Your Quilting Table and Chair - Choose the Best for YOU!

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Choose the Best
Quilting Table and Chair
for YOU

Beginning Quilting 101 continues...

BACK: Machine Quilting
Thread and Tension

Your quilting table and chair have a major impact on how much you like machine quilting. It's true!

If you're uncomfortable when you quilt, then you won't practice.

And practice makes a good machine quilter!

Quilting Ergonomics

Ideally when you sit at your sewing machine...

Your feet should be flat on the ground, not dangling,

Elbows and knees are bent at 90 degree angles,

You are sitting erect, back supported, (especially the lower back). Your thighs and body create a 90 degree angle,

You have an unobstructed view of the needle while quilting without craning your neck, and,

You sit directly in front of the sewing machine needle.

Seems like a lot to remember. Really it's not, because your body will help.

Feeling pain or discomfort? Your body is telling you, quite loudly, you aren't in a good position. Being in a good, comfortable position is what finding the proper quilting table and chair is all about.

Your Quilting Table or Cabinet

The purpose of a quilting table is to:

Support the weight of the quilt, thereby taking the strain off your hands and fingertips. A quilt hanging off the edge of a table is much harder to move and manipulate than one supported completely by a horizontal surface.

Provide ample space to position your hands. You'll focus on guiding the quilt instead of where to put your hands.

The bed of your sewing machine as it sits on a table top is only barely big enough for the simplest of ditch or straight line quilting. Since there is no real space for your hands, free motion quilting is nothing but a chore. The bed of a table top sewing machine is just not large enough to comfortably, confidently quilt on.

If you don’t own a cabinet that your sewing machine sits down into, an 18"x24" sewing acrylic table is a MUST for quilting.

These types of surrounds can be ordered from your local quilt store. The specific make and model of your sewing machines is required in order to select the correct one. Expect to pay between $60-90. DO NOT order one smaller than 18"x24".

If you are purchasing a dedicated quilting table...

Is it stable? Does it vibrate during quilting?

Is it high/low enough? These tables are generally 28" to 30" high.

Can you position your chair so you sit directly in front of the needle...not just in front of the sewing machine. Craning you neck to accommodate for a poorly designed table causes neck fatigue.

Nice, but not necessary is a gate-leg extension off the back of the table. You Won't need an extra table behind your machine for quilting. And when you're not quilting, it folds down and out of the way.

A non-portable quilting table can range anywhere from about $400 on up, depending on the size, features and the material it's made from. If you choose a smaller quilting table, you need to put additional tables out to the left and to the back of your machine when quilting. 60"x30" folding tables will cost at least $30/ea and probably more. Figure this into the calculations for the cost of your table.

If a full-fledged quilting table isn't possible, another alternative is a portable sewing table like the Sew Ezi. It provides adequate space for your hands during quilting. It retails for about $250.

Your Chair

An adjustable chair that can be raised and lowered is a necessary addition to your quilting studio. Sitting too low while quilting can leave you with pain between your shoulder blades. That limits your quilting time.

Sit high enough over you work and you'll find you can quilt until the machine gets too hot.

Test each chair you are considering. For a good chair, the answer will be "YES" to...

Does it raise and lower easily. Does it raise up high enough? And stay there?
If it has arms, can you position it close enough to your machine to work comfortably?
If it's on wheels, does the chair have 5 legs? 5 is more stable than 4.
Can you adjust the chair back? Is it easy to do?

And finally, is it comfortable for YOU?

If you're on carpet and the chair has wheels, get the plastic carpet protector for easier chair movement.

Lighting

Ceiling light is rarely enough.

I use two to three movable lights for quilting. Two are Ott lights. When you are free motion quilting "as you go" (nothing is marked) and your thread matches the fabric, it's difficult to see your previous stitching. It's useful to put the light exactly where you need it.

Low-Tech Tips for Comfortable Quilting

When you get into machine quilting, it's hard to stop and take a break.

But if you love to machine quilt, force yourself to take a break...

Set a small timer for 20-30 minutes and then place it so you have to get up to turn it off, or...

Keep a big glass of water at your workspace AND drink it! Mother Nature will help you get up.

When you get up, focus on something across the room so your eyes change focus.

Stretch out your shoulder and neck muscles with a “Yes-No-Maybe” exercise. The key is to make slow, controlled movements to gently stretch and loosen the muscles you've been clenching as you quilt.

Three times, move your head up and down (as if nodding "YES" to someone) as far as is comfortable, and then...

Three times, move your head left and right (as if motioning "NO" to someone) as far as is comfortable, and finally...

Shrug your shoulders (like your kids do when they say "I dunno!") as high and as low as comfortable.

Simple! Your upper body tingles as the blood circulates. It feels so good!

Again, take the movements only as far as is comfortable. Remember, we're quilters stretching a bit, not marathoners getting ready for the big race!

Finally...BREATHE! For some reason, we tend to hold our breath as we quilt.