Foot vs Knee
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Posts: 3,907
Foot vs Knee
Got to thinking yesterday about foot petals vs knee bar petals. I myself love my foot petal, even if a have to reposition it each day. How many ladies prefer one over the other?
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 706
I use a foot pedal. I found recently that giving my other foot a higher place to rest made my body more comfortable.
I also love my knee lift on my Bernina (it was on my list of must haves when I bought the machine 20+ years ago). I haven’t used a knee bar for power since I sewed a bit on my grandmother’s cabinet, which was probably more than 40 years ago.
My machine doesn’t have a stop/start button so I can’t say how I would like using that (although for work like chain piecing or FMQ, where I stop and start a lot, I can’t imagine I would like needing to use my hands to control the speed).
Finally, I recently discovered that my machine behaves better when I don’t use the flywheel to advance the needle with fabric under the foot. I’m much more likely to get a rat’s nest of threads if I use the flywheel. Better to just tap the foot for a single or half stitch.
I also love my knee lift on my Bernina (it was on my list of must haves when I bought the machine 20+ years ago). I haven’t used a knee bar for power since I sewed a bit on my grandmother’s cabinet, which was probably more than 40 years ago.
My machine doesn’t have a stop/start button so I can’t say how I would like using that (although for work like chain piecing or FMQ, where I stop and start a lot, I can’t imagine I would like needing to use my hands to control the speed).
Finally, I recently discovered that my machine behaves better when I don’t use the flywheel to advance the needle with fabric under the foot. I’m much more likely to get a rat’s nest of threads if I use the flywheel. Better to just tap the foot for a single or half stitch.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,530
I am a barefoot pedal all the way gal. I learned with a knee pedal, and hated it. I found it hard to find a happy medium. My machine has a start stop button which I never use. It just seems too awkward and cumbersome to use. The foot pedal just works well for me.
#8
Foot pedal and knee lift. I learned on machines with the knee pedal, and I could easily get used to doing that again, but I don't want to give up the knee lift. Hmmm...maybe there should be an option to use both knees, for different purposes.