Safe Crafting: Sewing with Arthritis

Color, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I have been thinking about this post for a few months now, and it finally felt like the right time to write it. I work hard to keep this a positive place, and I wasn't sure I could talk about this topic in a positive way. I figure, there is already enough negativity on the internet, and I don't want to add any more! With that being said, I think it's okay to break my own rules every once in a while. I promise it will still be cheerful, but it will also hit on something I struggle with everyday.

Patched, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The fact of the matter is, I have arthritis. Have had it since I was little. I am lucky, I could have it much worse, but for the last few years especially, it has become more active and I have had to adjust my life to help manage it. My wrists, hands, feet and knees are mainly involved. I have to be careful and pace myself when sewing or quilting, and often times my arthritis gets in my way. I've slowly found that others in the crafting community, are silently suffering too! For their privacy, I don't want to name any names, but it made me realize that perhaps it was something I should address here on this blog!

It may sound silly to any non-sewers/crafters that are reading, but quilting and sewing can actually be rather hard on your body at times, especially if you are crafting often! So, I want to take the opportunity to talk today about some of the techniques and tricks I use in order to protect myself! Even if you don't have physical limitations, it's still important to take proper care of yourself in order avoid injury. Let's get started!

Storage:

Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I store my fabric in plastic bins that live under my sewing table. Using medium-sized bins versus larger bins means that they are not as heavy and therefore easier to move. Once they are on the floor, I can slide them around on the carpet instead of lifting them, which is also helpful! Everything that I use on a daily or even regular basis, is stored at eye level or below. Minimizing any lifting I have to do above my head is a priority (I'm also short, haha).

Cutting:

Cutting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Cutting fabric can be really hard on your wrists, and my wrists are at the biggest risk of being overworked. I used to use one of these contour Fiskars rotary cutters, but found that the way I was squeezing it caused me additional pain. Last year I switched to one of these quick change Olfa rotary cutters and it's made a big difference for me. My wrists feel better and I don't get raw patches or blisters from it. And I use it nearly everyday!

In terms of holding your acrylic ruler in place when you're getting ready to cut, you might find one of these Gypsy Grippers helpful. I have used one once before, but found I couldn't squeeze it very well, so it wasn't very useful for me. My current method is slightly embarrassing though! My table is relatively short, so I actually bring my knee around on to the table to hold my ruler. It looks ridiculous, but it works! The real solution though, is to simply change your blade more often. I now do that much more than I used to! I can find the Fiskars rotary blades cheaper, and they fit my Olfa cutter just fine!

Ironing:

Iron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Part of what inspired this post was my initial love for a self-lifting Oliso iron. I wish I could recommend them, but I definitely cannot. To keep things short, my iron lasted five months and then I dealt with customer service for two months trying to get a replacement, which then also died. At this point, I simply use a very lightweight iron, this one by Sunbeam. It gets really hot and doesn't weigh much, so there is minimal strain on the wrists, PLUS, it's pink! Just find something that is comfortable for you!

Sewing:

Sewing in the kitchen this afternoon, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

Having your sewing machine at an appropriate height can help ensure that you are not putting your body at risk. This may mean sitting on a pillow to bring yourself up higher or finding another chair. Investing in a comfortable chair with proper back support is certainly important. It's definitely on my list of things my craft room needs!

When I am hunkering down for a long length of sewing, I like to make sure that I am varying my activities. I have found that for myself, repetition is my enemy. If I have 100 half-square triangles to sew, iron, and trim I'll often split them in half or quarters, so that I'm not doing any one thing for too long. This is especially important when I'm trimming! I'm very excited to try out this Fiskars rotating cutting mat next time I need to trim, I think it's going to be really helpful!

I also make sure that I don't stay sitting for too long to avoid getting stiff! I try to walk around and leave the room at least once an hour!

Basting:

Thesis Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I am a pin baster, and I do baste on my hands and knees on the floor, but it's all made so much easier by a little notion called the Kwik Klip. It's a tool that helps you open and close your curved safety pins. I bought it on a whim with a coupon, and it's now one of my favorite tools. I will not baste anything without it! It minimizes stress on your fingers and wrists and simply makes the whole process faster. You can watch a video showing how it's used here.

If you have trouble basting on the floor, some people prefer to baste in sections on a large table! Again, find a method that works best for you!

Quilting:

Quilting, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

This is where I personally run into the most problems. I learned the hard way, that both free-motion and straight line quilting can be really tough on you. Since I know I have wrist problems, I now only quilt while wearing a brace. I use this very attractive one by Ace. I used to have a cute green one from JoAnns, but it had no stiff support, which ensures your wrist is kept stable. It takes a while to get used to, since it's a bit bulky, but it does it's job! I also quilt with Grabaroo's quilting gloves, (worn under the brace!), which make it easier to grip the quilt during quilting.

When I set out to quilt something, I usually only quilt for about an hour at a time. I then take a break and relax for 15 minutes or so on the couch with an ice pack over my right shoulder. I tend to get sore there, so I preemptively ice it. I also make sure I'm not quilting too many quilts in a short time, just to be safe.

Handwork:

Slow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

I don't have too much trouble with handwork like embroidery or english paper piecing, as long as I don't over do it. If I'm really antsy to work on a particular project, I'll only work on it maybe every other day, and usually not for more than an hour or so.

Thread!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.

The most important thing when doing any craft, is to listen to your body. If you're in pain, STOP! Take a break, rest, do something else and come back to it later. It's much worse to keep going and end up with a serious injury!

Everyone is different, so what works for one person may not work for another, but these are the things that have worked for me. I do hope that this has been helpful! Thanks for listening :)

Happy Crafting!