Some of us sewing machine users either cannot use a foot pedal, because of a disability or injury, or do not like to use them and can therefore find it tricky to find a sewing machine that suits. I have to admit I am one of those who struggles to use a sewing machine foot pedal, I’m heavy footed and find it runs away from me speed wise (probably why I don’t drive either!) Luckily I have discovered that many sewing machine manufacturers now give you the option to use a sewing machine without a foot pedal.
I decided to write a feature about this because whenever I take my machine to a class or sewing group so many stitchers are surprised to see it can be operated without a foot pedal. We have also had enquiries from people looking for sewing machines suitable for disabled users. So hopefully putting this information out there will help people.
Speed slider
Nowadays many modern sewing machines can be used without a foot pedal, especially the computerised ones. You use the speed setting (indicated above) to pick the speed you prefer to sew at. You slide it from the single arrow (slowest speed) towards the triple arrow (fastest speed) until you find a speed you are comfortable with. I tend to sew at the midway point most the time.
Then you use the start/stop button to start and stop stitching. Luckily the button (lit up in green in the image above) is located just above the needle so you can easily reach up to operate it whilst still keeping a grip on your fabric. Plus on my machine it lights up which makes it even easier to spot.
One big benefit of sewing without the foot pedal is your sewing machine will always stitch at a constant speed. I find this particularly useful when doing things like free motion quilting or free motion embroidery because you don’t have to think about moving your hands and feet at the same time. I can focus purely on moving the fabric.
It is also great when you are sewing something tricky as you can set the speed to super slow making it easier to control where the needle is going. Ideal for sewing curves or tricky applique shapes. On my MC9400 if you hold the stop start button it automatically does a really slow stitch, handy for corners.
Plus when sewing you can easily stretch your legs out or move them around because you do not have to keep 1 foot on the pedal at all times. You can even sew standing up if you prefer and have a high enough work surface.
Another thing I’ve found is foot pedals can be quite expensive to replace if they start to wear out. On my first ever machine I had to use a foot pedal and it cost me £130 to replace it. If you cannot afford to splash out on a new one you might want to see if your machine can operate without the foot pedal instead.
If sewing without a foot pedal is something you would like to try check your sewing machine manual to see if it's an option.
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