These are the Sewing tips for correct posture and more productivity when you sew by hand (needle work), on a domestic sewing machine, treadle machine or professionally or in any other way.
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Having good posture helps you puts less strain on your ligaments, joints, and muscles but provides support for them too, especially during sewing.
- Sitting in right posture will not only ensure your physical safety and health but it’ll safeguard you from accidental harms.
- Your work will be more organized and yield you good returns.
- You get to do your work systematic and on time, without body aches.
And since a good posture helps you a lot, it is essential to maintain proper posture. So, here I share some more points on how to sit while you stitch.
Table of Contents
1. Sewing tips for correct posture on a hand sewing machine
#1. Adjust Height Of Sewing Table
Keeping the sewing machine on ground and working strains your neck and shoulders.
Hence, the height of the stool where you keep your sewing machine for working should be at least 7″ to 8″ high from the sitting place.
Hand Held / Domestic Sewing Machine Stand And Table
#2. Keep your sewing tools in your hand’s reach
Generally, instructors say that all the tools and related things should be on the right hand.
It’s so because most of us are right handed people.
But if you are a left handed person, see your convenience and decide for yourself.
Ready made furniture and cabinets are made considering right handed persons. If you are left handed, you don’t need to go by set standards.
You consider your convenience and depending on that keep your tracing wheel, chalk, scissors,small parts, spools etc. on your left hand.
If you are right handed person, keep all these things on your right hand cabinet drawers.
While working, keep a cutter or a small scissors on the machine.
When not in use, keep the scissors and cutters in a pouch or case (which you can sew yourself by using a thick fabric),
Sewing Solution's - Multipurpose Tailoring Kit Essentials-1001
#3. Sit comfortably when sewing
Neither sit erect nor bend yourself beyond a limit while working.
Sitting in one posture for a very long time may make your spine damaged and painful.
Sewing Posture to Enjoy Sewing and Avoid Pain
#4. Do stretching or some yoga
Move your limbs and stretch your body after every hour to relax. You can get up to have a glass of water or a fruit. It’ll freshen you up instantly.
For long term physical health, do stretching exercises. I benefit from Yoga, you can try that also.
#5. Adjust cutting and pressing board height
The height of cutting and pressing board should be at least 6″ from the ground.
Sewing Cutting Mats
2. Sewing Tips For Correct Posture On A Table fitted Sewing Machine
Some of the above sewing tips for correct posture would apply here, so I am adding what is additional.
When working on a sewing machine, which is fixed on a table or a cabinet, you should adjust your chair height to the table height.
- You should be able to thread conveniently without bending or stretching yourself too much.
Keep pressing table and cutting table close to your right hand.
Keep all the related requirements like Facing, Iron, Scissors, tracing wheel close to your right hand side for easy accessibility.
One last tip which is not related to posture but ensures a perfect sewing!
While you start to sew, always clean the presser foot and needle plate, to keep your fabric safe from dirty or stained.
Sewing Machine Stand And Table standard height
3. Correct Posture while doing needle work
Tucking one corner of the fabric under your thumb and stretching the fabric from your hand makes you work faster and smoother by your hands.
This was the way my mother and grandmother used to work. Even I find sitting on floor while doing hand stitching comfortable. Rest you can depend on your own comfort.
Otherwise, you can fold and bend you legs towards left side and tuck the fabric between your knees to do hand work.
Or, may be you can use a small stool to sit and tuck the fabric under your knees to do the work faster. Check, which posture is comfortable to you and adopt it.
While doing basting or hemming with hands, the wider side of fabric should be outside and shorter side in your hands, so that the fabric is not wrinkled unnecessarily.
You should use left hand’s index finger and thumb to hold the fabric from upper side and other three fingers should be under the fabric to do neat needle work.
4. Check Light Direction, When Sewing
Stitching requires concentrating and focusing in one direction for a long time. It strains the eyes.
It’s important that adequate lighting comes from left hand side.
Needle area should be well lit. Now-a-days, sewing machines come with an inbuilt light bulb to provide additional light.
You should not stitch in poor lighting because you may tire your eyes.
Relax your eyes after regular intervals and splash with fresh water to keep them hydrated.
These things will not only make your work smooth on hand machine, table machine or hand needle work but will also ensure your good health and beautifully done dresses on time.
If you observe children how they behave how they sit, how they walk; by following them you can improve your posture.
If you are having pain while working or sewing, start stretching or do some simple yoga.
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