I have a Bernina 350SE that has a start/stop button. I came with the walking foot ,1/4 foot plus some other. It has a variety of stitches and sews very well. I paid around $1250. I do love my machine.

I am also disable so sometimes we have to think outside the box. if you mounted it sideways, could you use your knee to press against it. I think you are doing terrific using your hand to control the speed. Maybe mount it somewhere vertical where your elbow would be pressing on the foot.

just a thought.... could someone make you a mouth 'squeezer' that is coordinated with your foot pedal squeezing?

I have a Brother that I bought at WalMart that has a start/stop button. I love it and use it when I'm not sewing on my FeatherWeight. You should be able to buy one in the price range of $179 - $399.

if you have a Viking Dealer be sure and check with them also quite a few of them have the start and stop button and with many different price ranges.

Don't forget Janome. My 4900 has a start/stop button and boy has that come in handy when I've forgotten the foot pedal at home!!

I recently put together a set up that might be helpful for you. Years ago I bought a New Joy quilting frame at a garage sale. It sat unused until recently, when I bought a Janome 1600P and put a stitch regulator on it to use with the rack. The stitch regulator has a little hand held piece with the start/stop button, which allows me to move my machine on the rack with one hand. I don't know if you have room for a rack, but I don't use my feet with it at all.

I bought the Janome on ebay for $600 (I think they usually go for $900, but I bet you can find a machine for somewhere around the $600 range), and the Quilter's Cruise Control was under $500 on sale. The rack was $200, and goes down to about 5 feet so it would be good for your smaller quilts. New Joy is out of business, but maybe you can find a similar one like I did.

If you can't use the rack, the Janome has a start/stop button and only does high speed straight stitch, so it's perfect for quilting.

Anyway. I hope that helps!

brother babylock will have what you are looking for, you can probably get a nice used model like the laura ashley/symphony or maybe even a QC1000/espire with so many trading up there are probably some good deals out there, these are easy to use with the button.I got my espire for a little more than 1500 but that was 4 years ago they probably go for around like 1k by now, but you might be able to score a used laura ashley/symphony in that range. They are lovely machines,had mine for 2 1/2 years before I traded her in for my brother. That machines sewed and quilted beautiful.

Here's a photo of what I was trying to describe earlier. This is the button that I hold in my hand to start sewing.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...&sz=w1246-h412

Since you are doing so well without the start/stop button, why not continue without it and get a system to hold the piece you are quilting up in the air to make it easier to maneuver. Just a thought. There has been a lot of discussion about that system on this board lately. I will try to find the link. You are an inspiration!