I haven't had that problem but I would talk to your doctor about that.

Both my feet and ankles swell up. I know it's because I've been sitting at the sewing machine for hours on end--but do I get up and walk around? Noooooo!

Hi there seamstome. I don't have swelling in my legs (that's one thing I don't have.LOL) But my hubby does when he sits to play cards or such. He uses a little ottoman when we play and it helps. It could be the weather, heat, etc. Maybe put your ironing board where you get up to go iron and move around. Hope it goes down soon.

I had some swelling in my left leg. I lowered my sewing machine chair and, like magic, no swelling. I think that my circulation was being reduced because there was too much pressure from the edge of the seat of my sewing chair. Give it a try, maybe it will work for you.

I think you are onto it, how you rest your leg ont the chair edge. I get up about every 10 - 15 min.s and walk back and forth to press, use the toilet,get more coffee, go outside to smoke, get a cat out of something or whatever, just get up and move more often.

Interesting that you should mention this right now...I have been sewing since about 10 or 11 am (need to get a quilt finished by Friday) and it is now 1:27 am. I just noticed that my feet and ankles are puffy. Hmmm, I did jump up and down, ironing, going to the BR, getting something to drink, running out to the clothes line to take down a bit of fabric that I had washed...but still puffy. I am sure it has something to do with the slowing down of the circulation. I wish I had a chair that would adjust...maybe for Christmas. Meanwhile, I think you all are right, need to get up and move frequently.

I say get up and move around every 20-30 min. It differently will keep circulation going.

I always try to get up and move around.

I set my timer for 30 min. I have a bottle of water in my sewing room. When the timer goes off, I grab the bottle, walk around for a few minutes, drink some water, go to the BR. Then sit down, set the timer again, and start sewing again.

Which foot do you use on the pedal? Try alternating feet. I do that. I have a Neez EEz that keeps my foot pedal from sliding around, and I put the non-sewing foot beside the other foot, so my back isn't 'skewed.' Also, if your chair is hard-edged, try a foam cushion on your chair so you're not cutting off circulation on that hard edge.

Three hours is a long time to sit at a sewing machine. Do you get up often in that time to iron something or do something else? I make sure that I do not sit for more than 30 minutes at the sew machine. I find reasons to get up and move a bit. Could you put something on the floor to keep the foot up a bit instead of flat on the floor? Good luck on finding an answer.