Ruth Collins says, “A big revelation was becoming aware of the time-saving utility of feet. The zipper foot is superfunctional for stitching in the ditch, edgestitching, or getting close to a tricky intersecting point. Also helpful was realizing a seam does not have to be sewn in a single pass and that masking tape can be used nearly everywhere.”

Ruth is an equipment repair aficionado. Once she fixed a vintage sewing machine, she began exploring its capabilities and whether it could help meet her need for pants with pockets.