Portable sewing chair for retreats
 

Hi! I need a sewing chair to take to quilt retreats. I was just at one with typical folding chairs, and oh my aching back. I'm on the tall side, and those chairs were just way too low. Anyone have a suggestion? I need something lightweight, and I drive a small car with a hatchback (I can put the backseats down).


Thanks!

Folding chairs do become uncomfortable on long retreats. I have seen several gals bring that purple round pillow that adds height and padding. But I think the best thing I've seen is someone bringing in an office type chair with height and back adjustments. Some secretarial chairs are lightweight.

I have solved this problem. I have a little plastic stepping stool for my grandchildren. I take this along and put it on the chair. It will raise you up about 4 to 5 inches, just enough to bring your elbows level with the bed of your sewing machine. Now lots of my friends do the same. Let me know if this works for you.

I have an inexpensive desk chair. I turn it upside down on the back seat of my car with the chair back hanging off the seat. If I need added cushion I just grab a pillow. At least I have wheels and swivel

My friend and I each bring our own office chairs in her little teensy car... we drop the chair back and put our chairs with their backs to our front backs.... we are very careful at packing our machines and fabric /projects and our suitcases in the remaining space.
When I retreat alone with another group, my most important piece is my chair....I carry it up flights of stairs etc....without it my retreat is not a retreat...

I always take my office chair to retreats, but sew days at our meeting location are back-killing. I'm working on a "retreat-seat" pattern for my guild to make for a fundraiser--will let you know if it works!

On this board awhile back there was a gal who found a link to some chair rollers. What it is basically is that you buy 4 - 3 wheel rollers, I got mine at Harbor Freight, tennis balls, that you make an X on & slit to close to the bottom so you can get your chair leg in, & a bolt to go through the tennis ball. My uncle made mine & it gave me the extra height, since I'm vertically challenged, & also made a regular chair into a rolling one. I still did use a pillow pad to sit on but it worked without too. Needless to say, everyone at the last quilt retreat was checking it out. I'll try & find the pictures of it that were online & post them. I think I also googled how to make chair rollers.

I do the same thing, never again will I go to retreat without my very own rolling swivel office chair. It even raises and lowers so fits any table. I even covered it in some fun sewing related fabric. Has served me well for years!

I have a set of the tennis ball/ rollers and love them for the 'pew chairs' that are provided at the quilting retreat center, and our church sewing day. in addition, I purchased a boat seat cushion-flotation device from Fleet Farm. It's filled with layers of dense foam, which don't squish down to nothing when you sit on it. This helps raise me up high enough to comfortably sew in almost any chair. (saves me $$ on Massage and Chiropractor appointments, too)