Treadling - one foot or two?
 

I've been experimenting with both and so far I'm much smoother one footed (which is the same way you'd use a treadle lathe since you'd be standing while using it, but it has a larger throw so it's more of a knee action.) I've seen some videos that suggest two feet, however. For those of you who treadle, how do you do it?

I use two.

I learned to sew on my Mothers and used it until I married and bought my 401A. I was taught to use two and all those I ever saw using one also used two.

Definitely use two feet. You'll wear out your knee using just one. I learned to sew on a treadle when I was 8 and my stepfather wired two wood blocks to the treadle so I could reach it. I stupidly gave my treadle machine away 15 years ago when I moved to a small house and have regretted it every since. Can't afford one now.

Sounds like I should work on two-footing it. I'm not over worried about wearing myself out - the range of motion is much smaller than I get with bicycle cranks and I can do that for hours on end - but I'd rather get good at doing it right just as a matter of habit.

I use my right foot and my left foot as a control, brake so to speak and I go for hours piecing.

Usually two.

I usually use one, the left. I have spinal problems that makes my right side weaker and have less stamina than the left. I'm also fairly plump, picture the Pillsbury Dough Boy or the Michelin Man trying to get both fat legs under the table. So I use the left foot mostly. I do try to use both occasionally, but the left leg is dominant and the right leg fatigues faster, so the left is doing all the work anyway, so I just use one.

Joe

I usually use one, but am new to the whole treadling thing. My W&G cabinet is very narrow and I am apperantly not so narrow so it's hard to fit both legs in there. When I do I usually have to sit a bit at an angle. I do use two though because since it doesn't have a permanent spot in the house yet it scoots across the floor becaus I havent put anything under the wheels. (and the machine is so small and light it adds no weight at all to the cabinet!) I also use two to start and stop the treadle but once I get going its usually one. I'm still learning and two works well too. :)

Kittywolf,

Go to a hardware store and buy a package of the rubber cup things you put under furniture so it doesn't ruin floors. They'll help keep your treadle in one place.

Joe

I am a fairly new "treadler" and I watched You Tube Videos to learn how to treadle. Most videos show the two feet method. Would you believe that there are people who treadle in their bare feet!

Colleen

Joe, it's on my list of things to do. Haha!

Colleen - I think barefoot would actually help quite a bit. It would be easier to detect subtle motions when starting out to make sure it's all going the right direction to start with. The only problem I see with it would be cold feet from the cast iron's conductivity. Given that I'll probably try stocking footed next.

So, if the treadle plate is cold, make a pad to go over it. Something to practice on while you get the hang of treadling.

Joe

Not a bad idea. Not very thick because I want to pick up on small motions but no reason not to do a simple pad. Thanks!

I'm a two footer. LOL

Two feet. There is a video online that shows it. I just knew from when I was a little kid and I treadled on my grand mother's Pfaff. One foot on the front and one higher up.

Two feet for me! I don't think I'm coordinated enough to do it with one!

2 feet, bare so I can "feel" the motion better. Can use shoes. Using 1 foot is more tiring to me...

Joe,

Be on the lookout for a set of irons from an industrial machine. A universal top on it with a household cut out and you are good to go. All of my regular treadles are in the 19" range inside leg to leg measurement and my industrial 31-20
measures in at 25 1/8". That extra 6 inches really helps for those who are horizontally challenged. VBG

Cathy

Two. Left is in back and right is in front.

Cathy,
Thanks for the info. I've been on the lookout for something along those lines to make a MUT. But so far nothing has shown itself.

Joe

I use both feet. Left toes at the back Right foot to the front. This gives me better rhythm and it runs along smoothly. I also wear soft shoes.

Joe - I haven't checked it out myself but I think I read on the Treadleon website that the White cabinets are wider and position the needle directly in front of you instead of to the left of center.

pCDH,

Another option to be sure.

Part of my "plan" for the MUT is to make interchangeable inserts for different machines. For instance I have a W&G Type 10 industrial lock stitch machine. To drive that I really need a treadle with a larger drive wheel. Basically an industrial treadle base.

Eventually I'll find one.

Joe

That's interesting. I didn't realize you'd need a larger drive wheel for some machines. I'd be afraid that would make others substantially harder to treadle.

I'm trying to remember where I saw a 31-15 treadle setup for sale. It wasn't silly cheap but it did have that industrial treadle base and, of course, the machine is a tank!

This is exactly how I treadle - I've never seen it done any other way

I'm probably hampered by never having seen it done except in a couple of videos. The only treadling I've ever seen in person is a lathe which uses a different pivot point to put the majority of the motion at the front so it's done one legged with a pushing motion and knee flexion. For me it's completely natural to do it one footed - heel, toe, heel, toe, ..... No knee movement, just ankle flexion. I do intend to try to get the coordination of two feet into it at some point but each time I've tried so far it's been very herky-jerky.

I was given my first treadle machine, Singer 66 T-1, back in 98. Prior to that nobody in my family had one they used. And I'd never seen one in use. So I had to learn to do it all by myself. I do not think there is any one right way to do it. It's one of those "what ever works for you" is the right way kind of things.

Joe

I took a survey of treadle base sizes a few years ago. The White Rotary treadle base measured in at 19 1/2". There are a few but not all that are "sit straight" style, but I think they are still in the 19" range.

Cathy

My 31-20 with the larger treadle wheel is an easy, smooth treadler. Definitely not harder than the household treadles.

I use 2, better control that way. I can treadle one footed with my Pfaff, its smooth!

I sometimes treadle barefoot in the Summer months. :D

I use two feet but simultaneously right left right left . . .

I've read some who advocate that method and actually tried it. But ... I'm not that coordinated. :)

Joe

Yep, exactly! I am always barefoot.

I use two, but I offset them a bit. Right-handed, so the right foot is a little higher....left foot is a little lower.