Sew Healthy! Sew Smart!

Sew Healthy, Sew Smart

No matter what hobby you have, you cannot enjoy it unless you stay healthy. So I say, "sew healthy, sew smart".

You already know about eating healthy and watching your weight, but are you keeping up with exercises, techniques and products for your hands, back and eyes which can help you enjoy many years of sewing? I'll be adding information here from time to time which I hope will be of interest to you.

Exercise and Other Healthy Moves

From Sew News magazine: Yoga techniques!

Tired, aching hands often accompany sewing and other needlework projects. Take care of your hands with simple hand exercises prior to beginning your day's work and when taking breaks. It's just a sew healthy thing to do.

Also, don't forget to pamper them as well! A good hand cream or body lotion does wonders for the skin as well as your sense of smell. So many scents are delightfully divine which is why you'll see me in bath and body shops going from one bottle to another like an aroma junkie! Just be sure whatever you put on dries completely before your hands touch any fabric! (Of course, I really didn't have to tell YOU that.)

Your Support System

If you are experiencing back aches, neck aches, shoulder aches, etc. etc. -- then your sewing setup is probably not correct. You may be ergonomically "out of whack".

And the culprit is usually -- your sewing chair and how you are sitting in it.

Sewing stations, sewing cabinets, etc... are pretty much standard. We can't make many adjustments to them, but we can adjust the chair. We can also adjust how we sit in the chair. Improper balance and improper alignment can bring on a lot of trouble... as in "oh my aching back!"

In a nutshell, people who sit for long periods of time working at a desk or sewing need to have a sewing (task) chair that is ergonomically correct for them. When it comes to task chairs, one size does NOT fit all.

What makes a task chair "ergonomic"? Simply put, it has to be able to fit the user's body. It needs to be adjustable! It's pretty much that simple.

Ok, what needs to be "adjustable" on my chair?

The height. Can you adjust it so that you sit at a comfortable height in relation to your sewing machine? Your bent elbow needs to be at least even with your work surface or slightly above it.
The backrest. It should adjust up and down as well as forward and backward.
The armrests. Can they be raised up and down as well as adjust sideways? (Having a chair with or without armrests is a personal matter. I prefer a secretary or multi-task chair when I'm sewing.)

A couple of other things to look for. Stability and rolling ease. I believe you will find that a five-point base is the most recommended.

Also, for the sake of your lower back, stop sitting on the edge of your chair. Push your tush all the way back on the seat until you feel your back against the backrest.

Where can you find ergonomic sewing chairs?

Most office supply stores are full of adjustable, ergonomically sound chairs suitable for the sewing room.

What else?

Lighting Is your sewing area well lit? If your main lighting source is coming from behind you, your work area is being thrown into shadow. Make sure you have a lamp that provides focused light with a lot of wattage. Though any lamp with the proper bulb can provide you the lighting you need, there are specialty lamps on the market specifically for the home sewer. They are not inexpensive, but do occasionally go on sale.

Can You Reach It? For those items you use frequently during a project, keep them close. We're all quilty of over-stretching once in a while and then paying the price later. Think ahead. If you can't place your essentials within easy reach, don't over extend yourself. Get up and get it. This is another reason a task chair is a good investment. You can swivel and roll!

Are You Taking Breaks? It's "sew" true. We get caught up in our project and we don't even realize how many hours have gone by. Take a stretch break! Stretch your back, roll your neck, relax your shoulders and do some shoulder rolls. Make a fist with each hand and then relax them. Lift up on your tiptoes a couple of times. There you go! You get the idea!

Ventilation Yes, ventilation. I bring this up because so many of us also do machine embroidery on our sewing and quilting projects... which means we're using craft spray adhesives. Make sure your work area is well ventilated when using these products. Your eyes and lungs will thank you.

Sew Healthy, Sew Smart!

I know, like most of us, you don't have the luxury of having your own sewing room. You are set up in the corner of the "other bedroom" and there's no alternative choice for you. Believe me, I know. You've arranged everything the best possible way and you can't change it. The bed has to stay in there for guests or for when you need a place to sleep because your husband snores like a son-of-a-gun (or maybe he needs a place to sleep because he says you snore like a son-of-a-gun). Yeah, I know all about that one.

Well, do the best you can.

I hope you find things of interest here on my site, but if you need to continue web surfing, I understand! Just be sure to come back from time to time to see what's new.

Happy Stitching!

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