Free-motion sewing opens up a world of creativity for those daring enough to explore it. Rooted in the art of quilting, this technique enables sewists to manipulate the fabric under the pressure foot, creating intricate designs and patterns. By moving the fabric in unpredictable ways, artists can produce stunning works that often resemble paintings. This spontaneity is what makes free-motion sewing a beloved choice for those looking to infuse their personality into their projects.

One example is a sailor and his or her understanding that most new boats are going to need a ton of canvas or brightwork done over the years.

Maintenance is another consideration when it comes to sewing devices, and handheld machines tend to require less upkeep than their larger counterparts. Their simple mechanics make troubleshooting easier, and users can often perform routine maintenance with minimal knowledge. This is particularly beneficial for those new to sewing who might feel overwhelmed by the complexities of standard sewing machine maintenance.

Prof. Maged Younes, Chair of EFSA’s expert Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), wrote of the decision: “Taking into account all available scientific studies and data, the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive. A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles. After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however they can accumulate in the body.”

North America

There are two primary forms of titanium dioxide commercially available: anatase and rutile. The rutile form is typically used in sunscreens due to its superior ability to handle UV rays and stability in the presence of UV light. The anatase form is typically used in other types of products, such as paint. Another plus of the rutile form is that its UVA protection extends past 400 nanometers, which is the upper limit of UVA.

European food safety regulators have since labeled titanium dioxide as no longer safe for human consumption, due to its potential toxicity. 

What’s recently changed with titanium dioxide and regulations?

Fig. 7. Lipid peroxidation measured on samples of MSSA with: A) 0.2 mg/mL P25TiO₂NPs; B) 0.02 mg/mL P25TiO₂NPs; C) 0.2 mg/mL VitaminB2@P25TiO₂NPs; D) VitaminB2@P25TiO₂NPs 0.02 mg/mL after 3 h of irradiation (red) and 6 h (blue). MDA could not be detected after 6 h of irradiation in a sample with P25TiO₂NPs. Error bars are too small to be seen in graphic and p < 0.05 between C-D and A-B.