certainly, I hope you enjoyed the details shared in this blog post about the  BERNINA Zigzag Foot #0. Specifically, you have gained enough information to tackle these oh so easy coasters. Additionally, they make great inexpensive gifts & take only about a hour to make. Gather up your supplies and give these a try!

Happy Sewing,

Robin

Difficulty level: Beginner
Time to Complete: Evening
Used Products:
BERNINA 350 PE
BERNINA 350 PE
Zigzag Foot #0
Zigzag Foot #0

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