That polka dotted print from my last post has been mocking me from a corner as I’ve been furiously sewing hems, dresses, and other client pieces. I had some secret sewing to do that cut into my shirt making time, since it was Rob’s 30th birthday on Monday. I’ll share more on what I did for him in another post, but first I want to let you in on my new sewing room set-up. It’s what allows me to sew for hours and not feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.
I have terrible hips. My bones are slightly deformed and sitting or standing for long periods of time used to be impossible. I would turn down concert tickets because I knew I couldn’t stand for 4 hours, and sewing late into the night would leave my back in spasms.
Rob helped me to admit that my old sewing set-up wasn’t helping anything. I sat in a steel-cased chair which required that I constantly have my right leg extended and my body weight resting on my right side while sewing. My tables for sewing and cutting weren’t at a good height either, and cutting out whole dresses on a little IKEA table was pain in the ass.
Rob works at a standing desk, but likes having the option to sit too. He bought a fantastic chair from ErgoDepot here in Portland, and encouraged me to go check out what they had as well. They were extremely kind and let me bring home a chair to test out for week. It was love at first butt cheek rub.
I ended up getting a Baumbach Saddle Seat, and it has been a life saver. I can adjust it to rock my hips forward or backward, and it makes me sit up straighter than I ever have. My tables have be lifted up higher so my hips are in a better position, and I can still use my knee lift.
In place of my old IKEA desk, I found a drafting table on Craigslist. I love the drafting tables at Modern Domestic, but I couldn’t quite fit ones that large up here. This one is the perfect size, and has two drawers to fit extra mats and slopers in. I plan on painting the base a mint green color this summer.
Having the option to work while standing is great, even if I do roll my saddle seat up to my cutting table a little more than I should!
Now to find someone to take that IKEA desk and chair out of my basement!
