Elna sewing machine
#11
Well, on my Brother it means: (1) I can sew from my recliner when my back is giving me trouble (2) I don't have to chase the foot pedal (3) You can set speed which is good for beginners that haven't learned to control it with foot pedal. (4) One more thing I don't have to keep up with when going to sew alongs. (5) When I got used to using start/stop button I never wanted to go back to foot pedal
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 619
Well, the good news is that Elna's are now made by Janome, so much will be the same feeling as your machine. And within a short time she will adjust to just using the foot pedal, such a lovely gesture from her Dad.
#13
The only advantage for me for being able to sew w/out foot pedal is that I could set the speed to super slow, and then my young grandchildren could sew simple straight seams. Learning to press the pedal was a bit of a surprise for them if they got it going to fast, then they would get nervous and would loose interest. Eventually (around 9 or 10 maybe) I think they can get the concept of the pedal/speed combo. I have them practice w/out a needle to get the feel of it....fabric will still feed and they can get the simulation of sewing and controlling the speed and the fabric.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 347
The only advantage for me for being able to sew w/out foot pedal is that I could set the speed to super slow, and then my young grandchildren could sew simple straight seams. Learning to press the pedal was a bit of a surprise for them if they got it going to fast, then they would get nervous and would loose interest. Eventually (around 9 or 10 maybe) I think they can get the concept of the pedal/speed combo. I have them practice w/out a needle to get the feel of it....fabric will still feed and they can get the simulation of sewing and controlling the speed and the fabric.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 838
I have tried sewing with the start/stop button instead of the foot pedal, and I found it really stressful. How do you maintain control of the fabric at the end of a seam, while looking up to find the stop button? How do you adjust or realign your fabric as you sew? How do you remove pins? I slow down or stop during these things, so that my seam stays accurate. I find that if I'm not watching the fabric feed, I get wobbles.
#16
I found that I used mostly my left hand to guide fabric anyway and got to where I could reach up and press the start/stop button without even looking. There is an old saying "necessity is the mother of invention" and I guess that applies to learning to sew with start/stop button when the only other option is to not sew at all.
#17
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
This may also be a dumb question but what is the advantage to sewing without the foot pedal?
I love having the speed control consistent. When I FMQ I really like it because then I know the speed is staying the same I just have to manage my hands
I was worried about sewing with the start stop button and losing control.. but I am used to it now. I don't know if I could go back to the foot pedal
#18
well for me... I can't drive 55 ... ha ha ha
I love having the speed control consistent. When I FMQ I really like it because then I know the speed is staying the same I just have to manage my hands
I was worried about sewing with the start stop button and losing control.. but I am used to it now. I don't know if I could go back to the foot pedal
I love having the speed control consistent. When I FMQ I really like it because then I know the speed is staying the same I just have to manage my hands
I was worried about sewing with the start stop button and losing control.. but I am used to it now. I don't know if I could go back to the foot pedal
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 374
Meyert, I am not exactly sure why your niece wants to avoid using the foot pedal but I am poking in anyway. Please forgive me if I intrude.
I have a suggestion. It will take fiddling and creativity but short of a simpler answer it does work.
My grandmother's Singer Slant-O-Matic 403 Special has a foot pedal that will also function as a knee pedal. The machine came to me in a cabinet with a harness sort of arrangement that was attached to the cabinet a d holdsthe pedal at comfortable knee height.
I liked the knee pedal in the sewing machines at school and I really do use the 'knee' pedal one on grandmother's 403.
I have a suggestion. It will take fiddling and creativity but short of a simpler answer it does work.
My grandmother's Singer Slant-O-Matic 403 Special has a foot pedal that will also function as a knee pedal. The machine came to me in a cabinet with a harness sort of arrangement that was attached to the cabinet a d holdsthe pedal at comfortable knee height.
I liked the knee pedal in the sewing machines at school and I really do use the 'knee' pedal one on grandmother's 403.
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Maia B
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12-23-2010 04:08 AM