Question about sewing ergonomics?

May 24, 2020 11:23 AM

I thought I saw an AskMe about how to set up a sewing table to minimize back pain, but I can't find it now. Can anyone point me towards it? I've seen this AskMe about lino cutting, but that's not the same.
posted by The corpse in the library to MetaFilter-Related at 11:23 AM (7 comments total)

Is it this one?
posted by notquitemaryann at 5:24 PM on May 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

No, although that’s good. I thought there were chair / posture recommendations. Maybe it wasn’t AskMe after all.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:52 PM on May 24, 2020

I found an OSHA page on decent ergo setup for sewing. Feet flat on the floor, knees ninety, lower back straight, elbows ninety - I had to gin up a drop in table to get close, and it’s changed my sewing style; I sit farther from the machine, see nothing behind the needle, feed from further in front. I think it’s better sewing when I don’t screw up but there’s a learning curve.
posted by clew at 12:12 AM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

To answer the problem rather than the question: an old-fashioned typewriter table is low enough to put the bed of a portable machine at about normal table height. The wheels and the drop leaf are also convenient but if you can't find an inexpensive one at a second hand store you might consider cutting down a regular table.
posted by Botanizer at 7:45 AM on May 25, 2020

Sit your ass down right here.?
Standing Up for the Ultimate Work Table?
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:01 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

I see I half-answered as though this were an Ask.... maybe there hasn’t been one for sewing and there should be?
posted by clew at 6:25 PM on May 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Weirdly the one MonkeyToes found is the one that seems the most familiar; I must've stumbled on it while looking things up and then thought it was more recent.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:21 AM on May 26, 2020