A Stitch in Time – To Free-Arm or Not to Free-Arm
By Carol E. Meyer (Sara’s Mom)
When new features are introduced into the sewing machine world there is a lot of initial excitement and wonder at what this or that can do, or do for you. Then, if it turns out to be so popular eventually all sewing machine manufacturers produce that feature on their machines.
While many people reading this article can remember when sewing machines only did a straight stitch (and some of those machines did not even do a reverse stitch) most sewers today expect a sewing machine to have zigzag and at least a few variations of zigzag. There are a number of features today that are now standards in the sewing machine market place that we take for granted. Today we might wonder how sewers survived without what we have come to know as standard features, the free-arm being one of them. People who sewed without a free-arm did just fine.
From the beginnings of the lock-stitch machine, (machines that use two threads to form stitches) there were gears and rods connecting the flywheel to the hook and bobbin mechanism underneath the flatbed table part of the machine. These machines needed to be in a cabinet, or if they were portable the carrying case box kept those gears and rods suspended inside. There were always ways to maneuver the fabric without the need of a free-arm.
With the introduction of the free-arm those rods and gears are now encased, and the encasement sits up over a base, leaving space for fabric to travel around the arm. This feature also gives machines a new style of portability. Gone are those heavy, clunky boxes that those old machines had to sit in, or those cabinets that were required.
The free-arm’s great selling point is to be able to sew around cuffs and hems by slipping the fabric around the arm. This is certainly very handy as we have become used to that feature. However, if you are a quilter you may be one of those sewers that will never use your free-arm feature.
Quilters, piece-ers, and appliqué-ers all need the flat table sewing area. Even embroidery machines need a larger table area to support the embroidery work. Now, almost the only choice of a machine is a free-arm style. Some machines come with table extensions to make it a flatbed again. There are custom tables to add to any model of machine, giving the flexibility of free-arm or flatbed sewing.
When a machine is put into a cabinet today the machine sits in the recessed area with its bed level with the table top. Putting this machine in a cabinet to increase the table area requires a custom insert to fill the open space around the machine since the tables today have a standard size opening where the machine sits. To access the free-arm feature you simply take the insert out of the table. It is also very easy to make your machine portable again, with no screws or hinges to undo while performing a balancing act with a very heavy metal machine.
So what has happened is that machines advanced with the free-arm technology and gave us new ways to sew small or circular areas, and gave a new generation of portability. Some sewing machine companies recognized that some sewers would still want the large surface area so they provided a table extension that slides easily onto the machine. Custom table extension manufactures make it possible for all makes and models to have a table extension, and some are quite large. Cabinets were redesigned to accommodate the free-arm and portability features. We really do have the best of both worlds. What about the lady that never had a free-arm machine? She did fine, and there is always a way to sew everything, free-arm or not.
© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Black & Tan Artist Trading Cards
It has been exciting trading Artist Trading Cards with many of you. Both Cleo and I have been having a blast making and trading this fun 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ works of art! If you do happen to get hooked making these cards, please come in (or send via mail) so we can trade!
My latest collection is titled “Black & Tan”. This series of embroidered ATC’s stemmed from an embroidery block that went bad! If you look close at the before picture, you can see one of the designs was flipped. I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything with this now orphaned block. It has haunted me for over a year, hanging out in my unfinished project pile. While in the middle of an evening Sewtopia Sewing Club I was teaching, it hit me! Cut up the block into ATC’s! I actually had to stop in the middle of my lecture and write down the idea so I would not forget it!
As you can see it now can be enjoyed by 24 different people! Thanks again for everyone who has traded with me and received one of these cards from the “Black & Tan” series.
Sewing with Heirloom Creations by the Numbers
In our attempt to provide a wide range of products and service for all sewers in the area, we are graciously serving the many people who have come to trust our recommendations. Our goal is to provide all levels of sewers the inspiration, the tools and the knowledge for each person to reach their personal creative aspirations.
The following is a count down by number of useful items from Heirloom Creations for sewers:
10 is the number of full and part time Heirloom Creations employees who are willing to help you in person or over the phone with your current sewing project or sewing machine questions.
9 is the number of hours of free classes that comes with most sewing machines purchased from Heirloom Creations.
8 is the number of basic needles types to ALWAYS have on hand at any given time:
Universal
Quilting
Sharps
Embroidery
Ball Point
Stretch
Denim
Topstitch
7 is the number of the most popular feet purchased from Heirloom Creations:
Open toe/applique foot
Walking foot
1/4” patchwork foot
Free motion quilting foot
Edgestitch/Stitch-in-the-Ditch foot
Hemmer foot
Ruffler
6 is the number of free classes that any Bernina artista or Husqvarna Viking Designer owner receives with their purchase from Heirloom Creations.
5 is the number of full bobbins that can be used before needing to personally clean and oil* your own sewing machine. (*Note: Not all machines are to be oiled. Refer to the owners manual regarding how, when or if you should oil your sewing machine. If your machine has a self lubricating system, do still remove the bobbin case and throat plate to remove excess lint after every 5 bobbins).
4 is the number of sewing machine brands to select from at Heirloom Creations:
Bernina
Husqvarna Viking
Janome
Singer
3 is the number of Sewtopia sessions offered each month. Sewtopia sewing club meets the second Tuesday of every month at 10am, 2pm and 6:30pm. Click here to see February’s Sewtopia club topic.
2 is the number of years of FREE service included with every Bernina, Husqvarna Viking and Janome sewing machine purchase.
1 is the number of perfect sewing machines made for you! Come in to find your ONE perfect sewing machine today!
Heirloom Creations – where “ANY day sewing is a good day!”
© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Creative Mystery Challenge
Last year a friend asked if I wanted to participate in a mystery challenge. “Sure,” I said, more honored that I was asked than what the mystery challenge was really about. The first step was to select eight fat quarters and return them to her in a bag. Also to be included with the fat quarters was a short description of me, what my favorite things were, and any other fun, important information. My description was, “This South Dakota girl still has a California, palm trees swaying in a warm breeze, sand between her toes, heart.” As I selected fun bright colors I am thinking all along we would be doing a quilt of some kind…
After a couple weeks, a pretty pink Victoria Secret box arrived from our challenge leader, Kay, with the next step. To my surprise, my selected fabric had been transformed with fusible web and Timtex into delightful 8” squares!
(At this point, the idea of making a quilt was completely out the window!) The next step was to finish off the raw edges of each square as desired and to insert holes/grommets/buttonholes along the side or sides to later hook all the “pages” together. Again, at this point I was not exactly sure of what the final outcome would be.
I selected the Bernina bias binder to bind the edges. Boy! Did this work slick! I starched each of my binding fabrics, cut them into bias strips, and bound the four edges of my “pages”. I chose to insert two grommets along the left side of each page to form a book-like finish. Again, I was not sure exactly how this would turn out. The pretty pink boxes were again returned to our leader, this time with a picture included ?!?!?! as requested. (Hopefully, the picture was not for any future blackmail – but I played along.)
Upon opening my box the next time, I did not find my fabrics and pages, but pages of 10 other people that Kay had gathered into this mystery challenge! The next step was to decorate as desired the “pages” of 10 other people based on their written descriptions. We had 6 months to complete this step.
I promptly pinned each of the blank pages to my design wall in hopes that ideas would pop into my head of what to do each time I walked into my sewing room and saw them hanging there. I also pinned up each of their descriptions to read from time to time.
Months 2 – 5 went by and the deadline was approaching. (Boy, how fast time flies!) Somewhere along the way, I had decided on selecting fun, appropriate sayings to embroider for each person based on their personalities. Each saying was embroidered on fabric that would complement each of the pages and then appliquéd to the pages in the shape of a heart. Some of the sayings I selected were:
“For me, it’s always easy to choose between the Ultimate, the Infinite and the Chocolate!”
“Love doesn’t make the world go ’round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead were there is no path and leave a trail.”
“Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise.”
“The older you get, the more important it is not to act your age.”
“That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.”
“Children are the most expensive form of entertainment.”
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
“Love is not a matter of counting the years but of making the years count.”
On Saturday, November 24, 2007, we all arrived at Kay’s house for a group swap. How fun it was to see the entire table full of pretty pink Victoria Secret boxes! After eating, chatting and laughing, we finally were ready to reveal our pages. One by one, we each opened our boxes, explained a little of what had inspired us to do what we had done and then we handed to each person their personal page. The next hour was full of ohhs, ahhs, giggles, more laughing, and even some laughing with tears from laughing so hard!
Each person had done something totally different! The creativity was so diverse from one page to the next. Some people used scrapbook items, others used fabric and decorative stitches, lots of glitz was used and everything in between. I was overwhelmed by everyone’s translation of my description on my returned collection of pages. These were my little treasures to keep!
Kay also added pictures and commentary to her website about this challenge. Click here to see and read more.
Some days during the challenge, when I was overwhelmed by work, I wondered to myself why I had said “yes” to participating. I didn’t have time for this! I had so many other things to do! But when it was all said and done, I not only was happy to have reached inside of myself to make time to be creative, but I was ecstatic with the outcome! Here are some other pictures of some of the other people’s pages. Please click on the pictures to make them bigger.
Making time to be creative is one of the hardest parts of sewing. These days we want projects that are quick and easy and that can give us the instant satisfaction of finishing something. Over indulging in quick projects can eventually lead to sewing boredom. Are you bored of sewing? Do you need to add a little spice to your sewing life? Then Heirloom Creations has exactly what you are craving!
Starting Thursday, February 21, 2008, please join us for a new creative outlet called CREATIVE ARTS! We have developed 10 specialized creative hands-on 2 ½ hour sessions to help you explore new and different sewing techniques throughout the year. Each Creative Arts session will feature everything from fabric weaving, painting, dying, beading, working with Angelina fibers and much more! There will be both a morning and evening sessions offered on the 3rd Thursday February through November 2008. Watch for fun “outdoor summertime sessions” to be announced!
By sampling some of these new creative avenues, you can translate them into anything from artist trading cards, journal quilts, Priority Quilts (quilts that are 8” x 10”), home decor items, a quilt or nothing at all. There will be no particular “finishing” rules; we are only facilitating the opportunity to try new techniques. You can choose your own use for these new creative avenues. Fee: $20, limited seating. Call now to reserve your seat!
Upcoming Topics:
February – Fabric Weaving
March – Vintage Elegance
April – Working with Angelina Fibers
May – November Topics TBA
Is it time to experience something new? Set this year aside to get out of your sewing rut! We have many classes including Sewtopia Sewing Club, embroidery classes, and sewing machine mastery classes that can do just that!
And the next time someone invites you to be part of a sewing challenge, don’t think, just say “YES”!
© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.
Artist Trading Cards
If 2008 is the year you said you want to be more creative and try new sewing techniques, then I have a wonderful challenge for you and a new creative class!
I am debuting at the January 8, 2008 Sewtopia Sewing Club a year long opportunity to try new techniques and share them with other sewers through artist trading cards. Artist Trading Cards, (ATC’S), are miniature works of art created in a 2 1/2” x 3 1/2” format. These cards can be completed in the matter of minutes or in a single sitting. This compact size is a perfect place to try new techniques without having to commit to a large quilt or a completed piece of wearable art.
The idea behind them is that they are made to trade. Meeting others and trading is in itself, part of the charm. People all over the world are joining groups and exchanging their miniature creations with each other.
Artist trading cards can be made with any combination of fabric, paper, beads, do-dads, photos, batting, Timtex, decorative thread, yards, wool, really just about anything! The only rule is the 2 1/2” x 3 1/2” size. Cards are usually quite firm but can be made more firm simply by gluing on a card for backing.
ATC’s can be individual original pieces or one of a series. Each trading card in a series may have a common color, theme or technique that is used on all the cards . To document a series, you can name the group and then number each card one of the total number. Also include on the back of your cards your name, city, state and e-mail address if desired.
My first series I have to trade is called “Aurora”. I made this original 14” x 18” piece when Bernina launched the new aurora 440 sewing machine with stitch regulator. Since I did all my stitching on Timtex it really held its shape over the last couple years. I decided to take my rotary cutter and ruler to it and cut it into, you guessed it, artista trading cards! I then finished the raw edges using Rainbows variegated thread and zigzagging over a variety of decorative cords. You can click of each of these pictures to enlarge them. 
If you need a place to begin exploring more creative techniques, starting February 21, 2008, we will be launching a monthly 2 ½ hour hands-on session called Creative Arts. There will be both a morning and evening sessions. Our Creative Arts classes will offer everything from fabric weaving, painting, dying, beading and much more!
By sampling some of these new creative avenues, you can translate them into artist trading cards, journal quilts, Priority Quilts (quilts that are 8” x 10”), a pillow, a quilt or nothing at all. There will be no particular “finishing” rules; we are only facilitating the opportunity to try new techniques. You can choose your own use for these new creative avenues.
To join an artist trading card swap plan to attend any of the 2008 Sewtopia Sewing Clubs which meets the first Tuesday of every month at 10am, 2pm or 6:30pm at Heirloom Creations! Sewtopia Sewing Club members and paying guests may bring one, two or as many artist trading cards as you would like to trade each month. We will put all the trading cards in a bag and let each person take home the same number as they put in. I can’t wait to see everyone’s creations!
If you would like to trade directly with me, please mail me one trading card and I will return one trading card via mail to you. This is a great way to make going to the mailing box more intriguing!
For artist trading card ideas, may I recommend “1000 Artist Trading Cards” by Patricia Bolton. Available from Heirloom Creations.