Tuesday, February 22, 2011

ergo-eco Wizard-nomics

i say "Wizard-nomics" because the Wizard (aka mee hubby)
would tape a plastic grocery bag's hole.......to save it from the trash can
well, MAYbe he's not QUITE that bad - but close! this has something to do with
the main topic here......it is, that Mr Wizard will always try to make do in place of buying NEW.
.....those who know me........well, i'm kinda theee OH-poh-sit.....

 moving on to MAIN topic.....
legs, back, neck, shoulders - they started complaining
LOUDLY..........when i sat and sewed for more than 45 minutes straight
i desperately needed to pacify "them" or they weren't going to let me
enjoy my sewing time.
 i have a brain spark!.........call mee bosom buddy......
Miss Inta Net..............SHE would help me find a solution! 
............i read about proper posture, good chairs, table heights,
leg and arm angles, etc.....are YOU thinking what I AM???...........SHOPPING SPREE??!! 
where?? are some good places to find some of this....PROPER/GOOD posture STUFF??
 ....as I'm tapping the tips of my fingers together with delight!  ......NEW sewing toys?
Oh, yeah....i'm IN!
new chair.....cha-ching.......new sewing cabinet........cha, ching, CHING!
in the middle of all this excitement....an unpleasant vivd picture came to mind
 Mr Wizard.....his eyes ABLAZE and his hands squeezed TIGHTLY around my neck...
......i'm snapped back to FRUG-ality

have YOU seen some of those (OH SEW NICE) sewing cabinets?and the big COMFY multi position chairs??!!.....OMGosh.......eeeeeks-spen-SIEVE...
.please...hold ME down!

Trying to think more like Mr Wizard and trying to "make do"  instead of buying NEW....
my sewing table is a heavy duty dining table purchased for $89 on sale at Shopko.
Big Bertha (an 830 Bernina) sits solidly on top......ERGO says there are problems......
.......machine sitting on top of table creates bad angles for shoulders, neck and arms, etc

One solution ........  have Mr Wizard cut a hole (size of machine base) out of the table..
and build a sub-table down under existing table so that the sewing arm of the machine is even with
the surface of the table (you get the idea? or....clear as mud?)
that's a bit of a bear to tackle......especially now, in winter when Mr Wizard's shop is
20 to 40 degrees.... high for daytime temps

another solution... and ........EASIER! ...... raise the sewing chair
Oh! great idea.....i say to myself....(while patting mee back)
yep....until..... i realized that feet not touching ground....cuts off
circulation in the legs... yeah, like a thousand poking pins...ouch
ok......another brain spark.....i can stack books to support feet! yep......
that brought back the circulation......you're saying.........to HER brain?  
well, i guess so...........indirectly  =P
 well......one more...... WEE pro-blemo.......stacked books WILL slide

Then,   Mr. Wizard .......made these.......

 ummmm.....is that foot pedal backwards?.....nope,
 I always sew by using my heel to press down the presser foot
my "ruby-reasoning" is that the calf muscle is stronger than the shin muscle
it's easier for me to have my heel rest up than to lift the ball of my foot
when BERTHA isn't humming
below- left leg is at 90 degree angle

one more thing I use to keep my back from complaining while I sew
my blue (heating) pad.......it reminds me to sit back in the chair
and keeps my back warm....relaxed
no more tight, stiff muscles when I stand up

 a few links that I found about sitting/sewing postures

So what do you think? 
I would love to read YOUR opinions and IDEAS!!

9 comments:

Gmama Jane said...

I like the foot rests! I'm only 5"2"" so I empathize with you as far as the chair issue!! I'm always looking for the perfect chair. I found one I liked however it was my Christmas present to my photographer daughter who has to sit for long periods editing pictures. I amy go back to Staples and see if I can find one for me. This chair was only $65 which I found reasonable after shopping around. I have 2 cheaper ones but they both have issues that make them problematic, ERGO, your footrests may just be the trick I'm looking for!
Thanks
Gmama Jane

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

I can never stay in one place to long. I get antsy. I do sew on a table but it must be 32 inches for me to work. I solved my cutting table whoa buy using bed risers. No more back pain from cutting. BUT, what I really need is your HUGE heating pad!! That is wonderful.
It is amazing what we can make from things we have around the house. Now you can tell your husband, yeah, more money for fabric!!!

Sparky said...

And NO I don't think this is too wordy lol... I love it actually..I am short...only 5 ft tall...I have a habit of sitting on my legs when I am at my pc, as I hate having my legs just dangling...love this.. all of your new "gadgets" are fab....love the heating one too..I am always cold....I am thinking of showing all this to my DH and tell him.." I want this too..annie has what I want...." lol. now I may have been too wordy lol

StitchinByTheLake said...

Love the foot rest idea! No matter what I do my foot pedal seems to slide farther and farther back. Maybe if I turn it around and press on it with my heel it won't do that. I do have a table that lowers my machine so that it is even with the top and I love it. It truly helps with the posture. But here's a tip I have for you. Get a beach ball, blow it up about half way and sit on it while sewing. It kind of "floats" so you have to shift your body with it and it reminds you to sit up. Unfortunately I bought an expensive cushion that does that before one of my friends told me about the beach ball trick. My cushion is just a glorified beach ball. :( I use it at my desk when I'm computering too. Is that a word? Oh well, you know what I mean. :) blessings, marlene

Mama Spark said...

LOVE all these ideas. I don't know about the heating pad though as I seem be be experiencing my own personal summers all the time lately, LOL. I will remember it though if they ever end!

Paulette said...

Great ideas! Now if your Mr. Wizard could make me some of those blocks to go under one of my sewing cabinets (I have the opposite problem), I'd have it made!

Larri said...

Love the foot pedals! I hadn't thought of sewing with my heel instead of the ball of my foot. Perhaps that would keep my ankle from swelling. Hmmm....thanks for the great idea! Happy FTF! :o)

Shay said...

What a great idea and how handy is Mr. Wizard! I need a new chair desperately...but maybe these would help.

Thanks for linking up to FTF with this fabulous idea.

Chris H said...

Now both those are good ideas!