Body position for hand quilting?
 

Yesterday I put a lot of hours into hand quilting and today I am miserable with pain. Other than a very sore index finger on my left hand that now feels like a pin cushion, most of my pain is located in the center of my back and surprisingly my ankles and feet. I had the quilt on a desktop with me sitting in an office chair.

The day before I quilted in my overstuffed chair with my feet on a stool and woke with shoulder pain which is why I moved to the desk top hoping to eliminate that pain. So now I've struck out twice. Which is the best position for your body while hand quilting?

I can sit in my overstuffed chair with the footstool and cross stitch for hours with little to no pain so it's baffling to me why sewing on a quilt does. I don't want my memory of working on my grandbaby's quilt to be one of pain, you know what I mean.

I have found it easier to hand quilt without a hoop, just letting the quilt rest in my lap. I find I don't tense my shoulders when I do it this way. I have quilted a full size quilt this way with a minimum of pain

For me, the key phrase is “lots of hours”. I have to limit certain craft activities to a max of 2 hours in a day to avoid pain. To accomplish more, I switch to a different activity. Taking breaks after every hour helps too as long as the breaks involve physical movement, walking around the house, stretching, etc.

I think Prism99 has identified about 90% (or more!) of what might be causing your discomfort.

I know that when I sit too long - it is quite the project to get moving again!

Have you "compared" the positions you used while cross-stitching and quilting to see how they are different?

I love to sew - but I get this serious discomfort between my shoulder blades - even when using different chairs, machines, and/or tables. I have not been able to identify the "why" it gets achy.

I agree that it's the amount of time spent in one position more than the position that causes pain. I used to be able to sew for hours. Now I've found that I need to get up every hour or so and move around or as Prism says switch to another activity. I'll often do laundry while quilting which means I have to get up and go downstairs to put laundry in and switch it to the dryer. I'll stop and fold laundry, too, just to be doing something different. I'm not as productive this way, but I sure feel better.

When hand quilting in the round hoop on its stand, I sit in an armchair, cushion supporting the lumbar and I tilt the frame towards me and rest the hoop edge on my tummy. Arm of the chair supports my right elbow I have had two frozen shoulders and despite surgery on both I get pain if I hand quilt without support.

When it isn't on the stand, the hoop is supported by tummy and the arm of the chair. I spoon quilt so I need a bit more clearance underneath the hoop.

But as I get older, I can't sit too long in one position. When I free motion on the HQ Sweet 16 for a long time I get pain in the hip flexors which trips off sciatica. I'll get grief for a week.

As the others have said - get up walk around, change position and stretch. I don't advocate doing laundry but making tea is a good distraction.

HettyB

I agree with Prism and the others. I think any activity where you are sitting in one position too long will result in pain. It's very easy to do with something like quilting because you can get so absorbed in what you're doing (or what you're watching while doing it ;) ) that you lose track of time or don't think to get up and move. I get this way when I'm absorbed in a project at work and don't realize it until I get up to walk over to the printer.

Try to get up and walk around every 15 or 30 minutes. Stretch, drink some water, check the mailbox, whatever.

I sit in a comfy chair and use an oval hoop. When I was quilting 6-8 hours a day, I wound up with arm pain, actually a form of tennis elbow. Set a timer and get up every hour or half hour, walk around, do stretches.

Thanks all. You are probably right about the number of hours I put into it. I'm feeling a lot of self imposed pressure to get it done before the baby arrives so that I want to sew every waking hour. Today I'm back in my easy chair and I am feeling more comfortable and I'm drinking a lot of water so at least I have to get up often to use the bathroom. :D I don't want to wake up in that kind of pain again. I usually take a water aerobics class each morning and there was no way I could even think of going today. The pain easing up now so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Remember to do the same thing tomorrow?

OH! Stephanie--make yourself go to your water aerobics class--bring down the activity a notch or two, but the water will definitely help your relax those muscles and work out the kinks. Also, you mentioned pushing to get this done before the baby comes--yours? One part of your OP makes me concerned--you said feet and ankles hurt. I'm worried that you are setting yourself up for blood clots with sitting too much, especially with legs down, and especially if you are pregnant! I've had blood clots in my leg and it was after a quilt retreat--ditto for a friend--so now when we go to retreat,we make everyone stop once an hour and get up and do stretches--please don't sit too long!

This is a grandchild on the way so thankfully not me. But you are right, I do need to remember to get up and move. Ankles and feet are still really bothering me today but the rest of my body feels back to the normal range of aches and pains. Normally I sit with my feet under me or curled up in the chair but with sewing I force myself to sit properly so maybe (hopefully) the ankle/foot pain is just my body not knowing how to react to my feet being on the floor.

well, if the pain is more in the calf and really hurts when you walk--see your doc asap as it's a blood clot!

I had quilt with 2 thimbles. One on the middle finger of my right hand and one on the index finger of the left hand. No sore,pricked fingers.

You might see if you can get a copy of 'Perfect Hand Quilting without Pain' by Liuxin Newman (aka Thimblelady). Her method does not require pricking the finger, and also eliminates finger and wrist stress.

When I hand quilt, I need something to take the weight of the quilt or it causes shoulder problems. If sitting on the couch, I put a chair back in front of me to prop the hoop on, and if quilting at the dining room table, prop the hoop on the table and the quilt falls on chairs on either side. I don't get much quilting done because I just can't sit for very long at one time. The short intervals of standing/sitting with piecing are much better for my back. If I had one wish, it would be that I could sit for hours and do hand work.

Try using a smaller hoop, maybe 14". When you use a bigger frame you are stretching your arm and shoulder. The is what I went to some years back and really helped me. See if you can borrow one from someone to get an idea of the size comfortable for you before you buy. You can comfortably hold the smaller size in your lap with no need to prop on something.

I am a hand quilter. I agree with getting distracted. I quilt in the evenings and when the news is over, I am supposed to head to bed. OFTEN I find myself looking at the clock and it is 2 a.m.
As for sewing...I PURPOSELY keep the cutting table and ironing board in a different room (Besides it won't fit in sewing room). But this forces me to get up and go to the iron. I am not as efficient but it is better for my body and health! This action helps me get more steps in each day.

I can only help with the “pin cushion” fingers. I went to the office supply and for a couple dollars I bought finger cots that are sold for sorting through papers. I can put one on my middle finger on the right to push the needle with, and on the index on the left to use under the quilt. I have recently “discovered” leather thimbles that do the same thing and might last longer, but cheap is good for now. I can get a new one as they wear through. They are three to a pack of all blue for the silicone ones. I haven’t got the leather ones yet.

I have one of these thimbles and they fit my stubby finger well, I just need to pick up another. I looked at the ones with the metal insert, but I have to be able to “feel” the needle so they would not work for me but I bet they would last forever.

https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-3066-Le...ather+thimbles

I do the same. No sore index finger.