Products Ease Sewing Soreness

Thu., Sept. 24, 1998

Barbara Gash The Detroit Free Press

If you’re feeling discomfort caused by a prolonged repetitive activity, such as sewing, quilting or working on a computer, some ergonomic products might help.

Avoiding general fatigue begins with investing in a proper chair, one that is comfortable, adjusts for height and has a firm backrest. Make sure it has five legs for a stable base, and good quality casters for moving around with ease.

Traditionally, sewers and quilters have hunched over the machine to work. Now there’s a clear acrylic platform called Tilt’able that lets users place sewing machines on a forward angle. This, according to people who have tried it, does a lot to relieve back, shoulder and neck strain commonly associated with those activities. It also improves the range of vision.

Retailing for about $78, the Tilt’able adjusts to three positions and is designed to accommodate all brands of machines. Check with your dealer, or call Sew-Ergo Inc. at 1-303-604-6101, 11-7 EDT weekdays, for ordering information. The address is 333 Wisteria Way, Lafayette, CO 80026.

Here’s an alternative idea. To act as a counterbalance to slouching shoulders, try a BodyRite. Made of fabric, it has adjustable straps that go over your shoulders, with a 2- or 3-pound weight at the lower back to pull you toward better posture. It’s $35 at stores or by mail from Clotilde’s catalog: 1-800-545-4002 anytime.

Support hosiery for the hands? Handeze Therapeutic Gloves are not new on the market but are still going strong. These help reduce cramping of hands and wrists, giving light support. They’re made of four-way stretch Lycra, to massage the hands and promote good blood circulation. The fingers remain free for flexibility. They come in four sizes, for about $16 per pair, at most stores. You can also get support bands for the wrist, called Wristeze, for about $4.

If you do a lot of cutting, here’s something to help. Softouch Shears by Fiskars are comfortable to use and go a long way to help relieve stress and cramping in the hands. Complemented by oversized cushion grip handles, these have an easy-action spring to gently open the blades after each cut. In addition to the multipurpose scissors, you’ll now find CraftSnips for cutting heavier materials such as wire and leather. They work for either the right or left hand, and are available for less than $20 in stores.

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