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For the siting quilters and ideas for help


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I could use some help, had a car accident in nov which makes it hard to stand for any period. How do you sit and quilt I do some free motion quilting. But find it hard to stay consistent because away for days at a time from pain and a little shaky. Can u do pantos from chair? When at front do you work in small sections. Any Ideas are appreciated have had a quilt that should take 2-3 days on for 3 weeks and only 1/2 done thanks for any ideas and chair ideas I have machine set hight to lean on belly bar. I have low back issues

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HI,

 

When I had my little megaquilter on a frame,  I also was having major problems with my feet and could not stand to quilt...so I got an office chair on wheels and used that.  My floor was concrete so I was able to scoot along just fine on the chair and could do panto's although I did not do other then to say I tried them...I liked free motion better....What set up do you have?  I don't know that I would be able to this with my Lucey  as it is a much bigger machine....  I know some use a saddle stool.....also if you are seeing a physical or occupational therapist for your back issues...they may have some thoughts and ideas on this.  Lin

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What height should I look for in saddle stool ? Don't know much about them. I don't want back to keep me from quilting. Tried a nerve root blocker and made spine swell so another set back. I love to quilt so need to win the back battle.

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Leigh, I am so sorry to hear about your accident. There was quite a bit of discussion about saddle stools in this thread: http://forum.apqs.com/index.php?/topic/36140-suggestions-for-a-saddle-stool/?hl=%2Bsaddle+%2Bstool. Also, I believe the Precise Pantograph System allows you to do pantos while sitting down.

 

Hope you find something that works for you, and also that you feel better soon.

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I have the saddle stool and Precise Panto System and sit and quilt with this all the time.  It is so much better on the body than standing all the time.  I think this will help you a lot.  I would go nuts if I couldn't quilt so try and I am sure it will benefit you.  Hope this works.

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I'm so sorry you injured your lower back. You mentioned sitting is not good. How is standing up quilting, if you quilt close to the front of your table?

I had an accident four years ago, injuring my lower back, and had a nerve block that caused more problems. For me, the right physical therapist and the right exercises makes the difference! Sitting is not my favorite position! I love my Millie because I can stand to quilt and with the fabric advance I can adjust the quilt top and quilt nearer to my body, where it's more comfortable. For piecing I have found one of the inflatable cushions you can get at a quilting store, is helpful. If I'm changing my position often, which I do when I'm standing and quilting, it makes all the different. When I have been sitting, there is an exercise I do that repositions my damaged discs. I think my physical therapist helped the most because he explained my body dynamics, what positions put strain on my damaged area and what to do to relieve the pressure on the nerve. I'm very active and I do my exercises and limit the amount of weight I lift and how I lift. Life is good!

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Finding the right physical therapist is like hitting the jackpot.  I struggled literally for 20+ years with my foot problems and finally had a wonderful foot therapist who took away all the fancy inserts several docs had prescribed....the doc who sent me to this therapist said simply.....do what she says....she was mean....but I could tell what she was having me do was working.....and now I worship her  :)  and I have very little trouble with the foot....at one point, I could not even stand long enough to take a shower.....some therapist listen to what you are saying and still can do a good physical assessment...another one I had for my fibro always respected what I said and would work with me to modify what I was doing so I could still improve.  Some other therapists just seemed to have set course of info to depart on me and seemed to me would treat each patient the same no matter what.....so maybe trying another would help?  Lin

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Leigh:  I sit and quilt a lot of the time.  I don't do pantos, so I can't address that question.  All my quilting is done form the front of the machine.  I don't limit what type quilting I do when sitting.  I will sometimes stand to get a better view of what I'm doing while quilting, but most of the time I sit.

 

I have a saddle stool (a Star 205 I think), and the floor of my quilting room is laminate.  I've had no problems moving the stool, or with it's stability.  I have a power lift on my table, and before I got my saddle stool, while standing, I'd move my table up and down a lot to ease my back.  With the stool, I don't move the table so often.  The stool has helped reduce fatigue (most notably neck and back stiffness and pain) and makes quilting more enjoyable.  I quilt the entire field offered by my Ult 2, and don't limit the area I work on.  As you probably know the Ult 2 is a 20" machine.  I have a 26" Gammill Classic, but the table of the Gammill does not accommodate quilting while sitting, so I don't know whether machine size makes a difference or not. 

 

Before I bought my stool, I tried using an office chair, and while it was helpful, I found it did not adjust high enough to really allow comfortable quilting.  Now since my table is custom built, it adjusts lower than all standard tables I'm familiar with. (it lowers to about 29 inches)  To quilt comfortably I adjust my stool to the same height as my table.  The point being, you need a seat that is higher than most chairs offer.  I think the maximum height of the Star stool is 34 - 36 inches.

 

I really find pinning the quilt on, much more comfortable while sitting than while standing.  I wouldn't give up my stool.  In fact, I'm planning to rebuild my Gammill's table to accommodate quilting while sitting.   I hope this helps.  Jim

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Leigh,  could you  make an appt with a "Spine Neurologist"?

 

Ask him about the neuro-stimulator..  It brings relief to many folks who have it

implanted..  Make sure it's a Neurologist that specializes in the spine!

 

Good luck

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Hi Leigh

I bought the Precise Pantograph System for my Lenni about 6 months ago and I love it. It enables you to be able to sit down at the back of your machine to quilt panto's. I bought a saddle stool (it has 5 legs on casters and easily glides along on the carpet, I also use it with my DSM). The PPS is basically an "A" frame (the laser light hangs down from the top of the frame with an upright handle either side of the bottom of the frame) the frame itself sits just above your panto which makes it much easier to follow the panto because you are much closer to it. This probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense but I would thoroughly recommend it. Take a look at the Precise Pantograph System on Google, hopefully it will become clearer!!

 

Sue

E Sussex U.K.  

 

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