Though for now, I keep having flashbacks to when I learned to sew ...... no foot pedal, rather it was a knee lever!!! I don't know how many times I have tried using both the knee lever and foot pedal to start the machine stitching!! arggghhh!! :lol: :lol:

I had that same problem when I first started using the knee leaver. I kept trying to use it for sewing. I have a Bernina and now use the knee lever when I am doing applique. I probably don't use it as much as I could.

I use my all the time and love it.

I love the knee lifter on my machine! I couldn't piece without it. It makes it so much easier to sew, especially when turning corners. I use the needle down position also.

In stitches,
Roberta

I have a Bernina with the knee lift and I love it. It gives my hands freedom.

I have one, but have never used it.

I've tried, but my legs are too short. Have to really stretch to reach it.

I love mine and use it all the time! The cable on it broke last year and I thought I would go crazy without it! I kept flapping my leg around under the machine....must have looked really really weird!

I'm trying to learn to use mine, but since I'm so short, sometimes it's pretty awkward. I don't have the ideal setup for sewing, ergonomically speaking.

I have one and have used it once or twice. I also have the Start/Stop button and tried to use it and ended up scaring myself! prefer the foot pedal.

I would love to use mine except; my machine fits into my cabinet and the drawer does not allow me to fit the lift into the hole. I once took the drawer out and did insert the lift and I did really like using it, but I decided I would rather have the drawer with my necessary tools at my finger tips, so had to make a choice there and put my drawer back on. I did enjoy using it though.

Such a cute photo of your kitten in a clog!

I have 3 machines. My Bernina, which is set into a table, has a lift lever. The Elna, which I set up in the living room when I am into a big project, and my Janome, which I leave in my van to have at my weekly quilt group, don't have the lift. Now, when using the Bernina, I forget to use the lift........and must remind myself to use it.

My Janome has an automatic cutter.......that the other 2 don't, and I am always forgetting to use that!

(I also started sewing, as a kid, on my mother's sewing machine with the knee pedal.......I still occasionally find myself moving my knee over to find that old pedal: I'm now 72 years old! Body motor movement habits are hard to change after they have become automatic!

Oooooooh...I'm really behind the times, I didn't know that Elna was out of business! A lot of my Elna things fit my Janome....YIKES!

I'm too short to use my lifter.

I LOVE mine. If it is not attached, I could not find it for a week after we moved, and I kept trying to lift the needle with my knee anyway, just so much more convenient.

Same here. I love the knee lift but it caused a problem with my hip.

I didn't think I would use mine and I didn't, for about the first few months. Then, I thought I would give it a try. Now, I cannot imagine not having it. I have used it for years. My new machine doesn't have one and I find myself constantly moving my knee, only to realize that it is not there. I really like it for paper-piecing because I am doing so many start and stop seams instead of chain piecing.

Haven't really needed it.

Never tried it with my Janome 6600P, however I have real issues with my knee sew probably not a good idea for me.
Glad it is wonderful for others.

I have two machines with it and never use either one.

When I learned to sew on my mother's machine 57 years ago, it had the "foot pedal" attached under the cabinet in such a manner that you pressed it with your knee. I use the knee lift lever, but find myself still pressing it to make the machine run! LOL! Old habits are hard to break!

I bought a used Bernina 153 QE especially so I could have the knee lifter. When I use my old machine, I am constantly trying to lift the foot with my knee. Personally, I love it. Would not want to be without it.

I have something but I just thought it raised the machine. Will have to check it out and see what it does I have a Brother Innovis 4000D upgraded to a 4500D. Anyone else have this machine and can tell me what the lifter is that came with it?

Only have Bernina's so have almost always used it and love it. Really missed it when I used someone else's machine.

My Bernina 1230 had a presser foot lifter but old habits die hard and I learned to sew on Singers that had a knee bar to run. Too much for this old addled brain to adjust to.

Please explain, sometimes I'm a little dense...If the knee lifter used to sew by pushing with the knee or is it to lift the needle? I used to have a Kenmore years ago that had a knee foot peddle....help!

I love my knee lift -- and always use it when I piece. I like to lift the foot just a bit to put the next piece in. That way I can zip thro dozens of HST and log cabin blocks at a time
When I'm here in ME I love my FW but I'll be happy to get back to my Bernina with the lift.
Mim

I have it but haven't used it enough to get coordinated with it. I learned to sew on a knee-lever machine (a 1947 White). I just need to get coordinated enough to use it without also stepping on the gas!! Thanks for the encouragement.

I have the Janome 6500. It did take a little bit to get used to using the knee lift but now it's second nature to me. You just have to get used to driving with your left foot and using your right knee to use the lift. It's like learning a new thing...like FMQ is. Practice makes perfect.

I couldn't do without my knee lever. My first Bernina had one and it took awhile to get use to using. I kept touching it to start the machine.

My Babylock has one, thought it would be great but I don't use it at all. It doesn't hit my knee at the right height so I don't bother.

I have one and LOVE it! I have a Bernina 440 and use the knee lift ALL THE TIME. Couldn't imagine life without it!

I learned to se on a Necchi (in a desk) that we had in the house growing up. It had a knee lever to sew. For the past 28 years I have had a Riccar in a cabinet that also has a knee lever to sew. Now with the new machines, the knee lever lifts the presser foot, and there is a foot pedal to sew.

I have had a knee lever with two Berninas (using an Aurora QE 400 now) and wouldn't be w/o it. Once you get used to it you never go back to the 'other' one.

My Bernina 150 came with one. I use it all the time! One time I got to my quilt group and had forgotten it. My knee was 'looking' for it all morning! I missed it terribly!

I have several machines that have one. I put it on one..but kept hitting it with my knee. I guess if I would get use to it I might like it...but I'm use to the floor control. My mother's cabinet for her 301A had a knee control and she loves hers.

Don't like it- gets in the way of leg movement and tend to bump it at the wrong time

I wonder if it is the brand of SM that makes some of us love it and others think it gets in the way. Mine is a Bernina -- and I love it -- what brand is yours??
Mim

I have had my newest Baby Lock for 5 yrs. and have not tried it. Will have to do it. My Mom's old machine when I was at home had a knee pedal to make it sew which I really liked.

I have had my newest Baby Lock for 5 yrs. and have not tried it. Will have to do it. My Mom's old machine when I was at home had a knee pedal to make it sew which I really liked.