Socks or Shoes? How do you sew?

 

After a very busy holiday season, I am grateful to get back into my studio!  As I replaced the Christmas curtains with our everyday ones, I decided to make a table topper to match.  Searching my stash, I found matching fabric and settled on a pattern I could use.  I adjusted the design based on the fabric I had left, carefully cut the pieces, and began to sew.

The topper came together easily, but something felt off. When I came upstairs for a coffee refill, I realized what was wrong.  

I was sewing with my shoes on!

When I sew, I like to do it barefoot or with socks on.  I feel I have much better control over the foot pedal.  I use my toes and the ball of my foot to gauge how much pressure I need on the foot pedal.  With shoes on, that precision is gone and all I get is a flat pressure and much less control.  And with some shoes, my foot tends to slip around on the pedal.

There are a few hazards to not wearing shoes in the sewing studio. Dropping scissors or rotary cutters on your toes and stepping on pins or needles can be painful.  Socks also pick up threads and track them all over the house.

For me, I'll risk the hazards for more control over my machine.

How about you?  Sock or shoe?

Oh, and in case you were interested, here is the table topper I was working on.  Just needs to be quilted and bound.

"Put your foot down and QUILT!"