Please advise on a sewing machine cabinet

I have 2 Koala cabinets that I love. They have lifts, one is simple and the other is more elaborate. They are sold at Nancy's Notions, plus some sewing machine dealers. DD in Memphis has a Horn and loves it as much as I like mine. If I remember correctly, she ordered it from a co. in AL. The dealer where I trade ordered mine and we picked them up at his shop. I know at least one sewing machine dealer here in the Houston area stocks HORN. You might check out some dealers and see what they have. Even if you can't try Horn, try the ones available. Emily

Thank you. I hadn't checked out Koala but I was considering this one

anyone have experience with the arrow? I could add an separate table if I need more room. I see it is called Homespun at Joann Fabrics for $263

That is so much like the old Singer small parlor cabinets! Open Side Cabinets, No. 26 and No. 27.

Beverly

Good point! I do have .....several....old Singer cabinets of various styles, and even DH, who cringes at the notion of another sewing machine, is an admirer of the cabinets as the fine furniture that they are. My favorite is my drawing room cabinet with all the drawers and doors. But I also have an open side parlor cabinet and as you note, it is all wood. One of my other faves is the birdseye maple cabinet and matching stool one of my 301s lives in. It's gorgeous.

That's why I hate to order via catalog/internet. I mean the price is right but I have no way of knowing if I'll like it. and it can only be returned if unopened and a 25% restocking fee!

I don't know what to do.

The right height of machine and a good chair are the two biggies for making sewing less of a pain in the arms and shoulders and neck and...

Pick your chair first. Ideally, it will support your back when you're seated, with the knees a little lower than your bottom, so the angle between your spine and upper legs is about 125-135o, not the standard

90o. Your feet will be on the floor, flat. This decreases the force on your lower back quite a bit. Only have 90o chairs? Try sitting on with a cushion right under your sit-bones (ischial tuberosities), but not extending to the upper legs. This will take some getting used to, but it's worth it. Whenever you're not leaning forward to actually stitch, you should be sitting with head over shoulders over pelvis, not slumped.

The 135o angle is relatively new research -- older literature suggests

90-110o, but measurements of force on the lumbar spine suggest that somewhere around 135o gives minimal force on the lower back. Oh yes, don't forget to wiggle a bit in your chair. Helps immensely.

Next, pick the height of the sewing surface. With your shoulders relaxed, comfortably seated, and your arms bent at about 90o, have someone measure from the underside of your forearms to the floor. That's the height of your needleplate (or your computer keyboard).

Now find a table that lets you work at that height and you'll be much more comfortable than working on your kitchen table. And get yourself some good lighting.

IMO, the current sewing cabinets I've seen are all terribly overpriced for the quality of construction (mostly particle boards), and do not allow enough adjustment for ergonomics. I'm using an adjustable computer table that was being discarded by a business because it was too beat up. A new caster and a little spray paint and it works just fine for me.

Oh, and don't forget to stand up and move around a bit every hour... getting up to press is a good thing.

references: sewing ergonomics:

and seating: 1374/1/etd-tamu-2004C-2-ITDE-Stevens.pdflighting:

Some of the folks on the TreadleOn list are using those big exercise balls to sit on while they sew. It takes a bit of adjustment, but they say that they are comfortable, they get those angles you recommend, and they have to wiggle a bit to keep their balance. Some claim they've gotten rid of backaches.

With my luck, I'd tip over backwards and be like a turtle on its back with legs in the air.

I keep my sewing machine on a typewriter stand. It was meant for an IBM Executive, so it's much sturdier than typewriter stands that were made after iron frames, heavy motors, and thumping platens went out of style.

I'd suggest piling up some stuff and working with your machine on it until you know it's the right height, then having a table made that exact height -- but seven years after moving, my keyboard is still on one of the boxes we unpacked, with a package of ledger paper on top because it was an inch too short. It works so well that there just isn't any urgency to my search for a keyboard stand. But I'm getting short of storage space; perhaps that will get me into the furniture stores.

Joy Beeson

Under those conditions, I would look locally. No way would I pay return shipping *plus* a 25% re-stocking fee. Nope, huh uh, I wasn't born yesterday.

If you are in/near Concord CA, you can find several JoAnns near you:

that they are my favorites, but at least looking there would be a starting point.You might also take a look at local thrift shops, you might find an older cabinet which you could use. NAYY,

Beverly

Just adding, JoAnn's online store seems to have several kinds of sewing/craft cabinets:

$sessionid$CKW2AEIAAENYIP4SY5KRIHR50LD3UEPO?CATID=3&keywords=cabinets&_requestid=316991But they are online only. They might have examples in some of their Super Centers.Beverly

Do check the thrift and resale stores. I found a table much like the one you showed, but in a "wood tone" for under $20. There wasn't a thing wrong with it.

Beverly

The OP's NNTP-Posting-Host IP Whois traces to wavecable.com in Concord, CA. That doesn't necessarily mean s/he is in Concord though. I was just doing a "fer instance". ;-)

Beverly

You've just conjured up this image in my mind's eye......

:-)

My work here is done.

Guess we must have been lucky with our choice of table and chairs.

The work table is a nominal 6ft x 2' 6", metal subframe with a sturdy composite top, typical of the sort of thing you see in works or office canteens, restrooms, etc. We do, however, keep an A3 size cutting board at each work place - saves the top of the table!

Our two work chairs are again typical office stacking 'spare' chairs, the sort you see in a conference room, with a little bit of padding in the seat and back. Whilst my back has 'gorn' these days, I have to say sitting in those chairs sewing doesn't aggravate it.

I have looked at the local stores. Joann does not carry the cabinets you must order them. Same with the other sewing centers and they only order Horn.

Yes I will look in the local thrift shops you never know what you will find.