Free-Style Sewing- Think Outside the Lines

I had the opportunity to take a sewing class this past Saturday.  I was probably a little too excited to spend five hours with my sewing machine.  

I figured, why not?  At the very least I will learn something new.  When Saturday morning arrived, I packed up my machine (and a long list of other supplies required for the class) and headed off to class.

I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was a little nervous, a little giddy about getting a day to myself to sew, and excited about learning a new sewing technique that I would hopefully be able to incorporate into new HankOrange designs.  

I figured I’d be one of the youngest, which I was.  I think all other 8 ladies there have been sewing longer than I’ve been alive!  But we sure had fun together in class.     

Now, I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to sewing.  I want my stitches to be even, my lines to be straight, my fabric to be smooth, and edges to be finished.  The class was all about NOT doing those things.  'Free-style’ stitching, breaking free and sewing ‘outside the box.’  I like it.

'free-style' on notecards

The ‘free-style’ technique uses a special foot to allow you to freely move your fabric (or whatever media you are sewing on). No need for a seam ripper if your line isn’t perfect or you ‘go outside the line.’  This is all part of the free-style technique!

This is unlike any type of sewing I’ve done before, but now that I’ve done it, I keep thinking of different ideas and designs that I can do.  I tried out a little bird on a burp cloth and I LOVE the way it turned out!  I’m seeing lots of free-style stitching in the future for HankOrange!  Let the creativity begin!   

'Twinkle Twinkle' star design

LOVE this little bird!  I'm thinking I'll be doing more of these in the future!