Comments on: Life Without a Free Arm Sewing Machine http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/ Color the Ordinary Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:46:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Administrator http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-56728 Administrator Wed, 07 May 2008 14:36:07 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-56728 Jen: Many home sewing machines have a very narrow bed (about 3 1/2" wide) on the end where the bobbin and presser foot are. You can easily slip a sleeve cuff on it and just turn it as you're sewing. If you look at my Janome in the photo, the bed is close to 7 inches wide. This is a nice platform for keeping your sewing feeding through the machine evenly. A trade off if you will. My old machine has a free arm but also has a small table that hugs near the bed sort of making it into a wide bed surface, the best of both worlds. Jen: Many home sewing machines have a very narrow bed (about 3 1/2″ wide) on the end where the bobbin and presser foot are. You can easily slip a sleeve cuff on it and just turn it as you’re sewing. If you look at my Janome in the photo, the bed is close to 7 inches wide. This is a nice platform for keeping your sewing feeding through the machine evenly. A trade off if you will. My old machine has a free arm but also has a small table that hugs near the bed sort of making it into a wide bed surface, the best of both worlds.

]]> By: Jen http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-56686 Jen Wed, 07 May 2008 08:23:51 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-56686 i feel so ignorant. please can you tell me what a free arm is. i am an avid sewer and never used a free arm! i feel so ignorant. please can you tell me what a free arm is. i am an avid sewer and never used a free arm!

]]> By: Péitseoga http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-56044 Péitseoga Sun, 04 May 2008 21:46:15 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-56044 Hi, sorry, no experience without freearm... Hi, sorry, no experience without freearm…

]]> By: Lorrie http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-56014 Lorrie Sun, 04 May 2008 16:25:39 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-56014 I think that the companies that are coming out with the bigger machines with no freearms are trying to appeal to the the home quilter. For many years the only machines with a large space for quilters was the Brother 1500 and Juki 98. Both these machines sew a beautiful straight sitch, but that is all they did. I had a Brother and that is the only machine I used unless I needed a special stitch, then I drug out the fancy machine. I bought the Elna Queen Quilter because I wanted a machine that had the large sewing area and decorative stitches but then there was the problem of the freearm. My local Elna dealer made the suggestion of the Janome Gem. I'm very happy with both the Elna and Janome. I think that the companies that are coming out with the bigger machines with no freearms are trying to appeal to the the home quilter. For many years the only machines with a large space for quilters was the Brother 1500 and Juki 98. Both these machines sew a beautiful straight sitch, but that is all they did. I had a Brother and that is the only machine I used unless I needed a special stitch, then I drug out the fancy machine. I bought the Elna Queen Quilter because I wanted a machine that had the large sewing area and decorative stitches but then there was the problem of the freearm. My local Elna dealer made the suggestion of the Janome Gem. I’m very happy with both the Elna and Janome.

]]> By: Lorrie http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-56015 Lorrie Sun, 04 May 2008 16:25:39 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-56015 I think that the companies that are coming out with the bigger machines with no freearms are trying to appeal to the the home quilter. For many years the only machines with a large space for quilters was the Brother 1500 and Juki 98. Both these machines sew a beautiful straight sitch, but that is all they did. I had a Brother and that is the only machine I used unless I needed a special stitch, then I drug out the fancy machine. I bought the Elna Queen Quilter because I wanted a machine that had the large sewing area and decorative stitches but then there was the problem of the freearm. My local Elna dealer made the suggestion of the Janome Gem. I'm very happy with both the Elna and Janome. I think that the companies that are coming out with the bigger machines with no freearms are trying to appeal to the the home quilter. For many years the only machines with a large space for quilters was the Brother 1500 and Juki 98. Both these machines sew a beautiful straight sitch, but that is all they did. I had a Brother and that is the only machine I used unless I needed a special stitch, then I drug out the fancy machine. I bought the Elna Queen Quilter because I wanted a machine that had the large sewing area and decorative stitches but then there was the problem of the freearm. My local Elna dealer made the suggestion of the Janome Gem. I’m very happy with both the Elna and Janome.

]]> By: jordan http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-55966 jordan Sun, 04 May 2008 06:29:01 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-55966 I sometimes work in a costume shop (here at uni) and our industrial machines don't have free arm at all. I don't use the industrials too much except for the surger and the blind hemer for any wide skirts (hoop skirts are a bitch and a half to hem, just in case you wanted to know). The lack of free arm isn't usually a big deal, you get used to it, and I'd rather have the stability of the industrial machine style than use the domestics and feel like I'm sewing on a flimsy piece of plastic machine. I sometimes work in a costume shop (here at uni) and our industrial machines don’t have free arm at all. I don’t use the industrials too much except for the surger and the blind hemer for any wide skirts (hoop skirts are a bitch and a half to hem, just in case you wanted to know). The lack of free arm isn’t usually a big deal, you get used to it, and I’d rather have the stability of the industrial machine style than use the domestics and feel like I’m sewing on a flimsy piece of plastic machine.

]]> By: Laurie http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-55870 Laurie Sat, 03 May 2008 15:25:10 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-55870 1) yay! new pattern coming!! (I'm working on Rubblework scarves this weekend---cottons, kimono silks, dupioni silks, and microsuede----yum!) 2) I just purchased a used Janome 6500 and really love it. This machine is in addition to my Pfaff 2056, which has a free arm, and has the built-in walking foot. This is why I don't miss (YET) the 6600's Accufeed. Last night I pulled out my Singer 201k handcrank, and sewed on it for the first time. Awesome----quiet, accurate, gorgeous stitch quality, AND I can sew by firelight when camping! (nevermind that it weighs a mere 40 lbs., pshaw). My children are entranced by the handcrank, and my 8 yr old daughter has already put dibs on it, as in "can I have this after you die, Mommie?" "Yes, dear, but you have to wait until I'm dead." A cheerful, "OK--no problem!" Sheesh. 1) yay! new pattern coming!! (I’m working on Rubblework scarves this weekend—cottons, kimono silks, dupioni silks, and microsuede—-yum!)
2) I just purchased a used Janome 6500 and really love it. This machine is in addition to my Pfaff 2056, which has a free arm, and has the built-in walking foot. This is why I don’t miss (YET) the 6600′s Accufeed. Last night I pulled out my Singer 201k handcrank, and sewed on it for the first time. Awesome—-quiet, accurate, gorgeous stitch quality, AND I can sew by firelight when camping! (nevermind that it weighs a mere 40 lbs., pshaw). My children are entranced by the handcrank, and my 8 yr old daughter has already put dibs on it, as in “can I have this after you die, Mommie?” “Yes, dear, but you have to wait until I’m dead.” A cheerful, “OK–no problem!” Sheesh.

]]> By: muralimanohar http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-55857 muralimanohar Sat, 03 May 2008 13:05:48 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-55857 How does a machine not have a freearm?? That is just SO wrong. How does a machine not have a freearm?? That is just SO wrong.

]]> By: Administrator http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-55815 Administrator Sat, 03 May 2008 06:32:33 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-55815 Lorrie: What a great idea. I haul my 6600 with me when I teach classes and it's REALLY heavy! I've heard lots of great feedback on the Jem. Kathi: My impression of the 6600 is that it's a machine that must have come from an industrial platform, the base and main body is cast metal with the remaining 'consumer' pieces in plastic. It reminds me of what the commercial stoves like Wolf looked like when they first came out. I have no knowledge of the true origin of the machine, it's an interesting combination of materials though, it works like a horse, and it is heavier than all get out! Lorrie: What a great idea. I haul my 6600 with me when I teach classes and it’s REALLY heavy! I’ve heard lots of great feedback on the Jem.

Kathi: My impression of the 6600 is that it’s a machine that must have come from an industrial platform, the base and main body is cast metal with the remaining ‘consumer’ pieces in plastic. It reminds me of what the commercial stoves like Wolf looked like when they first came out. I have no knowledge of the true origin of the machine, it’s an interesting combination of materials though, it works like a horse, and it is heavier than all get out!

]]> By: Kathi D http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-55812 Kathi D Sat, 03 May 2008 05:53:27 +0000 http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/2008/05/02/life-without-a-free-arm-sewing-machine/#comment-55812 How odd that a nice sewing machine like that would not have a freearm! I don't use mine in freearm mode a lot, but I would sure miss it if I didn't have it. How odd that a nice sewing machine like that would not have a freearm! I don’t use mine in freearm mode a lot, but I would sure miss it if I didn’t have it.

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