Tilting a sewing machine
 

I had forgotten about the 'tilt'. I used it with my old sewing cabinet but discontinued when my DH built my new cabinet. It makes it much easier to see.
Carolyn

I've seen this, but I don't understand the benefit.

oops, never mind 2011wanna answered my question. thanks.

A Board member's husband makes a wooden tilt. I bought two of them, use with both my machines. Not only can you see better, I find it's less back strain. I think her name is Debbie Umpress

I use rubber door stoppers found at the $ Store.

i use rubber door stoppers too+i mark on them with a line so i get them even on both ends of the machine---i was not a believer until i tried it help +++with shoulder strain

All the years (decades) I've been quilting and I never thought to tilt any of my machines. going to try now.

I have a paperback book under the front of mine!

do you tilt the machine back or foward? Does it "hurt" the machine to run if it is not level?

Yeah...what she said. LOL

You put the door stops or tilt on the back to tilt the bed of the machine towards you. It drops your shoulders and you can see easier. No it doesn't hurt the machine at all.

Definitely going to try this. Just finished piecing a top and my upper back hurts. Maybe this will help.

Me too - until I got an insert for my cabinet to bring the machine bed down level with the cabinet, and now the machine sits differently in the cabinet. I really like the machine tilted, it helps a lot to see what you're doing. I kind of miss it. Maybe I'll try it again even though I have an insert. It could work!

This makes so much sense to me. I would never have thought of this on my own. Thank you for the suggestion. I am going to go try it right now. I'm not going to do very big a tilt, just an inch.

How high??

Don't know if backward or forward tilt...but DON"T do it to an embroidery machine! It has to be level for the arm to move correctly, and even a towel under one foot (or 2) will throw the calibration off!
Would like to try it for quilting tho, seems like it would be best to tilt it from the front, so visiblity is better???

I am going to give this a try. It would have never occurred to me. Thinking about it makes sense- it would tilt the stitching closer to your eye as you looked at it and you would not have to be lifting your neck higher to peer at the stitches or where you are going if stippling.

Sounds like a great idea. Especially when going to a class and sewing with the machine on a folding table and my body on a folding chair.

This is the member whose husband makes them. If he is no longer making them, please send me a PM.
debbieumphress

I found it was OK as well but prefer to have a taller chair - works better for me.

A friend from our quilt group puts a couple rubber door stops under the back of her machine and it really does make a big difference. I got to get a couple of them for my machine.

The tilt tables are great, but the rubber door stops just drop very easily into my sewing box when I go to a class or retreat. The tilt makes a huge difference to me. Try different size of door stops to get the tilt you need.

Me too, on the old Frister Rossman I recently bought it was missing one foot so I put 2 on the rear, kept the odd one as a spare and sit it on a PC Mouse mat, it really helps to see the stitching.

Me too I use rubber door stops, they work great!

You literally learn something new every day. I've been sewing more than 50 years and had never heard of this till now! Think I'll try it!

Yes....the tilt is great!

I've been using the door stops for years...2-3 under the back of my machines. Don't do this when machine is in embroidery mode (if you have an embroidery machine)...It will throw the calibration off. I also have a quilting extension for my embroidery machine and can use a couple under the legs of it as well. I don't use the "tilt" on my serger either. Don't think it would be good for the machine...plus the fact, it's not really needed for that one.

Hugs, Drue

Tilting the machine doesn't throw "it off". I too use door stoppers. I find I don't hunch over with the machine tilted and helps me focus those lovely bifocals better. I can hardly sew without them now.

Thanks so much for posting this tip! I have some wooden shims in my toolbox and I think they'll work great too.

I also use the rubber door stops. They are not expensive and they work great.

What do you do if the machine is in a cabinet with 4 legs, not solid back? The door stops would slip out from under the back legs.

I used to use door stops, don't know why I stopped. Must try it again. Thanks for the reminder.

I just read about this on a very old post on another web site about 2 weeks ago. I too bought door stops at $$ store. They are smaller than the ones that come from a hardware store and work great. I am so short it was a struggle to see well and this tilt allows me to look down on the machine instead of across from front to back. My quarter inch seams are much more accurate now. Never would have thought of that on my own.

I use rubber door steps. Works like a charm.

How neat is that! I just bought a new chair because I needed one that would raise me higher. Alas, it's not quite high enough, so I've been putting a pillow under me. I can hardly wait to try it, since I have so much trouble with my back and shoulders! Thanks for posting this tip! I actually use a small board under my laptop, but hadn't thought about it for my machine.

I've used some furniture coasters to tilt one of mine just a little bit, but it does make a difference. Never thought of using trim. Maybe I should try that. Thanks. :)

Pollytink you put the stops under the machine not the cabinet or table it is sitting on,

I'm so glad you brought this up!! I did this with my old machine and then when I got the new one, I just forgot to put the door stops under. Now I get why my neck and upper back have been so sore.... duh!!

Okay, I need some additional wisdom on this topic. I use a clear extension table that fits around my machine. If I tilt the machine it will no longer be even with the table. Do you think it would work for me to put the ext table and machine on a piece of plywood and tilt the whole thing?