Nancy of Nancy's notions showed this method. She called it the low tech version. It works.

I first saw this "tack" trick in the early 70's. I thought every one knew this idea. I have used it several times. Singer has a flower foot, I have seen it on HSN. Not sure if I would buy one since I know the tack trick.

Tack in sewing machine
 

I guess I am pretty thick headed but I don't understand how you can put a tack in your sewing machine.

tryitall, you don't put the tack in your machine. You need for your machine to be in a cabinet (or at least that's the way I do it). And, no, the tack doesn't go IN the cabinet either. I used masking tape or painter's tape and taped the tack straight out to the left of the needle - with the point facing UP. Then you put the middle of a piece of fabric on the tack, the edge of the fabric under the foot, and start sewing. The fabric spins in a circle as you sew. I put a rubber eraser over the tack to keep the fabric from slipping off.

Hope this is makes it more clear.

Tate

Clever idea , thanks.

What a neat idea. Thank you for sharing.