The problem with most trying to use the knee lift is that it is too high with the machine sitting on a table top. Mine didn't fit in my sewing table until my husband & I made a few modifications to it. I lowered the machine just so that I can use the clear table that came with the Horizon as a the filler, it covers the entire cutout. Now the knee lift is much easier to use in fact I love it, it keeps both my hands free and I can keep my tweezers in my right hand and don't have to put them down each time to lift the presser foot. Like anything else, the more you use it the easier it becomes.