A good friends daughter would like to start quilting. She's a quadriplegic.
Her mom and I were wondering how you use the foot petal. Is there such a thing you can run your machine from the table? Could you just use the foot petal with your arm or elbow? Need your suggestions! Thanks! :D

There's a macine that has a way to run it without using the foot... I've been reading about it in my search for a new machine... I'll have to find it... but I bet someone will beat me to it... :D

Some of the basic Brother machines have a start and stop hand slider rather than the foot or knee pedals. Haven't checked into them myself, but have seen a few at different retreats.

Brother has the "Quilter's Machine" that has a start and stop button next to the needle. Also, some older Singer has a pedal that works with the knee.

Maria

quadriplegic.....does that mean she has paralysis in all four limbs? I was thinking of some kind of thumb switch like the long arm machines have on them if she has use of her upper arms and hands.

some e-mail to the sewing machine companies, or a letter in the local paper might bring you in touch with some one who could work some magic

A knee lift perhaps, or maybe if you want to make sure it works, though it would be harder, a hand crank model from the 1900s or so??

My Elna Quilter's Dream has a pedal and a stop/start button, so that would work. I would check around and see what other machines have, since if bought new, the Dream is pretty expensive, fortunately for me, I bought my used, still pretty pricey but not as bad. Hope this helps.

Many sewing machine dealers can adapt their machines for disabled users. Try them first. Here's a mouth adaptation. http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm...discontinued=0 Here is some general info (about three quarters of the way down the page) http://www.freepatterns.com/content/...th=3&year=2007 and here's the info on the powerlink 3 adapter mentioned in the general site http://assistivetech.sf.k12.sd.us/po...ntrol_unit.htm Also try your local disability rights organization. Best of luck to you.