There’s a feature on most of today’s sewing machines that you hardly ever use but is a lifesaver when you need it. Today’s post is about the freearm sewing surface of your machine. Some machines, such as the bernette 35 shown below, have a small section of the sewing surface that pulls away from the machine to access the freearm. Typically, the part that pulls away is a container that holds small items such as bobbins, needles, and small tools you might need for your machine. With the freearm exposed, you can easily stitch tubular items such as pant legs that need hemming.
Narrow Freearm
Other machines may have slide-on tables that wrap around the freearm. It is pulled away from the machine to access the freearm. The table may have a button or lever that releases it so it can be removed. The slender freearm of the BERNINA machines is useful when sewing small tubular items such as baby garments, socks, pant legs, etc.
Use it when sewing in a circle to stitch small circular hems, decorative edgings or purchased trims. It is so much easier to use the freearm for this instead of fighting the fabric as you stop and adjust it every few stitches. We’ve all been there, done that! The BERNINA freearm accomodates a 6″ circular opening. It can handle a slightly smaller opening if you are sewing knit fabrics such as socks or T-shirt sleeves.
Table Freearm
Many BERNINA machines have a slide-on table, which in itself is a freearm. This type of table is not supported by any legs or fold-down supports. This lets it be used as a freearm surface for larger projects such as wide leg pants, tote bag openings, and skirt waistbands. Because of the size of these items, it is best to use this freearm because it offers more support for the fabric as you stitch.
It’s easy to use your sewing machine in the same way every day – same stitches, same presser feet, same techniques – but don’t forget about the convenience features that you only need once in a while. They are there to make sewing easier with better results to your finished projects.
As editor of "The Big Book of Feet: A Guide to BERNINA Presser Feet and Accessories," Susan created Sewfeet to provide Educational Courses, Content, and Resources to help you with all your sewing projects.