So...How come you didn't post a picture of the completed garment with this fancy embellishment? I have NO idea of how it will look on the completed garment or even if I LIKE it or not! I looks like a darn lot of trouble to create something that sticks up, does NOT look soft or comfortable and you have to worry about beads falling off. Show me the completed piece, otherwise why would I ever even want to try it??? It looks stiff and bunchy to me and the tweedy fabric shown does NOT go with a fancy gauzy trim. Creative? Possibly. Pretty? NO!

/j/

Ditto b-squared! AHH - you need to add a couple more things to your "list". Did you know that the earth is bombarded by tons of debris from outer space every day and that one might hit you and that we have been bombarded by "Waves" forever? Also, at the smallest of the smallest level,"quarks", known (and studied) to man, they're sometimes a particle and sometimes a "wave" and that sometimes they can be seen and sometime NOT! WE ARE MADE UP OF WAVES MY DEAR - Lasers are safe, I promise you - just as safe (almost) as you are. If you spend as much time trusting and letting your light waves shine as you do worrying, you would get a whole lot of sewing done and if you really DID try the laser everything would fit perfectly and you would have something to be really happy about!!

b-squared, I'd love to be your seat-mate on an airplane!
/j/

I'm going to hazard a guess on the "tried but failed" reports. There MAY have been some unidentified synthetic fiber mixed in with the natural fibers, OR the natural fibers may have been treated with synthetic chemicals that would make laundering easier, such as "iron-free" cottons.

Before undertaking a large special project like a tablecloth or a set of linens, try it out on a small piece of fabric, like a guest hand-towel, that has been SERIOUSLY washed and possibly rinsed with vinegar to remove any chemical residues there may be attached to it. REALLY check the labels of the fabric you buy - possibly check out your manufacturer on-line to see what they use to "finish" their natural materials. You would also probably be able to "smell" the finishers when you ironed the washed a dried fabric on a high setting, which is allowable for most cottons and linens.

Help any? It COULD even be done AFTER the fact (embroidering) where it failed before - try washing it again and THEN using the fabric etch stuff.

/j/

The thing we ALL have in common is that we're tactile! We all love to use our hands to create and "touch and manipulate" beautiful things. Wouldn't it be neat to have a collage of photographs of all of our different hands, possibly holding something we're creating or working on - weaving spinning, tatting, folding cloth flowers, beading, sewing, felting, knitting etc??


Fwani, I identified with you so much! I too have lots of other "tactile" things I love to do, I once did lapidary work and still have some of the jewelry I made as a teenager. I sew, embroider, crochet and knit (I never got the knack of tatting though). I love to have my sock knitting on hand or in my purse for boring drives. I love beading and needlework both machine and hand, have created crewel pictures, hooked rugs, prom dresses, coats, etc. My favorite sewing projects have included Care Clown costumes for a hospital clown friend of mine, with zany and funny acoutrements! I've done stained glass, ceramics and hand built pottery, watercolors, oils and pastels as well as mixed media. Other favorites include a HUGE Macrame, long, white cotton rope, and glass fishing-net-balls, artsy design plant hanger that hung from the second storey ceiling, next to the bar in our sunken living room. I got the rope on spools on sale at the hardware store and did it in increments, enclosing the glass balls in macrame designed netting at the top and using large 2' diameter brass rings to connect the segments towards the bottom where the pots were hung in the rings, above and at eye level. During construction, I had to stretch it all out from one end of the house practically to the other and it was difficult to maneuver as it grew, and especially hard to estimate the lengths of rope I needed for each of the segments. After was all said and done though It was very satisfying to see the light catching the blue and yellow glass balls at the top and I used tropical plant vines that really stood out - LOTS of compliments on that one! I left it when we sold the house as it was custom made for the "spot".

Like you Emmyt, I like to do things that have never been done before and make them up as I go along. I once made a three foot by four foot Batik painting in hot wax with a bamboo brush on light cotton canvas. It was of a blazing sunset with a path from the foreground to the background (into the sun) and a woman with flowing hair running towards the sun, mostly in yellows and oranges and reds and purples. I had to start with the lightest color and layer it with wax to the next darkest color, removing the wax where I wanted to make it darker and finishing with the complete wax removal. It was messy and a little daunting at first, but I was offered $500 for it by a psychiatrist friend, so I took it!

I'm older now and not as apt to do huge projects as I once was, being content to knit lacy socks. Little projects can be just as classy as big ones. It's the "challenge" that gets me moving - how about with you-all?

/j/

Thank you RSAdams and Merilyn.
RS, I read with interest your personal profile and your new "single mom at 40" status. Your photograph shows you to be a beautiful woman and your talent for creating something beautiful is clearly evident. Your kind comments show you to be sensitive and caring. Never fear and never falter in your quest to rebuild a beautiful life. I too was a single mom and remarried (in Dallas, Texas!) at 40, (2 yrs. after my divorce) to a wonderful man to whom I've been married since 1983! I thought I'd never find the right man, but did - which took me by surprise because I wasn't looking at the time. Sometimes, when you least expect it, life brings you blessings and more blessings. I believe people like you are natural magnets for that to happen if it hasn't already! Happiness to you and yours and many blessings!
Lady Jaydee

Fan-dan-tastic! Enjoyed reading about this intuitive, textual (no pun intended) man. You just "know" his fingers can do this automatically, without thinking. How gifted is that? Speaking of gifts, if we remember not to shoot the messenger, we can all appreciate some pretty great "message gifts". If we get bogged down in semantics and pickiyune stuff, we may discourage others from contributing for our benefit as this article does. Some of us are more into "the doing" of it than the writing of it, and, darn it, some of us, it seems can do it ALL! I guess there's room for all of us. If it shrieks at you, try to calm down and see what it's SAYING. When you write your own book or article, you can make it perfect and we'll all cheer for you! /j/

When will you post the answer?
/j/

I just realized that the word Patent appears on the bottom plate. If there's a number, it's a simple matter to go on-line and check the patent number with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), where they have the COMPLETE description and instructions, etc. etc. If it's A European patent, you can probably do the same thing, but the word Patent is in English, so check England first.
/j/

I still have my ruffler/pleater attachment for my Mom's Singer lightweight, straight stitcher. This one doesn't look like it. Mine has the adjustable, gatherer sliding gauge part to adjust the width of the gathers. Your photograph does show the foot portion as being level in front (on fabric/seams), but there's room under the back portion between the table top and the attachment. I would guess it's some kind of walking foot to equalize distribution of heavy fabrics and that might also do dual duty as a zig-zagger, edge finisher. Because there's a space behind the foot part, it may also have been used for heavier quilts, jeans or heavy woolen fabrics like coating. The screw would adjust the distance of the zig and zags. By all means, Attache the darn thing and sew with it and see what it actually does and answer your own question!!!