For the past seven years, I’ve been using my Viking sewing machine for straight sewing only and my Brother sewing machine for free motion.
But that all changed when I got my new Janome sewing machine which I’ll use for straight sewing and an extension for my Viking so I can use it for free-motion sewing.
I picked up the new extension for my Viking sewing machine on Saturday. I spend today figuring out how to use it .
It fit my machine perfectly and easily slides on and off. It’s solid and similar to having a drop-in sewing table.
I was excited to try it and immediately disappointed and frustrated when I placed two pieces of fabric with batting between them and the fabric wouldn’t slide on the surface.
I knew something was wrong because the extension was made for free-motion sewing.
First I tried to call the sewing machine shop where I got the extension, but they were closed. So I went online and found that the surface needed to be cleaned and if it still wasn’t slick enough, there was a spray that can be used.
The instructions were specific about the kind of cleaner to be used with the acrylic extension. There were a few choices, one of them was ammonia diluted with water, which I found at the Hardware store in town.
I was thrilled when I wiped down the extension and the surface was immediately slippery enough to easily move the piece of fabric around on.
It took me the rest of the day reading the sewing machine instruction manual, watching videos on YouTube, reading sewing machine forums, and experimenting to get to the point where I was able to sew without any problems.
Then it was just a matter of getting used to sewing on a different machine.
I learned to free-motion sew on my Brother Sewing machine and have been using it for 11 years. Every machine is a little different, but by 6:30 I had a good feeling for the Viking.
The bigger, more sturdy platform makes all the difference. I even realize when I finished sewing that my left wrist, which always aches after even an hour of free motion-sewing didn’t hurt at all. No doubt I’m holding my hands differently and the fabric is easier to move, so there’s less tension in my wrist.
Now I just have to do a little rearranging in my studio to have a safe place to store the acrylic extension when I’m not using it.
But that will have to wait. In a way now I have two new sewing machines and I can’t wait to use them.
