Sewing with One Arm (and more)

info for Big Dog (from YahooAnswers)

If sewing is what your wife really loves to do, then it's worth figuring out how she can continue to do that or at least in some modified way, etc, after a stroke.  That will both give her a lot of "herself" back, but keep her brain and spirits up/engaged as well as having her do physical therapy that she needs to do without feeling it such a drudgery. 
(It's now thought that even areas of the body that "will never work" can actually work --with time and *lots* of use-- and any area will achieve improved function at least.  So it's important to make that lots-of-use something that doesn't seem so overwhelming and drudgery-filled.)

Most more-expensive sewing machines have several features that would help her a lot, and some of the less expensive ones may have some of them too:
...slider for selecting stitching speed (set it for the top speed wanted, and it will go no faster--it can be be set quite slow though too for maneuvering, etc)
...up/down button for having the needle do one complete "stroke" or half a stroke
...start-stop-stitching button (those two are usually on the right though, which might take some adjustment if her right side is involved)
...knee controls, or foot controls can be kludged so they regulate speed, etc.

Look for some of those machines, used but expertly repaired, at sewing machine repair shops instead of at regular sewing machine stores for cheaper prices.

There are also lots of accessories for most machines (often "feet" or things that attach to feet or to somewhere on bed) that will guide the fabrics, hold them in place, create piping or ruffles automatically, and much more. 
http://www.google.com/images?q=sewing+machine+accessories
And there are also now stand-alone machines/etc that will cut long precisely-even strips (good for quilting, making piping, etc), and do various other sewing chores.

There are also some things you could kludge yourself, or have someone else do, that would help.

She can also use homemade items like flannel-covered tabletops or corrugated-cardboard squares (or fine sandpaper adhered to board, etc), etc, to keep fabric from sliding around when she's cutting with shears (and left-handed shears would be really important if that's her best hand) or doing other manipulations. 
Various kinds of pinnable surfaces could be good.  Even if she doesn't make quilts, using a pinnable wall board (aka "design wall") can be quite helpful for one-handed stuff:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111030193623AADxyHJ

Extensions to her sewing machine or current sewing table can be helpful for sliding things around easily (purchased or homemade).
And if her leg is a problem too, a good office chair (without arms, roll-around) can help.  Make sure it's on a surface that allows it to roll freely though so she can scoot around from sewing machine to table or just change positions easily.

The things she might sew/make at this stage might change (temporarily or permanently) since some might be more challenging with one arm (or hopefully one great arm and one being exercised) than others. 
There are all kinds of "things to sew" and now might be a good time to explore some of the others anyway.  As just one example, perhaps she could make pillows which are small so easily moved around and usually involve only straight line sewing, but there are also all kinds of ways she could decorate those pillows using piping, simple piecing, fantastic fabrics, fancy machine stitches for embellishment, free-motion sewing of various kinds, using "Solvy" which can be great fun:
http://www.google.com/search?q=solvy
...and many more.
Instead of pillows, she could turn those small decorative/decorated fabrics into simple tote bags, or appliques to sew or otherwise attach onto aprons, placemats, toddler's overalls or other kids clothing, etc, etc.

She might also want to check out some of the sewing groups, especially perhaps ones that get together to do charity work.  That way she'd be able to do the parts she can do, including design ideas if she wants, but have others do other parts.

Being a part of those groups, or using interesting fabrics, techniques and equipment, etc, can also get her back into the "world of sewing" and interacting with all the stuff and people in that world.

Lastly, I'd say she should definitely get good "occupational therapy" for her sewing in particular. 
It's the job of occupational therapists to help patients do whatever it is in their life (or their paid jobs) they want and need to do, but can't figure out just how to do them.  They will often know of special tools or techniques that make those things much easier so the wheel doesn't need to get reinvented for everything.
http://www.google.com/search?q=occupational+therapy+stroke+sewing+tips+tools
http://www.google.com/search?q=occupational+therapy+stroke+sewing+assistive+tools

** P.S.  One of the great things discovered recently for people who've had strokes too, is the Wii.  Doing the physical activities in the various Fitness-type games is enough fun that most patients do much more than they would regular physical therapy, and it doesn't seem as hard because they're involved in the games/actitivies:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Wii+strokes
I'd definitely spring for that if my mate/etc had had a stroke that limited their physical abilities.

HTH and best of luck!

more info on sewing with one arm
for misgems (see Comments below)--added later

(So happy to hear something in my answer my help you ...I put it on this Miscellaneous blog of mine--hardly ever used--just so I could give a longer answer, and so it would never go away in the future due to whims of YahooAnswers, etc.) 

I'd definitely check with stroke associations and hospital depts for support groups, names of occupational therapists who could help with sewing strategies in particular, national and state groups for those with the same problem (whether caused by stroke, amputation, whatever).  

All kinds of activities, hobbies and activities are being figured out by those with limitations and for those with limitations these days (really good news) and lots more than in the past.

Also check out some of the links in this search for "one-handed sewing"...may be some good tips in those:
https://www.google.com/search?q=one-handed+sewing

I also ran across this (youngish) person who'd also had a stroke affecting her left side who wanted to continue sewing and even fashion/design.
If you can find a way to contact her or see if she has a blog/etc, she might have tips and strategies for you that would be really helpful.  She's in the UK, but you could probably just use email to find out her email address, and write her (or have them pass your email address onto her with a short description of your situation and what you're wanting to do):

Kathryn Thompson
http://www.strokeassociation.org.uk/category/associated-topics/life-after-stroke (bottom of page)

much of the same info tho no pics, but bit more at very bottom of page:
http://www.strokeassociation.org.uk/category/associated-topics/life-after-stroke

...Or the group that gave her the award might be able to give you her email address, or tell you where in the UK she lives, address, etc:
Stroke Association Helpline in the UK: 0303 3033 100

one local group leader in the UK: http://www.stroke.org.uk/taxonomy/term/652/all?page=8

As for the sewing machine itself, I'd definitely go with a heavy and decent-sized one rather than a smaller and probably lighter-weigh one.  That will give much more stability for you to push against, etc, and will stitch more smoothly, at the least. Also none of the features will be miniaturized which would make using it more difficult too. 

(Again, sewing machine repair shops can really be your friend in getting more machine for your money than you could afford in a regular store.)

Sewing machines in cabinets or something similar might be good too since those will be quite sturdy and allow you to push against parts of them, or to lean or just give a better angle for manipulating the fabric with your good hand.  

Also, many feet for sewing machines have sort-of grippers too if you want to use those.

Actually one of the best ways to deal with functional or actual loss of a body part is to begin to use other body parts for the same functions.
Maybe you could check out some videos at YouTube, articles, etc, as well about kids born without whole limbs or about amputees, etc, and see how they use various parts of their bodies to compensate for all kinds of actions.
Or just watch mothers carrying babies, toys, food, bags, etc, who then have to open doors or do other things...lol...great example of multi-functioning (I found all kinds of actions I could do with elbows, noses, mouths, knees, rear-ends, feet and more when mine was little.) 

Re the machine too, I'd also think a wide and very smooth bed/table to the left and even on the front-back of the machine would really help to make larger pieces of fabric/etc glide around in the positions you want.  You can buy those, or many quilters make sturdy and/or extended sewing tables themselves.
https://www.google.com/images?q=how+to+make+sewing+table
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+sewing+table

You should also be able to use weights (socks full of dry beans/rice, bricks, bottles of water, whatever) to hold larger fabrics/etc on the bed/table to keep them from slipping off, or from just creating too much drag while sewing.

Have you seen the "bicycle clips" that quilters use to roll up large fabrics-with-battings/etc and hold them in a roll while sewing?--also makes them much easier to move around as a unit. Those could also be helpful for that, but would be used to the right of the foot area rather than the left.  Some people also use clips of various kinds (on the fabric to the left or right, or clips could be used to hold the left fabric to the bed or to something else nearby).

This photo shows someone using large clips, and also throwing the excess over her shoulder (one way to handle excess fabric on the front side of foot area):

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkN6h8jJWnHolyTrE0dfxLW0qQN6RsH8QIvPleeQShok8q9gQpwL-f4As0RZ40G0Vn0AW7IeXwCvvB1Gs4Ahub5rYmYLVdLlPDYwQLSOx0s15Rqu23m17sy0UyW_qWm1U9q17bMzoY3Us/s320/100_2031.JPG

....this one uses various techniques (to left and right):

http://oxfordimpressions.blogspot.com/2012/08/manly-plaid-homespun-scrap-quilt.html (look down at photos 8-11, or around there)

On the other hand, "free motion" stitching on the machine could be fun too, and should be doable with only one arm.  That can be done for free motion quilting or free motion embroidery or even with Solvy (can use various kinds of embellishments and textures too). 

I think some knitters who've lost the use of their left arms hold something long and stuff, or somewhat-stiff, under their left arms to sort of act as a holder for knitting (see below).  You could do something similar with various kinds of long things under your arm (or even attached to your shoulder, or in a sling with your arm, etc?) to hold things in place or to push them around a bit, I guess.
There should be a link to the knitting and other similar things in my answer to this previous question too (plus other info for doing various crafts one-handed):
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121110122007AAelkCO 

I have a sit-on hoop stand that works very well --for candlewicking anyway-- but might also be good for you for other handwork.  It's a round wood embroidery-type hoop, attached to a vertical rod, attached to a flat board at the bottom.  We used to call them fanny hoops though the board actually goes under the thighs, or can even be clamped to a table, etc.

That or some other version might also be useful for you for various needlework activities, or even just to attach other things temporarily (like applique, or just anything requiring another hand**) so you can work on them more easily.
This is the general kind I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Embroidery-Lap-Frame-Sit-On-Style/dp/B001C22SBO/ref=pd_sbs_ac_3

And here are some sit-on stands with rectangular frames:
http://www.faersc.com/stitchery-frames-floor-stands.html
https://www.google.com/images?q=sit+on+stands+hoop
https://www.google.com/images?q=sit+on+hoop+stand

more tools for one-handed people:
http://www.ehow.com/info_8593168_tools-onehanded-people.html (be sure to look in the right bar of some of those pages for more links that are related)

Many quilts and other items that have other kinds of needlecraft/etc, used on them (like your sensory items for babies), can have each part or texture, etc, created separately too, then be sewn or even glued to the fabric (and before or after sewing blocks together or adding bindings, etc).
You might also try "strip" type quilts for your sensory pieces rather than blocks/etc, just because they'd be easier and more forgiving to sew perhaps.

(If you're interested in my YahooAnswers about "learning to make quilts," easier kinds to begin with, equipment and supplies --including rotary cutters and self-healing mats, which you should probably use for all kinds of cutting anyway--check out the gathered answers in this one answer of mine:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121116082344AApIycj

also: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111030193623AADxyHJ

** also check out some of these "3rd-hand" tools that could be used for various hobbies (not just for electronics)...or all kinds of regular clips or other grabby tools could be helpful and all kinds of flexible rods/etc too:
https://www.google.com/images?q=third+hand+tool
...or make your own--these are flexible:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Third-Hand-A-multi-use-helping-hand-for-electro/?ALLSTEPS
http://www.head-fi.org/t/403241/third-hand-tool#post_5517679