Not an odd question...barefoot or shod.
I can not sew with anything on (my foot that is)and this can get pretty interesting at camps and retreats. I just make sure I wear slip on type shoes and hope no one is offended. Of course it is not the most comfortable on the treadle machine but what can you do?

The other question I would add is: Do you use the right or left foot or in my case I switch hit using either foot.

on my Bernina, I use it backwards and upside down, it moves faster that way. Or I think it does.

Sue

I prefer to sew barefoot as well. Once in a while I do have to bring the pedal back in range.

I have my mothers old machine, that I still use from time to time. It's a Brother, which has both, but on that machine I still prefer the knee control.

I sew without one shoe, but I learned with a knee control. My Elna has both but I use the foot control.

I always wear footware as my floor often has open safety pins scattered about. I make a lot of Linus quilts and I baste them with open saftety pins so that I remember to remove them. They often fall out and I use a neat magnet on a telescoping stick to pick them up off the floor. The open pins are also easier on my fingers than constantly opening and shutting them. My first sewing machine was in a cabinet with a knee control. My current machines are Berninas and have a knee bar that lifts the presser foot. I can barely sew without the knee lift. If I don't have the knee bar I am constantly banging my leg on the table leg. I currently have a mat on the floor under the table were I sew and another one under the machine. They are the thick padding you can put down under carpeting or flooring that will be laid on concrete. It keeps the foot pedal from walking and the machine from vibrating as I tend to "put the pedal to the metal" when sewing. I also keep an empty thread box on the floor to rest my none sewing foot on as a way to keep my legs balanced.

I simply cannot sew with a shoe on. I have tried. Even at the sewing machine store, I had to test-drive with my shoe off. So far, even at retreats, no one has said a word!

Laurie

I sew in my sock or with a slipper on. Never shoes!

I'm on the socked foot boat.
I don't know why or how I ended up there, but if I have shoes on when I start sewing on the machine it's only a matter of a minute, maybe two, that I realize something doesn't feel right.

And I realize, "Ahh.. my shoes!"

Once I take them off... all is right with my little world.

The sewing machine I grew up on had a knee control as well. I had the hardest time at first usig the foot pedal. I have a knee lift for my Bernina that raised the presser foot. I still can't use it. I revert back to thinking it controls the machine.
I always wear shoes. My feet are really bad, bad heel spurs. I have to wear orthotics all the time. Taking off my shoes to sew is not something I would even consider. My shoes go on before I go downstairs for the day and stay on until shortly before I go to bed.

i have thought about super gluing it to my shoe LOL