Posture and seating while stitching

[claire81]

I have just realised that my posture is absolutely awful when stitching no wonder I have a bad shoulder, I am thinking of buying a stand to see if this will help. Do any of you use a stand and do you find they benefit your posture. Or any other useful advice to help improve posture?

[LastingAllure]

Sorry I can't help. I seem to start out in a good position then find myself hunched over and super into my projects...almost poking my eyes out lol.

[Serinde]

I always use a stand -- just more comfortable.

Sit in a chair in which your feet are flat on the ground when you sit right back. Use pillows, if necessary. (You can stitch them yourself!) Some stitchers can happily stitch away in recliners, but the same idea holds: sit straight against the back of the chair. You probably can't help curving your back -- we aren't machines -- so getting up and stretching from time to time, walking around, etc., is always good.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

I've been using a stand (Lowery) for the last year or so and it is so much more comfortable, no need to be bending over my work and really helps me sit up straight!

[Lessa54]

Oh dear, my posture is probably absolutely shocking I prefer to curl up in my favourite corner of the sofa and stitch. I work in hand, so I'm not balancing a hoop or frame or anything. Maybe I should revisit this though.

[geekishly]

Oh dear, my posture is probably absolutely shocking I prefer to curl up in my favourite corner of the sofa and stitch. I work in hand, so I'm not balancing a hoop or frame or anything. Maybe I should revisit this though.

This is me, except I use a hoop when stitching something big. but small projects I stitch in hand.

[MaggieM1750]

I am terrible at sitting properly.
If I am stitching at home I am usually reclined back, feet on the footstool, knees bent. Chart is resting on my legs. Or I am on the sofa.. in basically the same position- legs flung over the side of the sofa, or propped up on pillows.
I use a Q Snap frame, but no stand. Because I am practically laying down while I stitch, I don't really think a stand will work for me.. well, until the day I learn to sit properly.

[Rose]

I like Maggie stitch in a recliner with the footrest up. Usually a cat on the rest curled up and I have to carefully move around HRH when getting a drink or bathroom break. I have never found a stand that sets properly to allow me to use one. I have wasted to much money to try any more. I prop the q-snap/hoop up on the arm rest and stitch double handed most all of the time.

Being so short I have found that most chairs are to large for me to set in and have my feet touch the floor. I have 1 single chair that I can sit in and my feet are able to be placed in the proper popsition, but it was a hand me down from hubbies parents and the padding and springs are now wore out so it is no longer comfortable. Once I get a few pennies saved I want to take it and have it re-upholstered.

[rcperryls]

I am sure I don't stitch in the "right" position either. I have a desk type rolling chair that is at my dining room table. The chart is on the table and my threads are on the rolling cart and/or on the table. Usually a kitty on my lap or in front of the chart. I have a foot stool and my feet are either there or I am sitting cross legged (as I am now) which has been my most comfortable position since I was a child (at least until my feet fall asleep).

Carole

[ayna]

I've only recently realised that my awful posture when stitching is contributing massively to my 'aches and pains' problems: I sit in a recliner but, of late, have tried just using a lowish footstool instead of the recliner's footrest raised. It's an improvement but my back still bends, crushing (!) the stomach. I did have a Lowery stand for a number of years and would now love to get a new one (the old one eventually bent badly due to my lazy habit of leaving a large project in the clamp in between stitching sessions). They are the best stands I have used & can be used when sitting in an armchair; they leave both hands free most of the time and make you sit up much straighter which, as Serinde says, is really important.They are not cheap but, used properly (!) are well worth the investment.

Have any of the UK members seen the `craft' `chairs' made by Lin & Nigel Mason who exhibit at all the major shows? The seat part has no back and one's weight rests on a lower pad on which you place the knees. Designed to relieve/prevent back problems; the only problem is for those who like to stitch in the living room - finding a suitable space for an extra chair. I have one but it is mostly used by visiting grandchildren who use the `desk' attachment for their artistic efforts up in the atttic!!!

[Squirrel]

Its nice to know I am not the only one whose posture is bad when stitching, especially when I am concentrating I scrunch up. Very bad for me - but how does one break the habit of a lifetime?

[geekishly]

Ayna, I think we had a similar chair when I was growing up. I really liked that chair a lot. It was fun to sit on. Might have to look into getting/trying one again when I move to a bigger place.

[helbel]

I have a sit/kneel chair that I tried to use for stitching, but then I couldn't get my old floor stand close enough to enable me to stitch. When I set up my sewing room I'll try it again with my Lowery stand.

[ayna]

Sit/kneel chair - that's what it's called - I've just come across my instruction leaflet!!!

A close friend who has one of these chairs and a Lowery stand stitched all the invitations to her daughter's wedding using both.

[Nachstenliebe]

Rose described my routine perfectly.. I don't think I have bad posture, but it's probably not the best.. I used to get the occasional back pain but according to family and doctors it's because my vertebrae aren't normal (but what about me really is ). When I started taking Thai and having to develop my core muscles that really helped with my posture and back pain.. I notice at work and in the car all the guys like to recline the chair back and I need it straight up to be comfortable.. If I feel like I'm leaning back at all I feel weird...
Faith

[claire81]

thanks for all your replies, it looks like a stand is the best option although I will probably end up stooped over it. My position at the moment is in the corner of the sofa and propping my frame either side with cushions not for the wing nuts to stick in the leather. Glad to see other people have cats wanting to get involved too mine is usually sticking a paw over here and there if she sees the floss dangling

[crosstitcher1]

The 1st thing I do BEFORE stitching, is put on my back brace and wrist band brace on, I worked 20+ yrs. in factory work, and I am USED to wearing them.
I have my Mother-in Law's rocking chair with cushions on bottom and back. I ADD 2 more for better support for the back and head. The head cushion is held by a LONG pony tail tie. I circle 1 end on 1 end of the top post,then STRETCH the tie, separating the 2 lines, to the other end, and push a SMALL cushion onto the other extra cushion.
Then I bring my computer chair, with 2 cushions, to the front of the rocking chair to lay my legs on.
I have a table lamp, with the TABLE part facing AWAY from chair, on my right side, as I am a right hander, a chart stand next to the table lamp, a tv stand, that I use at the computer, as a arm rest, next to the chart stand to hold any DRINKS in thermos, and scissors, and on the left side of the rocker, my thread stand.
I VARY my stitching time from 3:30 am-5:30 am til 2 pm. M- Sat. UNLESS I have dr. apps. I set a goal of 10 projects, DEPENDING on the KIND of projects, a year. I start on Jan 1 - the 2nd week in Dec., to have time to do the framing, I do my OWN framing, and give them out at Christmas.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

[Angel]

I have a better posture without a frame, as it happens.

Without a stand I it with my back straight against the back of the chair, but when I use my frame...it sits against the front of the sofa and at a set height. Now I don't know if it' just me or my sofa, but...The frame i too low o I have to bend slightly and becaue it sits against the front of the sofa I have to sit forward so I hunch over. T_T Needless to say, I avoid uing my frame too much for this reason, but every now and then there's a project where I have no other option. I've thought about getting me an armless stitching chair so that I can get the frame and chair closer together with.

[JazzeyBear]

When I'm at work I usually sit in the corner with my knees pulled up to my chest holding my chart which is on a clip board, my threads next to me on the empty seat and my scissors are on the table to my right, when my knees start to cramp I sit cross legged and have my chart proped up on my bobbin boxes at an angle and my qsnaps propped up on the arm of the couch. If I'm doing a large section of one color than I lay down, prop my head up on the arm rest and the qsnaps are sitting on my chest. If I'm at home stitching than I'm in my room. My bed sits right against a wall and I put pillows between me and the corner so I can still see the tv and my back isn't screaming at me. I've never hunched over my project unless I was sitting in the living room and that's when I'm siting on te futon and since it doesnt have any arms I have nowhere to lean against comfortably.