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01-09-2011, 02:59 AM

#101

johans

Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Michigan's UP

Posts: 96

Could your difficulty be a rotary cutter that isn't comfortable for you to use? I hated rotary cutting at first until my DH bought me a really good cutter for Christmas. Keeping a sharp blade will also improve the tension of cutting. I sharpen mine so it lasts for years w/o replacing.

01-09-2011, 04:31 AM

#102

GailG

Super Member

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 6,764

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grammy o'5

Another option if you have the room - is cut on your kitchen counter tops.

Another option is to sit in a adjustable height chair, where you may not be leaning over as much.

Take frequent breaks and do some stretching and reaching in the opposite direction to loosen tight muscles.
Try to notice if you are tensing up muscles you don't normally use when cutting.
If the muscle pain is really bad, a heating pad for short periods of time might help.

Hope you find some helpful ideas here on this site. Don't give up!

I use the kitchen counter (a peninsula called the "snack bar" in the old days) to cut, baste, etc.

A physical therapist once told me to use an ice pack instead of a heating pad. Works wonders. I keep one in the freezer, ready to go.

01-09-2011, 05:57 AM

#103

QultingaddictUK

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: North Wales UK

Posts: 2,028

Quote:

Originally Posted by VernaL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwiltylady

I'm just under 5 feet tall and the kitchen table works great for me.

What a stunning beautiful quilt in your Avatar.

Ditto

01-09-2011, 06:55 AM

#104

Kathleen charnell

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: DeLand, F

Posts: 234

I purchased a folding table & then my DH cut pieces of PVC pipe to make the table was the right ht. for me. I'm 5" 8" & my back would kill me when cutting on a table that was too low . Welcome to quilting!!!

01-09-2011, 07:02 AM

#105

fabricmaniac

Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: now live in Chandler, AZ, but a Boston native

Posts: 87

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhSewJoyful

I am brand new to "trying" to quilt and have been cutting fabric on a cutting mat on my kitchen table and I have to take frequent breaks because leaning over so much is a little hard on the back. How do others cut without this problem? Taller cutting area maybe?

I am fairly tall so leaning over is a killer for me. I am lucky in that my husband built me a huge cutting table with drop sides (just like the ones you can buy). But when I teach in a sewing room that has only conference style tables, I bring my own sets of 10" (approx) lengths of PVC piping. You set them on to each leg of the table and it jacks it up. They are very steady as well. You could do this with most any table that had 4 "legs" by buying the PVC pipe in whatever diameter is needed and the length that works for you. Once done with cutting your fabrics, lift the table the jacks fall off. Even better, ask for a cutting table for your birthday!

01-09-2011, 07:04 AM

#106

krisgray

Junior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: MO

Posts: 297

I use an old kitchen table and when I'm going to be doing lots of cutting, I stick paint cans under the legs to make it higher - a big help!

01-09-2011, 07:26 AM

#107

Nana Julie

Junior Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Dahlonega, Ga.

Posts: 133

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhSewJoyful

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will definately try some of them. I kinda figured since I am only 5' 1" the kitchen table would work, but found out different.

Hi, I am somewhat new as well. I needed some ideas for a sewing studio and found a cutting table idea that I will definitely use, hope it will work for you as well. Look up Youtube, then type in how to make a cutting table out of a crib. This is a full tute on the table as well as storage ideas.
Julie

01-09-2011, 10:11 AM

#108

Earleen

Senior Member

Join Date: May 2010

Location: Michigan--the sunrise side

Posts: 395

DH made me legs out of PVC pipe to raise my table, which is the banquet type.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhSewJoyful

01-09-2011, 10:15 AM

#109

lynnie

Power Poster

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Long Island

Posts: 24,820

when i moved, i got a pub table, it's higher

01-09-2011, 10:21 AM

#110

CarolynFisJus

Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Vicksburg, MS

Posts: 75

I bought one of the tables that fold in half...when folded it is the size of a card table so when you unfold... twice the size...anway the legs are curved and I went the the hardware store and bought a 6 foot piece of pvc pipe..2 inch...cut into 12 inch (any size to get the height you want)pieces and they fit on the legs of the table...with the curve of the legs the pipes only go so far...12 inches give me the height I want but to low for my 5'9" daughter....just adjust for your self....I got my table at SAMS.
I also found out the pieces of pipe fit inside the table when folded up. Great storage. Good luck.