When I was a teenager my mother bought a Singer Touch & Sew. The salesman told us how fabulous the "free-arm option" was, especially when putting in a sleeve. I was so excited! Wow, great new technology and it's going to make sewing easier!!

Then I tried it ... well that was a bust. It was awkward and not the least bit efficient. First you remove part of the machine bed, then shove the garment down into the well of the machine cabinet and pull the armscye (armhole) around the free arm. This is not a respectful way to handle most fabrics and bound to stretch out the armhole as it is twisted around and around while you sew. What a mess! I never used it again.

Years later when I learned industry sewing techniques I was taught to always sew inside the circle of any part of the garment or project. When sewing a waistband, a hem or a cuff position the garment so you are sewing inside the circle. For example, on a hem that will be stitched on the wrong side, turn it right side out. Now you can sew on the wrong side and you will be inside the circle. It only took one attempt for me to realize how efficient and easy it was to sew inside the circle. I didn't have to take my machine apart, shove my beautiful dress down into the machine cabinet or pull and tug the entire garment around the Not so-fabulous free-arm.