Lori S

I am so used to not having it that I forget I have it on my newer machine. I just use the hand wheel.

omaluvs2quilt

Well, I'm sorry I can't be helpful, but I guess I'm just not that patient. My first attempt at fmq was so frustrating with my little Janome Gem Gold, and I had my eye on the 6600, that after hours of frustration I got on the phone and told my shop to have one ready, I'm on my way. Life has been good ever since, lol!

citruscountyquilter

I don't have a needle down option on any of my machines as they are all older. I just use my hand and the wheel to put the needle down or many times as I'm slowing down I'm able to stop the machine with the needle in the down position. It's just a matter of what you get used to. As far as the whir and breakneck speed issue I also start the machine with a little help by slowly pressing the pedal and at the same time moving the wheel to get it going. Once it is going it is much easier to maintain speed. I love my old machines and I figure the money I don't spend on a fancy machine I can spend on fabric

DixieLee

I had a problem with my foot pedal zooming away so I took it to the repair store and it was just some kind of minor adjustment. Theey said it happens to all foot pedals over time. I don't know too much about it but now it is great.

running1

I really can't help you and will be reading all these posts... but... when my machine was doing what your's is doing...running away with just a little pressure on the foot feed... it needed a new foot feed... but that fixed the problem and now I have the control I should have. It is only a consideration, of course...

Rose Marie

Needle down is a must for me. I keep it that way all the time even for piecing. LOve that it lifts the foot just a little with the needle down so useful.

MargeD

I love my needle down button on my Janome and use it 99% of the time. However, sometimes I need to use another machine without that option, so I just move the flywheel to make sure the needle is down when I stop. It's extra work, but I'm always ready to begin where I left off.

Evie

My newer (20+ years) Singer has an automatic needle down whenever you stop sewing, which I love. However, when I learned to sew (way more than 20 years ago ), I was taught to manually use the flywheel to position the needle down. That habit has saved me more than once!

ShirlinAZ

I do like Artsy1 to stop needle down. As far as motor taking off at race speed, I give the handwheel 1 turn as I start to press the peddle and the machine starts smoothly.

nativetexan

that's what I did, use my hand to turn the wheel to lower the needle. keep your left on the quilt and don't move. of course then I wasn't doing FMQing.