Sewing Gadgetmania: Walking foot and why you need it for sewing a Chanel-inspired jacket

This Gadgetmania post is also a part of my Classic French Jacket class project, for I am featuring here a walking foot – an essential tool for quilting the lining and the fashion fabric in a Chanel-like jacket. (I am still sick, by the way, so forgive me any incoherence here) 

What makes this foot special is that it has its own feed dog to move the top layer of fabric. Usually, we would use only the machine’s own feed dog that moves fabric layers from underneath only.

It’s only logical that with slippery fabrics (like charmeuse, or crepe de chine used in Chanel suit lining), the upper layer would shift without additional feed. If you use a walking foot, both layers are moved at the same rate, preventing puckering and pleating of the fabric. 

I have never heard about the foot before the class, and thanks to Dawn (she was my classmate in the Classic French Jacket Class) I am now using it for all my silk / slippery fabric projects!

Prepare paying some $60 to $140 for this tool. And, beware, the ones available for less on eBay are often not original ones, so read the description carefully. (I am not sure they are bad - but I always try go for original tools if they are a little more complex than a sewing needle)

I am featuring here my Bernina foot, but there are quite a few other brands available on the market. Just check the website of your sewing machine manufacturer for the available accessories. 

Have you ever tried sewing with a walking foot? What other non-beginner, or relatively rare tools are you using in your sewing?

Win a Book! --- Sewing Gadget Mania: No.1 / The 'Lady's Knife'

The Lady's Knife by Bernina, a.k.a. Swiss Sewessential

Every man ought to own a great swiss army knife, right? I also have one and I love it. Mine carries just 15 tools, but it can have as many as 85 tools (no joke, an 2lb/1kg pocket knife)! It is, no doubt, a cult object for men, but how about us, ladies???? 

Well, Bernina would not be a swiss company if they had not offered this ultimate Lady's Swiss Knife:

"The versatile tool, dubbed the 'Swiss Sewessential: the ultimate Swiss sewing accessory', consists of 17 superbly crafted individual tools, including a special rotary knife, awl and hem-measure, and combines outstanding BERNINA quality with WENGER's tried-and-tested precision. The practical pocket sewing tool's 'multifunction tool' represents a further sophisticated innovation launched by BERNINA: the universal tool encompasses a handful of individual gadgets that are a breeze to remove and reinsert. This smart sewing machine accessory will be available for purchase from all BERNINA stockists."       

Special rotary knife? hem measure? awl? so, now I am obsessing about the Swiss Sewessential!!!! I am such a sucker for gadgets. If you want to buy it, google for 'Swiss Sewessential' - I found one in Germany for 85 euro, not cheap, admit, but isn't it a fun gadget to have ?

Sewing gadgetmania: win a book!!!

Ok, this knife made me start a new series here, on my blog, Sewing Gadget Mania (that is, sewing gadgets that can beat men's swiss army knives, or even iPhones?).

So, for the following 10 weeks, every Friday, I will post a new gadget here, and this Lady's Knife from Bernina is #1 on the list.

What about you? Do you like it? Would you pay so much for this tool? And, what are you favourite sewing tools? Let me know if you have a great tool you wouldn't want to part with, and I will post your suggestion on my blog. How would it qualify? Ask, what makes the tool so valuable? Is it the producer? An outstanding quality? Maybe, it is not produced any longer? Is it antique, or vintage? Is it innovative? But, at the end, it's a judgement call, so just submit your suggestions.

I would love to hear from you!!!! Leave a comment here or send me a mail at mvk.fashion at gmail dot com.

A poll will determine the most popular gadget, and the winner will get this great sewing book featuring another cult object...

To win the book, submit your gadget proposal by April 28th, 2011.

vintage pattern giveaway!

Finally, even if you don't submit a gadget proposal, but like the idea, feel free, if you like, to grab this badge and display it on your blog. If you display the badge by March 1st, I will add your name to a Vintage Pattern Giveaway drawing (I am de-stashing my 300+ vintage patterns and will post three giveaway patterns shortly, shipping is free).

Below is the html code:

<br /> <a href="http://frabjous-fashion.blogspot.com/2011/02/sewing-gadget-mania-no1-ladys-knife.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBbrF6kO75L_Z6Yiyd7FnJMk3GfH1S_qTmb7FKdZ88WTqGERZypSVdqdm_wk5xKqDeQt_sQBI4lu0D_BsokqoqMq8DzOc3r_9kPXPrpndoI1Vu_kWAU6pm1FD68AsY59vSUlEdig3__kc/s1600/gadgetmania2.jpg"/></a> <br />


Don't forget to post a comment letting me know that you added the badge. I will draw the winner on March 1st.

Good luck everyone, thank you and hope you enjoy the Gadgetmania!

P.S. I had to add this note after today's trip to the Garment District: The Bernina Dealer actually had the Swiss Sewessential, however, he had no idea what it was. So, if you want to splurge ($85) ask authorized dealer in your area for the Swiss Sewessential - you may be lucky!

Who's Hanspeter Ueltschi?

Now, how many of you know who is Hanspeter Ueltschi?

?

?

??

?

ok, the guy is, actually, the great grandson of the legendary Karl Friedrich Gegauf who invented the hemstitch sewing machine. This event took place in 1893 in Steckborn, a small municipality and the capital of the Swiss canton Thurgau, in a workshop run by brothers Gegauf. 

117 years later and the workshop is still in Steckborn, still run by the same family and still producing some of the world’s best sewing machines.

Look, here is Hanspeter himself wishing me very happy and successful sewing experience:

This masterpiece of Swiss engineering is the Rolex of sewing machines. It is so good that even decades of sewing hardly affect the price of Bernina machines.

The Instruction Manual. Look at it:

Those familiar with the history of graphic design will recognize the Swiss Style (or International Typographic Style). It is omnipresent in this simple brochure: grids, amazing typography… I could go on and on…

Just compare, until recently I had this:

This died after a year of light usage

Merci vilmal, Herr Ueltschi, I really love your  beautiful, perfect Swiss sewing machine.

Solnishko, you are the best husband in the world! Thank you for this wonderful present! I love you!

Jetz isch färtig luschtig! Grüezi mitenand, Uf Wiederluege!

[me buzzing:

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher...

Adieu, my sewing machine...

My sewing machine is broken. It was not really a fancy one (actually not at all), neither was it a big investment (it was the cheapest one available, except for travel versions). A basic Brother model, all plastic (the reason for the longevity, yes).

My grandma always said, we are not so rich to buy cheap things (Yes, grandma. you were right, yet again).

So, this time I am going to buy a good, all metal mechanical sewing machine. My fashion design instructor recommended Bernina 1009. Quite an investment ($600 and up), but apparently those machines are eternal. Juki was also mentioned, but I am biased towards Swiss quality even though it's not a watch. Since I cannot have a Rolex, I am saving money for the another masterpiece of Swiss engineering, that is Bernina.

Meanwhile, all my plans for sewing a fabulous holiday wardrobe, fit for traveling (to please my mom and to impress everyone else) are challenged by the fact that I will have to do all my sewing by hand. This will last forever, I guess.