The only thing that I know is what I saw my 6 year old granddaughter do when I was giving a sewing lesson to her one day. I had shown her how to hold the fabric, where to watch, etc. One of the things I stressed was to sit straight on her chair, with her feet on the floor.... So after a minute or so of sewing I realized she had placed one foot on the pedal and the other foot on the rubber mat that was supposed to keep the pedal in place.. It worked!! So now that's the way I sew also, one foot on the pedal. The other on the mat to keep it in place!! Kids, they have more answers than I would have guessed!