Or the most terrific?! And I’m not talking about the owl! He’s more ticked-off than terrifying. I’m talking free-motion embroidery, and it all depends where you are on the journey.
Having recently conquered my blockage about FME, I would recommend anyone to try again even if they think they can't do it. I began to learn twenty years ago, and after a short time was pleased with my first efforts on my old mechanical machine, though I needed a lot more practice to feel comfortable with it. Then I bought a new computerised machine, and it was a complete disaster. It has a special setting for FME, but I have never ever managed to get it to work. I could never get the machine's tension right, threads kept breaking and my tension wasn't much better after all that frustration! I eventually couldn't face trying anymore, and kept putting it off until last year, when I did an internet course with Cas Holmes, a section of which included using FME., so I was forced to try again. I was very nervous about it, but decided to dig out my old machine, which had been consigned to the attic for twenty years. It worked beautifully, FMEs like a dream, and my phobia is no more. I am enjoying the freedom that freemachining gives.
Hi Jenna, I’m so glad you persisted, because it really is the best thing! And so are older, mechanical machines. In fact, I filmed a lot of the course using an 80 year old Singer - just to prove that you can!! And yep - out of all my machines (ahem, 5…) it’s the smoothest one for free motion.
Having recently conquered my blockage about FME, I would recommend anyone to try again even if they think they can't do it. I began to learn twenty years ago, and after a short time was pleased with my first efforts on my old mechanical machine, though I needed a lot more practice to feel comfortable with it. Then I bought a new computerised machine, and it was a complete disaster. It has a special setting for FME, but I have never ever managed to get it to work. I could never get the machine's tension right, threads kept breaking and my tension wasn't much better after all that frustration! I eventually couldn't face trying anymore, and kept putting it off until last year, when I did an internet course with Cas Holmes, a section of which included using FME., so I was forced to try again. I was very nervous about it, but decided to dig out my old machine, which had been consigned to the attic for twenty years. It worked beautifully, FMEs like a dream, and my phobia is no more. I am enjoying the freedom that freemachining gives.
Hi Jenna, I’m so glad you persisted, because it really is the best thing! And so are older, mechanical machines. In fact, I filmed a lot of the course using an 80 year old Singer - just to prove that you can!! And yep - out of all my machines (ahem, 5…) it’s the smoothest one for free motion.
My 40 year old mechanical machine is now exclusively used for FME. The 20 year old 'new' one is brilliant for everything else.
Makes sense to me! My all-singing-all-dancing computerised machine isn’t a patch on my favourite mechanical machine!