Sewing gives me a lot of pleasure, but actually sometimes also quite a bit of pain. I get a pain in my back when I sew for a while, and when I took a good hard look at that recently, I realised that a lot of it may be due to the fact that my foot-pedal leg often starts off in a comfortable position, but the more I sew, the more it extends outwards as I chase my foot-pedal across the floor.
I have a tiled floor and the foot pedal seems to slip further and further away throughout my sewing session, until I have to fish it back again. It's this sitting with one leg extended, sitting at an angle that I'm convinced in a back-breaker for me. So I set out to solve this dilemma and sew a non-slip sewing machine foot pedal pad.
It's not pretty, but it works, and that's what matters. My foot pedal stays put now a lot more than it did before. I think this would work if you had a wooden floor or carpets too, not just for tile. Here's how you can make one – it's pretty cheap!
Materials to make a non-slip sewing machine foot pedal pad
- Roll of non-slip spongy material, often sold as drawer or shelf liners (alternative UK Link)
- Some fleece, batting, felt or similar
- Quilting cotton, or other fabric, less than a Fat Quarter
- Straight cut or bias strips, 2.5 inches wide
Start out by measuring your foot pedal and decide on how big you want your mat to be. I'm guessing the bigger you make it, the more grip it will have. But bear in mind, this stuff is non-slip so it will also grip onto all your little pieces of thread too and could end up a big thread nest, so don't make it huge.
I drew a rough ‘pattern' from a sheet of paper and used it to cut 2 pieces of the non-slip liner. Make it round, oval, square – whatever you like. I made mine rectangular so that I had some padding under my heel too.
Now make or unwrap some binding tape. If your mat is square, you can use a straight cut binding. A jelly roll strip would be ideal for that. If you've made it round or oval, you'll want to use a bias binding tape. Check out these tutorials on how to estimate and make continuous bias binding, and how to get neat corners.
Apply the binding all around the outside of the two layers of non-slip grippy stuff. You might find because it's grippy, that it's going to grip the plastic of your sewing machine. If that's the case, slip some tissue or even some regular paper underneath to help it feed through. Here's mine sewn to the paper. It perforates as it sews so it just pulls off afterward.
I folded my 2.5 inch binding in half and sewed it to the top, then folded it over to the back and stitched again. It's not the greatest of neat jobs, but hey, who's looking under my sewing table! Get out of there…
Because we are constantly applying pressure to the back of the pedal, it can still slip forward so I thought having something to prevent it slipping off the front of our mat would be a good idea. I created a roll of some scraps of felt that I had layered with some fabric.
Cut a rectangle of fabric a couple of inches wider than the mat. Cut your inner padding piece an inch narrower than your mat.
On the wrong side of your fabric, place your piece or pieces of felt, fleece, or batting and start to roll it up. When you get it as thick as you want it, snip off any remaining filling. Leave your fabric an inch longer.
Turn under the raw edge on your fabric, roll it up and then hand stitch it down to complete your ‘sausage' to go at the front of the mat. The ends should be thin, without the filling so these will be easier to sew. You can even get your scissors in there and snip any fabric from the center of the roll that you don't need.
Now tuck in under the ends on your stopper roll, and tuck those ends underneath to the backside and stitch them in place.
It's done. Place your foot pedal where you want it to go, more confident now that it's going to stay in place better than it did before. Your back will thank you.
Sounds like a wonderful idea that I will try, but I have one watch-out comment. Some types of rubbery linings will react with some floor finishes and leave a permanent discolored shadow. I have no idea if shelf liner is one, but I suggest you check under it from time to time.
I use a heavy silicon mat that is supposed to be used under dog food/water bowls. Works great!
Would it not be better to just put a binding on the Roll of non-slip spongy material and not have material on the bottom? It seems like the material on the bottom would still let it slid.
It actually doesn’t have fabric on the bottom. It’s just the 2 layers of non-skid material with batting (or whatever you want to use) sandwiched in-between, then bound all around the edges, then the top piece attached. I just finished mine this afternoon, and it works great!!
Thank you I am going to make this, I am tired of chasing my foot pedal over the carpet.
Great idea and design! I’m chasing mine across a slick Pergo floor.
Did one for the machine I travel with. Love it!
Sew a toe cover over it, make it stay under your foot. You can slip your foot in and out as needed.
You can buy the bottle of non slip glue used to put on the bottom of knitt slippers for safety reasons at the Fabricville stores .
I have seen a product on Amazon, if you care to shop there, probably in the home improvement category, which may be painted on the underside of rugs to stop slippage.
I put the shelf liner by itself on the floor years ago thinking it would work. I added the padded stop at end like you did and it is perfect. Now making some for Christmas gifts for my sewing friends. Thank you so much.
I made this for me and several friends! But it doesn’t work as well as I thought it would; it still walks away control foot walks away. I even put extra layers of the non slip grip on the top and bottom of the presser foot!
It would be the material you used. maybe you can apply hot glue with a gun at the bottom to stop from sliding away
Be sure to cut the non-slip rectangle LONG enough so your heal is on top of it. This will help it stay in place better than just depending on it “gripping” the floor surface.
As I’m reading the instructions, I’m thinking there is no fabric on the bottom, just the 2 pieces of the gripper stuff with binding around it , and then the cylinder thing on the top. Just mojo.
I made this over a year ago and found my pedal still moves around as much as it ever did. 🙁 But, after washing it, it was great at removing stubborn lids.
I just discovered that putting a thin silicon jar gripper underneath my sewing pedal did the trick!
For years I’ve been chasing my foot pedal around, I am no more, this mat is fantastic, why didn’t I find this idea years ago ????????????
Made this. So glad I did. Huge help. Now the foot pedal doesn’t slide. Thank you.
[…] It’s not pretty, but it works, and that’s what matters. My foot pedal stays put now a lot more than it did before. I think this would work if you had a wooden floor or carpets too, not just for tile. Here’s how you can make one – it’s pretty cheap! See the full article and tutorial here. […]
I’m giving this a try. I saw one you could purchase. It was $20. This is great that I can use some of the leftovers from making my sewing machine mat and make my footed al mat match the only thing is I’m going to add a small strip of the loop side of velcro to the back as I have carpet in my sewing room thanks for a great idea!!!!!
Thank you for your version and the heel rest. Currently i just have a piece of the rubber mat down when i sew, this would be way more attractive as well as more useful.
Just to experiment before sewing anything, I doubled a piece of foam shelf liner and laid it on the floor under the foot pedal, and it worked like a charm. I may or may not bind it later. Thanks for the idea anyway.
does this work on carpet too?
Why is there no template for those who are looking for a template for making their foot pedal non-slip mat. I am having trouble finding a template.
Everyone’s foot pedal is a different size/shape, so a template wouldn’t be helpful. Just trace your foot pedal onto a piece of paper. Add about an inch on each side. In the front, I would add 4-5 inches so the heel of your foot will rest on the mat. (The weight of your foot will help stop the sliding. At the back, add 2″ so you can put the roll described in the instructions. Then you have a template for YOUR foot pedal.
Have since seen that there is a delay in comments. Never really responding to stuff I didn’t realize it wasn’t in real time. Still wish these questions would disappear though!
Hi Patricia, glad you worked it out. All questions are disappeared now.
The directions are general, as there is not a standard size for a foot pedal. Many are about 6″ across and 9″ deep . Mine is 12″ across and 10″ deep.
I think if you start with a piece of loose leaf notebook paper, you will have a template that would work with your foot pedal, but check it out first. I think you would want the template to be at least 2″ all around larger than your pedal.
I would love to make the Linen V Top Pattern for the late summer. It would a luxe blouse for late summer with a long light blue peasant skirt.
It is cute but I have found that for some reason over time the shelf liner reacts to plastic and causes a permanent defacing I guess you could call it to the surface.
I think that is great and I am going to make one for my machine. Artsy Gal
AWESOME! I am a balloon decorator and am constantly chasing my inflator pedal. I can’t wait to make this for me and my network members! Will they be surprised and grateful for such a super idea! Thank you and I hope your aches and pains disappear.
I also use a brick for the left foot to rest on so it helps to keep both hips even!
Fantastic idea!! I suffer with a slipped disc at my very lower spine and very painful sciatica so even hips are very important to me. My dad is also a bricklayer by trade so I will be doing this exact thing! might even make a matching fancy cover for the brick 😀 thank you for the idea, happy sewing!
GREAT IDEA!!!! Thank you
Brilliant! I suffer from Cauda Equina and my hips being level is super important! Will be using the brick and mat haha thanks!
Oh, this is so timely for me!! I have dealing with that scooting pedal and now I will follow your directions and STOP this ‘wandering/scooting’ pedal!!!! Thank you!!!!
looks great will make this week great idea…..
I made it longer. I see with my shoe off, so this way I can set my foot down comfortably.
This is such a great idea! I have chased that pedal for far to long!
Bunny, I had a good chuckle with your comment “I See with my shoe off” instead of Sew. I had this crazy vision of an eye in your big toe. LOL I hope you aren’t offended with my comment. I have a crazy sense of humor.
I have been sewing masks like crazy. I am so tired of chasing my peddle around. I’m making on of these immediately!
Thank you, made one for my sewing foot and one for the organist at my choir, she is forever chasing the foot. Many thanks for the easy to follow photos
I can picture the organist trying to get to a particular key and loosing the pedal:)
I did it exactly the same and it still moves
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the pattern for the non-slip sewing machine foot pedal.
I would put the shelf liner on the bottom also so the pad wouldn’t slide
The shelf liner IS ON the bottom! That the whole reason why it’s made like it is!
I agree. I would think having fabric on the very bottom, the pedal would still slip around but if the shelf liner were framed only, that would keep it in place better.
Sorry, I just reread it and I see that is what is done. At first it looked to me like fabric was on the bottom.
I absolutely thought so too – that there was material on the bottom. As they say – when all else fails… read the instructions. I’d only glanced through the pictures. Margaret, Pretoria.RSA
Will this work on a cement floors?
Yes, it will.
Just made n used it. What difference it makes, my back is much happier.
Perfect ! Thats exactly what I needed,Thanks a lot.
thank you for the great idea to assist in keeping the pedal where it should be.
Awesome idea, thank you! I’m going to make 3. 2 for me & 1 for my SIL.
Made one. Great idea. I found a Non-slip Rug Underlay at the dollar store (18 x 28″) plenty big enough to make several.
FYI: The dollar store underlay I found at my store is not as thick & does not grasp as well as the “better stuff”. Tends to slide a bit.
Yes! Also, my husband plays a portable piano at church’s… Making two for his SLIPPING “pedals”.
This is fabulous! I was just chasing my petal hours ago. You are very proactive and I know your back is happy now. Thank you so much-will make mine when I get the non-slip stuff.
Fantastic idea ?. Thx……
I think I’ll make one for my sewing machine as well as my keyboard that I play on Sunday mornings. I’m sure it will work better than the bag of rice I’m presently using to keep the pedal from sliding!
I was just saying how I am always chasing the pedal around the floor, thank you so much i will make one today
It worked out perfectly. Thanks for this great project idea
Great idea. I am going to make one this week. Thanks
Fantastic idea. I also have the sliding problem on my tiles. So glad I found your blog. I did have to laugh tho’ – your idea of “not neat” is very different to mine. Your work is exquisite ?
I just made it …hoping my sewing “back ache” clears up! Mine isn’t nearly as pretty as yours since I already had plain ol’ white binding tape.