sewing chair
 

New to sewing and quilting. My current chair is killing my back and neck. Suggestions for a good ergonomic sewing chair? Thank you in advance for your recommendations!

I asked a question about saddle chairs..this is the thread.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...r-t307870.html

It may or may not be your chair. Do you have your machine at a height that is making you stoop/bend to see your sewing area? That is the 1 thing that always makes my back hurt. Is your lighting good? If it's not, you may be sewing with your eyes very close to the sewing area just to see, which results in bending. You can google ergonomic sewing machine height and see how you should be set up. In general, I was taught to sit at a table and bend my arms..so that your hands are level with your elbow..your hands are now at the height that your sewing area should be..NOT your table top..the actual top of your quilt or fabric. There are many tips/tricks to raise your machine height, bed risers come to mind..I'm sure other posters will chime in with what they do. Good luck, welcome to the board and to quilting !

Thank you so much for your response to my question. I definitely think that I am stooping over. I have a koala table. I think maybe I need a height adjustable chair to put me at the right angle for my table.

Thank you!!!

I use a small office chair that does not have arms and I also sit to the side of the chair with legs on each side of the corner. This gives good balance. I adjust the chair so it is at a good height for myself and maintain good posture when sewing. This seems to help a great deal on my back when sewing for hours, which I do frequently.

I agree with everything that has been mentioned already! I have an adjustable office chair with no arms for my regular sewing machine adjusted to the right height for me (i am 5’2”). I use a fully adjustable saddle chair at my sitdown longarm. Both work great for me!

I bought my chair from an office supply shop. It has arms that flip up so out of my way when I don't want them..
Oddly enough the flip up arms in the down position are quite useful for holding the weight of the quilt rather than it pooling on my lap.
Underneath the chair is one of those large plastic floor protectors so the chair casters don't wreck the carpet. It has adjustable lumbar support and rake (tilt forward or back).

The only thing I don't like about it is ghastly red and black faux leather and looks racing car seat but it was marked down to an almost give away price as the shop was going out of business. (And they delivered it the next day for free!).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MORE4HOMES-.../dp/B012HNP44Y

But go and try the chairs to see what is best for you. Because I am tall, I found a lot of the seats too short and 'cut' me in the back of the legs

In addition to the good points made re ergonomics of your workspace, also consider using an exercise ball vs a chair - I use one and I love it. Makes all the world of difference in my body position and comfort.

I have a regular office chair with arms and it works great for me.

Welcome from Missouri.

I love my Arrow sewing chair, the non adjustable one. It has saved my back. There is an adjustable one too but the regular chair is more of a sewing chair to me. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if I needed it. Great machine height, great chair and great lighting are my priorities. These three things are where I will never make do in my sewing room.

I have 2 office chairs. 1 has 1/2 length arms so no problem sitting close to the machine. The 2nd has arms that flip up out of the way & down if needed. I like both of them & am not sure if I would want 1 w/o arms. Sometimes they really are useful.

I have a saddle chair that I got from Amazon and a drummer’s stool that I got out of the trash pile in one of my neighborhood alleyways. Saddle chair is great for sitting at long stretches while quilting at my Sweet16, or while using the decorative stitches on my PC420. The drummer’s stool is perfect for piecing at my PQ1500s since I chain piece, but get up frequently to go back and forth to the design wall. I’m short and find that most chairs with arms and backs are too big for me, the stools enable me to sit with better posture than any of the chairs I’ve tried over the years.

Welcome to the QB Betty. I have an adj. ergonomic office chair from Ikea without arms. It is great and very affordable.

I have an office chair with no arms and I like it very well.

I remember reading that thread and then getting the "bungee" chair from the container store - I'm not a tall person (5' more or less) and it fits perfectly and gives me great support. It is adjustable in height.

https://www.containerstore.com/s/des...uctId=10022641

I have an exercise ball chair and I love it. Makes sitting so much easier on my neck, shoulders, and back.

I too use a Staples armless office chair w/adjustable height. But I also bought a wedge back from Joann's for the bk of the chair and the 3 lb posture sandbag from Nancy's Notion which really does help me not to slouch.

I use a swivel office chair that has no arm rest at my sewing machine. It is height adjustable. I have read threads on here about standing up to sew, and recently bought bed risers for my table. I have quilted 3 quilts already by standing when I sew. The office chair, in it's highest setting still works at my taller table too. So I have the option to stand or sit to sew.

I asked for a new chair for Christmas and got a super cute official sewing chair! Firm bottom :) no arms. The cutest fabric ever!
have not had much opportunity to sit at it since Christmas but will let you know how it is..

I am also a stool fan - have a "wobble" stool that is my favorite. Swivel, bend over, no wheels but easy to move and takes up very little space.

Find a quality office chair that fits you. If it has arms and you don’t want them check the bottom and see if you can unscrew them. I have a Koala table. They are available in different heights but this one was on sale. It is a little high for me also. The quilt store where I purchased it had a high quality adjustable chair that I purchased with the table. It was expensive but I liked it so well I purchased a second one.

Most office chairs are height adjustable. In addition to looking for a new chair check out your overall posture as you sew. Checking the height of your chair is a good first step. I find I need to sit well back in my chair and have the chair support my back also. Sometimes it is also a matter of getting up and moving around periodically.

My Chair broke today and I almost fell off three times before I realized. The bottom of the chair came off the seat. I ordered a new chair on amazon today and it will be here about the 14th or 15th and I will show you a picture and tell you how it is. The one that broke lasted a long time.

I got a new one a year or two ago. My old one was my daughter's old desk chair that even she had given up on, We went to an office supply store and checked prices and sat in a few.

I suggest an office chair with adjustable seat and back tilt. One that fixes with levers and doesn"t give when you lean back. Armless, but don't rule out the chairs with arms. Many have to be assembled at home and you can simply leave off the arms. But a few use the arms to attach the back, avoid those.

NewbyBetty I want to reiterate what Selm mentioned. Many of us are getting older and find that the other thing that is important is just to move. I sew a bit then get up and get a drink, sew a bit and do some dishes, sew a bit... I also choose to intersperse my sewing and my cutting. I do a little of each, that way I stand and then sit. If I get sore doing one of them I do a little more of the other. I also have to get up to iron, it is only a few feet away but it meaning moving again. Quilting is a sedentary sport you have to find ways to make it work for you.

That was wonderfully helpful, Donna 13350, and clear. What is your opinion of saddle chairs?

Good. try gaming chairs for more comfort

I'm a big believer in the right tool for the right job and chairs are incredibly important, I prefer an armless "steno" chair style that rolls and turns. Tables too for that matter, I've seen some of you sewing on folding card tables that buck like a prize winning bronco while you sew... Take in consideration your sewing machine height as well as your desk height. I can see where I want a better table to fit my machine if I'm going to be doing more quilting, for piecing the height is ok but man, my back would appreciate having the machine inset into the table.

I have a relatively long torso and relatively short arms and legs. The tray drops on most computer desks are simply too low for me to use, for me the correct height is desk top for my keyboard. Likewise, the raised height of my sewing machine is good for me for piecing but as I said, not so good for quilting down.

Once you get the chair, it is not a matter of setting it once and forgetting about it, you want a chair that can be adjusted easily up and down and different days you will want to set it a bit differently. That's also good for the mechanical parts of the chair, use them or lose them!

i am 5’2” and have that chair. It fits me perfectly too and it the most comfortable sewing chair I’ve used and I’ve cycled through a lot of different ones. I have it set at a good height in relation to the machine.

I love my saddle stool! It's got no arms or back, but you don't need them when sewing or quilting, as you are reaching forward. The seat design keeps you sitting upright without even thinking about it. I never think about my back when working... it never hurts. But if I sit more than an hour or two, sometimes my butt needs a break. It's a great design for working at my sit down longarm.

I have a great chair but my cat, Mookie, is always going for it the second I get up! :D

I also have the adjustable steno chair (without arms). It's worked well for me for almost 20 years now. I've found that the most important thing for me as far as neck/back/shoulder pain is to not work too long without a break. I put my ironing board on the other side of the room so that I have to get up and walk over to press. Its also good for my ankle to keep moving around. The last thing my physical therapist told me was to keep active and I'd be fine. A year after my surgery, it looks like he's right on many levels.

I bought an office chair from a thrift store and use it daily while I sew. I wanted a chair that was adjustable and no arms and had a hard time finding one in the office supply stores. It is adjustable and small but it fits my needs and I only paid $5.00 for it. What a deal!!

My sewing chair is simply the stool that matches the No.40 Cabinet i use on a (almost) daily basis :eek: Just feels right to use it and not too bad comfort wise on this auld set of bones :thumbup: