See this is why I figured id ask here. So many lovely suggestions! It seemed like she had been eyeing a push button that the harder you pushed the faster it went. I wish she had told me the machines name. :/ I thought the same thing you should have your hands free to play with the fabric. Hmm these are all good ideas.
I did find a brother that has a speed dial for the push button. In fact I don't think the machine had a footpedal. I need to look into that more