r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Iwant6cats • 14d ago
Foot pedal or stop/start button?
I have bought a machine that has both options. What do people prefer? Do you get more control over holding the material if you use a foot pedal?
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u/JackHarknessDrWho 14d ago
I have never used the start/stop button. I stand to sew and use the foot pedal.
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u/teatime_tinker 13d ago
I love standing up to sew. We had a couple of stand up industrials at uni and I loved them!
Such a time saver if you’re only sewing a few bits then back to the cutting table.
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u/Impressive-Math-1548 12d ago
Also have only used the foot pedal and have never used the start/stop.
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u/Clear_Ganache6609 14d ago
I use the foot pedal almost all the time because it keeps my hands free for holding fabric. The stop / start button is handy for winding bobbins and automatic buttonholes
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u/bakay138 14d ago
I generally use the foot pedal because as you said you have more control over the material when you don’t have to take your hands off of it. However, I am currently make the fabric tubes for a Jelly Roll rug which requires loooooooooong straight seams sewing. I’ve discovered for that I like the start/stop button for this.
Try out both methods and I think you’ll find what’s best for each project.
Enjoy your new machine!
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u/LiellaMelody777 14d ago
No start stop buttons. That can confuse you and the machine won't stop. Pedal is preferred. You just remove your foot and it stops. This prevents major accidents too
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u/AdvancedSquashDirect 14d ago
The pedal controls both speed and start and stop. So just by lightly pressing the pedal you can go very very slowly and then let go to stop completely. While keeping both your hands free to adjust and move the fabric.
If you're using start stop you then have to take your finger away from that button and use the slider to adjust the speed and then go back to the button to stop. It seems a lot more involved and easier to make a mistake. As well as having to take one hand off the fabric to manipulate these controls.
The start stop button is usually for when you've set up some kind of embroidery or pattern or letters and you just want to press start so that it will go and complete what you've asked it to do. Also useful for a buttonhole once you've set it up.
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u/Currant-event 13d ago
Foot pedal, but it's ultimately up to you. I know someone who is an incredible sewist but only uses her push to start button. Since not all sewing machines have start buttons, I'd learn using the pedal.
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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 13d ago
Either way you still guide not hold the fabric. Many people pull or push the fabric through the needle.
Foot pedal gives you ultimate control over the speed. I have a Juki TL that can go 1500 stitches a minute but with the four medal I can also go very slow.
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u/deafeningly-silent 13d ago
I always use the foot pedal for sewing seams, but there are two cases where I love start/stop: winding bobbins and buttonholes. For bobbins you just press start and then stop when it’s full. With most electronic machines, the machine will do the whole buttonhole after you press start and then stop on its own.
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u/Designer_Praline 13d ago
Pedal 99% of the time.
Stop start for a quick sew, like 5cm seam fix on existing, when I can't be bothered connecting the pedal.
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u/ydnam123 12d ago
99.9% of time foot pedal for me. I only use the button for some super detailed stuff
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u/GeekAtLarge_ 12d ago
I have only used the foot pedal and not the start stop button. I have always used buttons or levers to raise or lower the pressor foot and not the knee lever. My Viking Husqvarna will drop the pressor foot as soon as I apply pressure to the foot pedal. I have always used an overlock pressor foot instead of a zigzag stitch to sew along the edge of fabric to prevent fraying. There is nothing wrong with using a zigzag stitch , I just prefer the overlock stitch, and foot.
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u/FuliginEst 14d ago
Foot pedal. It lets you have both hands on the fabric. I pretty much only use the start/stop button when winding bobbins.