What have you added to your sewing room to make your body happier?
11-18-2011, 07:11 AM
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Take time for God today
Posts: 966
I AM in the process of making a quilt board. I have curtain rod up. I have 2 insulation boards glued together in
shed to set for 24 Hrs. Next I will make a cover out of a heavy pink fannel. Then I can put pins and quilt blocks
on it and arrange them. I can't wait till it finished.
shed to set for 24 Hrs. Next I will make a cover out of a heavy pink fannel. Then I can put pins and quilt blocks
on it and arrange them. I can't wait till it finished.
11-18-2011, 07:19 AM
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Take time for God today
Posts: 966
Originally Posted by jaciqltznok
a stability ball chair!
Wha type of holder do you use for the ball? At my grandson class for LD kids it could be a great thing.
11-18-2011, 09:43 AM
#94
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: northern California
Posts: 1,098
I have four BIG tables in my sewing room (along with the usual shelves and cabinets), which I share with another family (it's really their "crafts" room, but also is usedby their quiet college age boy to have friends over and includes a ping pong table). When I'm using it for sewing (it's usual use) the ping pong table is folded up and my tables are unfolded. I have a 10x6' or 12x5' table when they are pushed together. Yes, the Joann's fold down tables (they are "down" on Saturday nights). I heard they weren't good because the legs came loose out of their "holder" square place, so I put a small square of industrial velcro to hold it in place. No problem. I love them! They are my cutting table, my lay-out-for sandwich making table, my sewing table.... whatever I need. I just quilted a large queen with my Janome 6600 and rearranged the tables so I could support it beside/behind me and in front/ahead of me as I quilt it's 8 foot length. I move those babies around as needed. No more crawling around on the floor to work putting together a sandwich!
They also are higher than the usual table and, by adjusting my chair (I like a low chair/high table) I get exactly what I need for my back, but still reasonable when standing over them putting pieces together.
My other wonderful "thing" is the discovery that our stairwell, which has hand rails on both sides, makes a wonderful workout gym!!! I do leg stretches by putting one leg up 3 or 4 steps and, holding the rails, lean in until my chest touches my upper leg and round forward and upward. Also "run" and and down the stairs for "quilting breaks". Also grab the rails and let my body go down toward the stairs as much as I can to work those upper back muscles (oooh it feelso good). I've been in re-hab for not being able to turn my head because of such tight upper back and neck muscles and found getting a massage at least every 2 weeks made a difference (she helped me with the exercises), but now I only go about once a month. I also do squats to get pins off the floor... they take a lot of trying to get to do them, but if you keep trying you'll find that it is possible. We quilters need to have a routine to counteract the forward slumping, non body-active work we do!
This is a good thread. I'm learning a lot here!
They also are higher than the usual table and, by adjusting my chair (I like a low chair/high table) I get exactly what I need for my back, but still reasonable when standing over them putting pieces together.
My other wonderful "thing" is the discovery that our stairwell, which has hand rails on both sides, makes a wonderful workout gym!!! I do leg stretches by putting one leg up 3 or 4 steps and, holding the rails, lean in until my chest touches my upper leg and round forward and upward. Also "run" and and down the stairs for "quilting breaks". Also grab the rails and let my body go down toward the stairs as much as I can to work those upper back muscles (oooh it feelso good). I've been in re-hab for not being able to turn my head because of such tight upper back and neck muscles and found getting a massage at least every 2 weeks made a difference (she helped me with the exercises), but now I only go about once a month. I also do squats to get pins off the floor... they take a lot of trying to get to do them, but if you keep trying you'll find that it is possible. We quilters need to have a routine to counteract the forward slumping, non body-active work we do!
This is a good thread. I'm learning a lot here!
Last edited by Sierra; 11-18-2011 at 09:52 AM.
11-18-2011, 10:54 AM
#95
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: northeast NE
Posts: 1,072
Mine is a little different, but my addition is an Excel spreadsheet (in a binder, in alphabetical order) of EVERYthing in my sewing room; the item, the location (which shelf/drawer on which wall), the description, the intended use for and etc. This way I don't spend extra time rummaging through everything to find what I need. ALL totes/drawers are marked for easier visual aid using Microsoft Word for printing out, in lieu of a permanent marker. After I removed everything from the room to throughly clean it and started putting things back, I wrote everything down and then went to the computer to sort it all out. Took some time, but well worth it. Haven't done this to the fabrics, tho, as they are in another room awaiting to be wrapped on boards.
11-18-2011, 06:59 PM
#98
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern Idaho
Posts: 1,171
Originally Posted by vickig626
Does the TENS unit work well for your back pain? I would need something like that for my neck shoulder. That's where I get most of my discomfort while sewing for more than an hour.
I recently treated myself to a better chair with a good lumbar support and my sewing area is set up in almost a square so all I have to do is "wheel" myself around to whatever I need (sewing machine on one side - next ironing table - behind serger - other side work table). I have just enough space to walk out of that work area but it works for me. My cutting table (with my bar stool) and fabric are in the other bedroom. The bar stool has really helped to relieve my back pain when I have a lot to cut. I cut the long cuts standing up, then do the sub-cuts sitting down.....HUGE difference in how my back feels.
I recently treated myself to a better chair with a good lumbar support and my sewing area is set up in almost a square so all I have to do is "wheel" myself around to whatever I need (sewing machine on one side - next ironing table - behind serger - other side work table). I have just enough space to walk out of that work area but it works for me. My cutting table (with my bar stool) and fabric are in the other bedroom. The bar stool has really helped to relieve my back pain when I have a lot to cut. I cut the long cuts standing up, then do the sub-cuts sitting down.....HUGE difference in how my back feels.
Just a FYI.
Ellie
11-18-2011, 11:39 PM
#100
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northwest Kansas
Posts: 55
My physical therapist shared with me that when sitting at your sewing machine, your elbows should be at a 90 degree angle to the sewing surface on your machine. Not to the table surface your machine is setting on, where the needle actually goes down into the bobbin case!
Also pot a small board, or whatever you can make work, under the back side of your machine to tilt it forward. On most models this will make it easier to see the needle without being humped over.
I did both, it has helped me!
Also pot a small board, or whatever you can make work, under the back side of your machine to tilt it forward. On most models this will make it easier to see the needle without being humped over.
I did both, it has helped me!
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