It is an unassuming little roll.
It is super duper sticky on the back. It grabs onto your machine like serious business and it is realllllly slick on top. If you have a top loading bobbing you will have to lift up the sheet to change it. I thought it might leave some gummy residue when removed but it didn't, and I was able to change the bobbin without removing the sheet entirely. (Aside: check out what great hand position the toddler already has! It's probably because she loves to free motion quilt with me. She gets her own pair of gloves and I keep her hands under mine the whole time).
After I first sat down to quilt using the Sew Slip I noticed that my shoulders and arms felt more relaxed than usual because I wasn't working so hard to move my quilt along the machine. I think this could really reduce fatigue when doing long quilting stints.
I didn't really see a difference in my stitching. I did a quick experiment in aimless stitching to see if the Sew Slip was making my stitching any better. First, with the Sew Slip.
Then without.
I tried some quick feathers too. Sew Slip on top, without on the bottom. I'd say this was uniformly mediocre stitching, the Sew Slip didn't seem to make a difference in the quality of my free motion stitching. Although, maybe the real test would be to compare stitching after an hour of using or not using the Sew Slip, once fatigue has set in!
If your machine drops into your table I'm not sure this would make much of a difference in your quilting experience. But if you're working on an extension table, this little item seems to make moving your quilt up and around a lot easier. I'm certain I will put it on before I quilt my next quilt, though maybe not for shorter stitching stints. Or I may just leave it on the machine. Since the hole in the middle of the sheet leaves space for the feed dogs it works for regular stitching too.
I would definitely recommend the Sew Slip to anyone dealing with upper body injuries or pain. If you feel like you're working hard to get your quilt to go when you want it to go, this could reduce the drag you're fighting. It won't work any miracles on your stitching but if you're about to quilt a large quilt I think this would be a very nice present to yourself.
Nancy at Sew Slip was so generous she provided both a Sew Slip II for me to review, and one to give away! Do you think you could use a Sew Slip? To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below telling me your favorite snack or dessert. (Nursing moms think about food a LOT). Comments will be open until 11:59 PM Pacific time this Friday and I will draw a random number for the winner. I hope this was a helpful review!
