Friday 1st March, 2024
... DIPPING JUST ONE TOE IN ...
Before I chat about this week’s Foot, (which has only one ‘toe’ – hence the title ☺) … thought I’d share a couple of photos from last month, when I went along to the Tilda Jubilee Tour Event in Brisbane. The day began with a fabulous presentation by Tone Finnanger, the designer behind the Tilda brand, in which she shared Tilda’s history and gave us all a peek into future ‘Tilda happenings’. Afterwards, all 500 of us were let out to roam through more than 10 retailers, who had amazing shop setups. People were sometimes 5 deep at each of the stands! What a crowd!
I didn’t get to take a lot of photos, as there were just so many people to chat to, and so much to look at – beautiful, amazing setups for just 4 hours of shopping! Lots of photos on Instagram – check out #tildajubilee. Congratulations to all who were exhibitors on the day, such amazing/inspiring setups! It was an unforgettable experience.
I caught up with talented Patchwork/Bernina store owners, fellow Bernina lovers, a lot of sewing friends … a couple from Toowoomba (Fiona and Rachel are in the photo with me) … and even a few who had travelled down from Townsville especially for the event. That’s a round trip by car of just over 2,700kms! So worth the trip they said!
... The Studio Update ...
I live here in Forestdale, South East Queensland, with my oldest Daughter Sally, my Son-in-law Ben, and their two children, my Granddaughter Ambah aged 14 ½, and Leo aged 9 (featured sewing on my little Simply Red 215 last week). We’ve had lots of rain these last two weeks, and the photo on the left is what I came home to that afternoon. The photo on the right, shows what it looked like a couple of days later after drying out a bit.
Ben has been digging out turf, dirt and mud as he works towards the next step in the Studio setup – laying pavers out the front. Then there’s painting to do, a new patio roof to add, and gardens to prepare. The Sewing Gypsy Studio is all coming together, and no matter the weather … it’s my Happy Place!
... Anatomy of a Foot ...
Adding on to our knowledge base this week, let’s take a look at the design ‘why’ of a sewing machine foot. The Big Book of Feet tells us that … “The philosophy behind the design of BERNINA presser feet and accessories is steeped in Swiss tradition, built on precision and quality.” I just love that I always have the right quality tools for the job, and their ‘features’ make it easier to get the best results. And, honestly, I love all the ’technical stuff’ about my Bernina machines and their extras! Remembering the ‘which one’ is so much easier, when you understand the ‘why’.
They have … a connection point for attaching to the machine … a solid, metal shank … a set screw and hole at the back of the shank for adding a seam guide (or the Finger Guard as mentioned in Foot #0 … a toe, or toes with markings/engraved notches, and different openings, pins, guides or little latches attached.
Seems a lot to take in, but remember, it’s a journey of (mostly) … ‘one foot at a time’. Building your knowledge base, and then stitching out the samples, will allow you to understand much more about your feet and accessories.
Wise Words of the Week: “Understanding is the key to true knowledge.” – Liam Williams
... Taming the Edge ...
Overlock Foot #2 and #2A
This week’s foot has two options available – Foot #2 for all machines with maximum 5.5mm stitch width, and Foot #2A with a wider sole fitting the wider feed dogs of machines with maximum stitch width of 9mm, (although the maximum stitch possible to use with this foot is 5.5mm) – absence of a sensor prevents a wider stitch. Look back at last week’s ‘C’ Feet information, re sensors and wider soles.
It has only one ‘toe’ on the left hand side, and the absence of one on the right allows the fabrics that’s fed through not to pull, or be stretched.
Stitches are formed over a ‘pin’ on the inside edge, which stops the fabric from tunnelling. Always select a stitch width wide enough to form over the pin.
Foot #2/#2A had 2 different techniques to stitch out. Phew!! That’s a lot less samples to sew, than last week!!
Nice to have two very straight forward samples to sew, and it is fabulous how that ‘pin’ holds the edge down/’taming’ it whilst I stitched over it.
These are my stitchouts …
... This Week’s Foot Highlights or Challenges ...
This foot is often brought out on ‘Mending Monday’ here in the Studio… great little foot to quickly mend a ‘popped’ knit seam on Ambah’s favourite nightie, and last time I combined the foot with Stitch #10 Double Overlock Stitch, and a Jeans Needle Size 90 to repair the frayed edges of some often used towels of Sally’s.
Both Foot #2A samples (as well as the towel edges) were stitched out on my Bernina B590E, as this foot was designed for a machine with a maximum stitch width of 9mm, and the ‘new kid on the block’ (Bernina B790PRO) was working away stitching out an embroidery design I’d finished digitising for something else I’m currently working on. Always more than one project happening in here!
You could also use this foot to attach knit ribbing to a neckline or hem if you currently don’t have an overlocker machine, which is what I used it for often before I purchased my first Bernina Overlocker many, many years ago.
I used Stitch #3 Vari-Overlock Stitch on my two samples as per the technique settings in the book, however other stitches I’ve noted in my Big Book of Feet (yes I write in it!!), are Stitch #13 Stretch Overlock, Stitch #19 Reinforced Overlock, and other stitches could work well too. Try out a couple of different ones, now that you have the foot out. Forward motion stitches only!! See ‘Foot’note at end of post …
... A Little Something Extra ...
Sewing Machine Needles
I used a Stretch Needle for the two Big Book of Feet samples I sewed, and yes it does matter which needle you use! Needles are something I’m very particular about – if you’ve ever been in one of my classes, you’ll know that, combined with threads, they come in a close second to Feet and Accessories!!
I have quite a selection here in The Studio … and I love those little ‘Looking Sharp’ labels from Kylie and the Machine!
A handy guide to ‘which needle’ for ‘which task’ is available on the Bernina Australia Website – and you can download a needle brochure from there as well.
Click here to go straight to Bernina Australia’s Needle Info Page.
... Don’t Forget ...
… if you’d like a Blank PDF Template of the Technique Sheet I created, please complete the Form on the Contact Page of the website, and I will send you a copy via email. You can complete them electronically of course, or print them out, fill them in by hand and attach to your samples.
Many thanks to those who emailed last week requesting the file, including adding in very much appreciated comments on the Blog and its content.
Bernina’s Foot of the Month March 2024 *
is #35 Invisible Zipper Foot – 20% off – contact your preferred Bernina Dealer for this fabulous offer. This Foot makes inserting invisible zippers a breeze! I’ll be covering this foot later in the Blog.
*Australia and New Zealand Promotion Only – ends 31 March 2024
Chat again Friday,
'Foot' note:
‘Foot’note: One of my samples puckered a little, so I found that adjusting my Presser Foot Pressure down to 30 made the seam lay flat. Oh, one thing I’d like to add regarding sewing with this foot, and that you will NEED to remember when using this #2 or #2A, is that you can’t engage reverse with this foot, as the stitches are formed over the pin – use the lockoff function on your machine, or change stitch length to ‘0’ to secure any seams.