Foot pedal or no foot pedal?
 

I just upgraded my machine. From a Brother Project Runway CE5000PWR to the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. Clearly this is a plastic starter machine to a metal mid range machine. I was worried about upgrading to such an expensive machine - but when it went on sale last week at Amazon for $250.00 I had to get it. I have been looking at it for over a month and was planning on maybe getting it in June for my birthday.

Anyway - there are a couple things I LOVE about this machine. First of all the best thing is the auto thread cutter. This is an amazing feature. Add that to the extension table and I was sold. We went to Joanns to just see if possibley they had one there to try. Again - I was amazed to see it in action. They actually do 2 classes there for this machine and before the big sale on Amazon the one at Joanns was still quite a bit more.

The feature I didn't know I would like as much as I do is the ability to sew without the foot pedal.

All in all this is an amazing machine. If you see this baby on sale - snatch it up. Even for the experienced quilters with the big fancy machines this would be a great back up. The lady at Joanns said this is the highest level of the machines they have before you get into the ones that are in the thousands.

Does anyone else use a machine without the foot pedal? What do you thing about it? And do you have an auto thread cutter? If you do - do you think you could ever go back? I don't think I could!!!

I am in LOVE!!!!

I`ve had a janome 11000 for 3 yrs and just tried it.Don`t like it.I don`t think I could get use to it.Also has a knee lifter never use. I don`t see how you can hold your thread and put down the pressure lever. I guess if I used the knee lifter.Have a fiend only sews this way.
Guess its what ever you get use to.
Gale

I have a Brother PC 420.. it has a auto thread cutter, also knee lifter and also can sew without the pedal......... ..... I can not get used to the knee lifter (so don't use it) ... and I am so used to sewing with the pedal I can not make myself sew without it..lol (maybe I would love it if I got used to it) :) ... and as far as thread cutter.. I used it at first, but I am afraid it will tear up the machine ..lol.. so I hardly use it! .. Sorry I am not help!!!!!! :) :) :)

How does it work without the foot pedal? Do you use a knee pedal instead? That I'm familiar with, and I think it's easier to control.

I have the Janome Horizon 7700 and love it. Yes I love the thread cutter and really miss it when I use my backup machine for classes. I also love the knee lifter. As for not using the foot pedal, I like using the pedal when in sit down at the table mode. I use my machine on a frame too, and then I have a Grace speed controller - button push with dial speed. Couldn't imagine having to kick a foot pedal across the floor then!

I have the knee lift that I don't use. I have the start/ stop button but I use my foot pedal. I have automatic knot which I haven't even tried. I've had the machine for 2 years....I really should try it.:D

I have the capability to sew with no foot pedal but rarely do it, it just "feels" strange, I love my auto cutters, I love having the big throat. I also have the knee lift but have only "tried" it out.

I have the same machine and I love it!! Do not use the foot pedal....takes a little bit to get coordinated!! To push the stop button on time, but I love it!! My foot can get to jumping around and then the speed control goes out the window!!!
I kinda got use to 'sewing without a pedal' when I got my first embroidery machine and have not even used the foot pedal on my 9960 or my L500!!!

I love auto pilot and the speed governor on my Brother. I use auto pilot (no foot pedal) when I'm sewing straight seams in strips, or doing SID. It takes a while to get used to, but it is so nice not to have to use a foot pedal all of the time.

I have the ability to use a foot pedal but don't. I've never liked the foot pedal on any machine! I was thrilled to get a machine where I could just push the button to start!

I got a new machine last week with the start stop button. Dont know if I will ever use the foot pedal again. I was really struggling with learning to FMQ and just didnt have any control of speed when using the foot pedal. Now I am quilting my second quilt in just a few days. Really helps me get in the rythem and am able to put all of my concentration on where I am going. Funny to see this thread cause I was going to start one to see if anyone else had the same thinking. LOL

I love sewing with the start button instead of the foot pedal and the auto-cutter and threader - wonderful inventions!

Ihave a Janome and use it all the time without the foot pedal. I have gotten so used to it it now seems funny to use the foot pedal. I guess it is what you get used to.

I have a Bernina 820 and the Juki F600, both have start/stop buttons and the knee lift. With the Bernina, I tend to use the foot pedal more, but will find myself using the start/stop button if I need to do something quick. The Juki is my traveling machine. In class, I do use the foot pedal, but when I was house and dogsitting (for a week) a while ago, the only place I can sew was on a kitchen island. It was too tall for sitting and using the foot pedal, so I used the start/stop button. I pieced a whole quilt top doing that and it was fine. I've never used the knee lift with either machines though.

I have this machine as well. Love the knee lifter..but does not work on the sewing table I have so I don't use it. I also always use the foot pedal.

I have a Brother with the Start/Stop. Didn't think I'd like it. But one day I went to a friends to sew and forgot the foot pedal. I sorta liked it. Since it's my "travel" machine and my others don't have this feature, it's sorta hard to get comfortable. Love the knee lift-use 2 hands to put the fabric under the foot. Love/love/love the thread cutter.

I have the ability to use either. Very useful when you forget( must put in bag after this) to take to class with you. Sometimes it is much easier to select a speed on the machine and use stop start button. Without the foot pedal this speed control is your only control, free motion useful. Knee lift used but never felt need for.

have this machine and absolutely love it! also couldn't get used to the knee lifter - too many years sewing with a pedal. do use the thread cutter occasionally.

I do not use the start-stop button, only the foot pedal on my Janome 10,001 but I love the knee lifter. I use it when appliqueing by machine. I can use my hands to move the fabric an hold it in place while the knee lifter raises my presser foot.

I use the start/stop button on my machine when working with decorative stitches, it helps me not have to focus on maintaining constant speed when I am using those fancy stitches that move the fabric right/left/front/back :)
I also use it when doing circular sewing with the circle attachment :) set speed slow, load fabric, get everything set up, Turn on, then fold fat quarters while it sews a circle :)

A lot of times when I'm FMQ'ing I don't use the foot pedal. The speed stays consistent and then all I have to concentrate on is moving my fabric. Apparently I do better when only trying to accomplish one thing at a time!

I think it will really help me get into free motion. Until now I just SID. Which I have a special foot for by the way..who knew??!! :)

I would love a knee lift. Maybe next time!!

I have a Janome 6600P and I love the knee lift for the pressure foot and use it all the time. I have used the thread cutter but I'm having problems with it jamming at times, so I don't use it too much. It has a start and stop button, but I always use the foot pedal. I'm going to have to try it while FMQ as michelleoc does - never thought to do that.

I recently got to test drive the Janome Horizon, and loved it. I didn't like the knee lift--I kept hitting my elbow (funny bone) on it. I am just the right height to hit my funny bone on everything. I seem to hit door knobs the most. I guess that is just my cross to bear. lol After hitting it a couple of times, I took it off. Loved, loved the machine--maybe next time, when I have more money to spend.
Sue

I find FMQ much easier on my Janome with its Start/Stop button that I can pre-set the speed on, rather than my Pfaff QE4 which is pedal only. The thread I've saved with the auto thread cutter has about paid for the machine, lol.

For appliqué, I prefer the Pfaff with the auto-pivot. This lifts the presser foot automatically, with needle down, when you stop sewing and automatically puts it down when you start sewing again, doing away with the need for a knee lift.

Now I need to find a machine that does it all!

My machine will sew without the foot pedal - I've used it like that when quilting. Sometimes these machines have so many wonderful features we can't possibly use them all!

I have NOT used a foot pedal in over 3 years. I love just pushing the button and away you go. I also love the needle treader and the scissors button on mine. I absolutely love my sewing machine. I get a smile on my face every time I sit down to use it.

I learned to sew with the knee bar, but it wasn't just a lifter it was my go juice! It was in the 60's and I think the machine was a White, or it could have been an Elna. It was a great way to sew, but now I'm not so sure I could coordinate my knee to do the job anymore!;)

i use the start/stop with no pedal for sewing decorative stitches on long runs vs, short runs with lots of turns. Makes it easier for me to manage the fabric. I have used the knee lifter for so long I can't sew without it. To me it's a time saver but it did take a bit to get used to it in the beginning.

I love the start/stop button and wonder how I ever used the foot pedal. Mine kept running away from me and I was forever chasing it down. I tried all the hints to keep it in place but they never worked. I don't use the thread cutter asI like longer tails to hold onto to start my seams. I don't use the knee lifter as it seems so cumbersome to have it there. I tried not getting it, but it came with themachines I have so they are somewhere around here but I don't know where.

I recently had foot surgery and started using the start button too and found I LOVE it.

I have a Janome 6600 and love the knee lifter and going with out the pedal. With my previous machine (a small brother) only had a foot pedal and I ended up with a big knot in my calf muscle of my right leg from constantly pressing on the foot pedal. It was quite painful and would not go away for months. I had to stop going to the gym classes I enjoyed because each time I would put a bounce in my step, it would seize up and bring me to my knees.

The knee lifter takes a little getting used to, but is so worth the effort. I use it on my 6600, and my 10000 for embroidery. Once you get used to it, you do it without thinking.

I've had the singer quantum since december, and I love, love, love it! I haven't tried sewing much without the foot pedal, I have an old Kenmore, and I think I was just too used to a foot pedal!

I have used a friends Brother machine without the foot pedal for free motion quilting. And it is fabulous! To me, it removes one of the variables - trying to control the speed of the machine when quilting - and let's you concentrate on just learning to move the fabric at the correct speed to get the look you want. You're lucky - I wish. Y machine could work that way!

I have a Brothers with embroidery capabilities so that uses the start/stop button. I also use it when doing FMQ as it keeps an even speed and I do like that I don't have to reposition a foot pedal all the time. Also the thread cutter and needle threader are a joy. I do need a machine that will sew over thick things like seams in jeans etc. Does anyone have any suggestions for that? Even an older used model.

I love using the start/stop button! Because I am unable to use my foot for the foot pedal, I would have to use my hand to push on the pedal on my old machine. With my new Pfaff, I am now able to keep my seams straighter and now working on my free motion skills! Was not able to free motion with one hand on the fabric and one on the foot pedal! I'm good, but not that good! LOL!

I,too, have the ability to disconnect the foot pedal and use the start/stop button on the face of the machine. I confess, I don't use the start/stop button often, I prefer to use the foot pedal. Maybe I should use it more often, but, a lot of my quilt patterns are challenging and I often need to have both hands free to make sure that the end of the block fits perfectly. You gave something to think about.

Dear Gmcsewer, there are notions that will help you when you come to thick seams. I just checked Nancy's Notions, and found something that will help you. It is called a Jean-a-ma-jig and they are having a sale right now on this item. It used to be $16.00, it is now under $9.00 and you get some jeans needles included. You know, I just might need to buy this.Hope this helps.

I have a Janome 8900 and love the auto thread cutter and the no foot pedal sewing. It came in handy when I had the right hip replacement. The lift I do not use. It is in the wrong place for me.

I only use the start/stop button to fill my bobbins. It just seems beyond my ability and coordination to try to match seams together or pull out pins while the machine is running. LOVE the knee lift and auto thread cutter! Would hate to live without those!