I tried FMQ this morning without a presser foot. It didn't work. I kept skipping stitches, sometimes ten in a row. Maybe it would work with a hoop, but the fabric needs to be held down so the machine can make the stitch. That's why the darning food has that little spring on it.

I used that with my 401A and it works so beautiful but have never tried it on my computerized Brother.

Yes, I remember doing this way back when, using that little coiled spring thingy around the needle, but no foot on the machine. I prefer our more "modern" embroidery feet. :)

When I got a new sewing machine in 1977 doing embroidery using no foot and the feed dogs down was part of the learning how to use your machine class. We did use stabilizer and a hoop as part of this method. You do have to be careful as the foot for the most part guards your finger from getting under the needle. If you use a hoop however you are holding on the to hoop to move the fabric around under the needle and the hoop will protect your fingers. With newer machines and feet available this method is gone by the wayside for the most part.

More power to her, but I know what my fingers would look like if I tried that!

What makes you think you are the only one with this thought? Thanks for the laugh!

If this is the same lady, the reason she's doing embroidery without a foot is because she isn't using an embroidery machine.She uses a reqular machine to do it. As far as being dangerous, I've seen on here many times where people ran the needle into their finger, they had a foot on the machine and it didn't stop them from hurting themselves. This is where you just have to be careful. The video that I saw, was really pretty. She does nice work.