Knee lift for pressure foot
 

I have been quilting for 25 plus years , and never thought I would need or like a knee lift. I have changed my mine, but I need your knowledge. Can I buy this and attach it to the machine I already own? I have a Singer.

i have looked at a couple YouTube videos, and I find it a little confusing.

The machine needs to be build for a knee lift. I can't live without mine

I've used vintage machines for most of the last 30 years, but a year ago my friend gave me a modern Bernina, I used it hard for the last year and now it has an issue and needs a trip to the shop so I've switched to my back-up/class machine.

How I miss my knee lift! And my friend who gave me the machine never used it.

The other thing is the bobbin sensor. It never was that big a deal before, but now that I'm used to the sensor I run out of bobbin thread all the time, usually I don't figure it out until at least a foot or two of sewing has gone on that didn't go on...

I only have one machine with a knee lift and I don''t use that machine that often to really know if I would use it a lot. What I do miss on my Juki is the sensor, Like you Iceblossom, The running out of bobbin and sewing for a couple feet just happened to me about 10 minutes ago. I suppose I should have been watching closer I suppose.

On vintage/mechanical machines, sometimes you can rig something that will mechanically raise and lower the foot lift bar, but it takes quite a bit of fabrication to do so (a lot of older commercial machines have the mechanism on the outside of the machines that does just that).

Most modern / electronic machines it would need to be part of the machine to start with.
I love having a knee lift for the foot - it's so nice to have both hands free to get the fabric in just the right spot while lowering the foot in place.

I think you can only have that on a machine that comes with it. However, I'm just giving you my experience. I have old Singers that you wouldn't be able to. My Berninas have it built in.

As Macybaby wrote, I think it will depend on the type and age of your machine. If the youtube channel has a website, you can email them and ask questions on how to possible convert your machine.

As an aside, I may be the only long time Bernina user who doesn't use her knee lift. I've never liked it. I was piecing on my Viking Designer II because I love the auto foot lift, then fmq on my Berninas. I was so happy when they included an auto foot lift on their machines.

Ditto on sewing without bobbin thread. I didn’t know they made a sensor for that. I think I need to save my money and upgrade my machine. I have a very basic Singer that is at least 25 years old. It has been a good one. I keep it clean and oiled and it has only been in the shop once.

Love my knee lift. I agree it would have to be a feature that is already a part of your machine. Check your users manual and it should say if that is an available option. You could also google the question on the internet. “Is knee lift available for Singer ___ (type in model #)

There will be a hole in the right bottom corner of your machine if it has the lift mechanism. I am very dependent on a knee lift and have passed on machines without it. As for the bobbin sensor, I appreciate having it, but I can hear it when I run out of thread on my Juki, so I never get too far sewing nothing.

The two straight stitch only machines I use all the time have knee lift and I never use them. They just get in my way, so I don't like them.

My Janome 6600 has a knee lift which I really like, but when I bought it I didn't know there were bobbin sensors on some machines also. I do all my own FMQ and a sensor would really be useful. Don't know if I want to get a different machine at this time in my life. Really like what I have.

I have knee lift and tried to get use to using it. It never became a convenience to me. The lever was in my way and caused annoyance.

One of my machines has it. I also sew on vintage machines in a cabinet that have the controller in the case and there is a thing to press my knee against. So sometimes I get confused with the different ones. Mostly I don't use it. It isn't a "must have" for me.

i learned on machines like that. after all these decades, when i have the knee lift hooked up, i automatically try to use it as the power control. it's sooooo much fun [not] when the foot goes up while i'm still sewing.

most of them are not positioned properly for me, either.
the lever is too far away from my leg.
i either have to scooch over so my view is distorted or i have to swing my knee waaaay out like i was on some crazy exercise equipment.

happy for those who have and love them.
mine are all tucked away where they can do no harm. lol

i know! Annoying for sure to get them confused.

My mothers Singer machine had a knee lift. My Janome used for piecing came with a knee lift, but when we dropped it into a table so that it was flush with the table top, husband forgot to mark a hole to put the knee bar into. Using the foot pedal works for me.

I have it on both my Bernina and love it!
You get used to what you have...

I'm getting ready to do so serious chain piecing and I'm going to give the knee lift a try.

I learned to sew on 60's singers and like above, it always was the go forward mechanism.That is a hard instinct to break.
I finally did on my Janome's but the lift is way too far left, to compensate I added two layers of pool noodle to the shaft.

I never use it now so took it off about a year ago. It was wonderful for machine applique though.
The bobbin thread low sensor, comes on (to my knowledge) the machines that stitch out motifs.Having an embroidery module adds a Lot to the cost of a machine and go off way too early (again and again) for patchwork.

Have had my Bernina for over four years and have never used the knee lift. Decided to try it today. I think I will like it if I get used to it. Kept wanting to push it for the power, though, just like I did 50 years ago.

I had a Viking D1 and then a Viking SE I loved the automatic foot lift, When I stopped stitching the foot automatically lifts so I can turn....and if you go a slower speed, it would lift just a little after each stitch so it was super easy to do curves and wonderful for applique. Then I got a Bernina with the BSR and it did not have the auto foot lift but came with the knee lifter....took quite a while to get used to it and I really missed the automatic foot lift I had on my Vikings....But I ended up really liking it after a few months of getting used to it....now I have a newer Bernina that I can program the automatic foot lift into ...I think they call it hovering, and now I do not use the knee lifter very often but I still use it a bit....mainly I think to get the foot raised higher than the autolift does....so...if you do applique at all, and your machine has that knee lifter, I would highly recommend you give it a try..so nice to be able to have both hands on your fabric and not have to stop and reach for the foot lift lever.....