chairs for bad backs

[suehenyon]

Late middle age, genetic bad back and quilting are catching up. I keep trying to sit right, take breaks and exercise, but...ouch!!!! A quest for the perfect chair continues.

Does anyone have a chair that is extremely adjustable that they are thrilled with? If so, what's the brand and where did you get it?

[Mailmanldy]

I purchased a chair at one of the quilt festivals I went to many years ago. It is fully adjustable, and very comfortable. There are some sewing machine dealers that carry these chairs as well.

http://www.ergonomicadvantage.com/

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Mailmanldy]

I have the Tiltable Sewing Set that's also on the site & it is wonderful, really helps eliminate neck pain! I've been using it since I bought it at a Williamsburg, VA quilt show in 1998. I remember their mentioning they were a new company at the time. Good for them, it's a great idea, just the thing to go with your new chair! Kathy B.

P.S. -- make sure you elevate your cutting surface, too. I put bed risers under the legs of my cutting table, got them at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $20 for the set of 4.

[suehenyon]

Kathy, can you use the Tiltable set with a set-in cabinet & insert? I can't visualize how that would work when we want a flat surface for free-motion quilting.

Diane, that chair looks good. I'm assuming that the lift mechanicism has held up for you over the years?

Thanks for responding so quickly, dang, some of us just live online right?

[suehenyon]

No, I don't see how you could use the Tiltable with an insert table -- but I could be wrong, why not ask them on their website? I hesitate to admit, I am still sewing on a simple folding table, no insert for me! Kathy B.

[BethMI]

I use my Tiltable in my set-in cabinet. I use the plastic insert which ordinarily makes the work surface even with the bed of the machine and the table, but it lets my sewing machine tilt a little bit. So now it is not completely flat.

I have never had a problem with this.

Try it!

BethMI

[Mailmanldy]

Diane, that chair looks good. I'm assuming that the lift mechanicism has held up for you over the years?

Thanks for responding so quickly, dang, some of us just live online right?

I haven't had any problems with my chair since I bought it. Except for the fact that I can sit at my machine for much longer than I was able to with my old chair, so I spend more time than I should sometimes working on my quilts. LOL
Once I got the chair adjusted just the way I wanted it, I haven't had to change anything on it, so I haven't had to use the lift mechanicism much.

While it seems like I may live online at times, I just try to check all my boards for new messages before I leave for work in the morning, and before I head for bed at night. If I'm off for the day, then I probably do live online when I'm not busy quilting.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Mailmanldy]

Whilst I cannot help with chair advice, I tilt my sewing maching by using a couple of rubber door wedges under the back edge, which cost me £1 for a pack of 5 in a local £shop here in UK. Fully adjustable and easy to remove when required. However I do recall something from one of our sewing mags about tilting machines and that some of the super-duper electronic ones DO NOT LIKE to be put on a slant whilst working. Mine isn't so I have no trouble, but you might like to check with the manufacturers if you are luckly enough to have a top end electronic one.

yours in the cause
Rosemary

[Mailmanldy]

I have recently found, through trial and error, that also lowering the chair 2 or 3 inches is helping with upper back and neck pain.

We are all so used to desk height for typing at the computer where we are looking up at a screen all the time. My neck has been so stiff since starting sewing again I have been almost permanently wearing a wheat sack to ease it, then I thought of lowering my body and raising my arms would help counter it, and it does! It is a bit strange when you jump from a computer chair to a sewing room chair though. :roll:

[Mailmanldy]

Good idea about lowering your chair. I've noticed the neck pain with sewing and also with ironing. So on the ironing part I just tilt my head backwards for a few seconds (don't want to burn anything), then move the iron to the next piece and repeat the head tilt.

[Mailmanldy]

I have a Koala chair. It's adjustable in many ways. It's the most comfortable chair of any kind that I have ever had. I bought it about four years ago when I bought a Koala sewing cabinet. Take a look here:

http://www.sewingmachineoutlet.com/kchair6way.htm

Good luck with your chair search.

JoAnne in southern California

[suehenyon]

Joanne, can you adjust the tilt of the seat? This chair is half the price of the ProAdvantage. It's nice to have the recommendations.

As far as lowering a seat...sitting with arms up in the air can cause back pain, too from my experience! My aim is to get my forearms at a 90 Degree angle when free-motion quilting.

Thanks for everyone's input!

[suehenyon]

I guess we all use different positions. :wink:

For most sewing, including free motion, I have been sitting with arms braced and forearms like a preying mantis keeping the wrists free but I had my elbows tucked into my sides like at the dinner table. My head was lowering down to the work and that is where the problem was.

Now I sit lower with my eyes at a better level, (I must admit wearing glasses helps too :roll: ) and my elbows out to the side, (I'd be laughed out of a restaurant!), still on the desk and my wrists still loose.

It would be interesting to know what positions others find comfortable and what bearing they have on comfort for sewing. I know some can churn out quilts at a phenomenal rate so they must have some good advice regarding posture and chairs. I think it's one of the most important things for enjoyable work at a sewing machine as well as general sanity!!!