Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
If you lower the feed dogs, they stay below the plate. If you leave them up but cover them, they move up with each stitch you take, which puts just a bit of additional pressure on the quilt sandwich at the precise moment you make the stitch. Sort of the same effect you have with a hopping foot. The foot presses down only when you make a stitch.
But if you have your stitch length on ZERO how would the feed dogs be moving? They should not move at all. I learned to do that years and years ago---using my treadle sewing machine.
Sibyl