How high is your Sewing Surface?

I watched a you Tube clip on setting up your sewing area and she had her sewing surface about 8-10 inches lower than mine is and I am shorter then the presenter. I wouldn't pay much attention except I have been getting this stingy/burning pain in my neck and shoulder since I have been spending more time at my machine. For it to be changed it will take some remodeling of the built in desk/sewing area that my husband has done for me so if we lower that area there won't be any turning back. I have a picture of the area when he finished but I can't figure out how to do an attachment.

I guess I am just trying to work through this. Would you mind sharing how tall are you and how high is your sewing surface?

I'm 5'9" and I sew on my countertop height table. It's the perfect height for cutting and it even works fine for sewing. My legs are long enough to reach the floor when I sit on the chair.

I have a Horn Sewing/Cutting table that has a hyraulic lift - so can sew on it then raise it to as high as 42 inches for cutting! wonderful for the neck/back!

I am 5'5" and I sew at a standard dining table height. As I was reading your post it occurred to me that if my chair has been readjusted by someone else it hurts to sew. I agree that your arms should bend naturally to sew. Not have to hunch your shoulders up so that you can reach the bed of the machine.

Thanks. I am 5'4. I have a Janome 7700 with the table thingy around it so that adds height. It puts the height of the sewing surface at just under 34". I guess I will try raising my chair a bit and see if that helps. It sort of has a mind of its own and lowers itself until it is clear down so I have just left it but.......

I just realized that there are other post here. My arms have almost been shoulder height so that really is probably the problem. Guess I will ask for a new chair that stays in place for....... hmmm.... maybe valentines. LOL

That Horn Sewing/Cutting table sounds like a dream!

I have a sewing table from my mom she bought in the 70's I use an adjustable computer chair. I'm 5'4 and its on the lowest setting. Works well for me.

Most of the sewing tables I've looked at were between 28.5-30" or so. I have the Gidget II and it is 28.5, which is perfect for me. Having an adjustable chair helps also.

My machine is in a table that measures 29.5 inches high and my chair is a swivel lift chair with the seat at 19.5 inches. I am 5'7'

The sewing table my DH is making for me will be 30" high. I have the Janome 7700 as well and he built a depression area for it to sit in so the extension table and machine will be table height. Right now I have to sit on a pillow to get me to the correct position to sew when my machine is sitting on top of a table. Not a great way to sew--bad on the back and shoulders. My cutting table is 36" high and is absolutely perfect for cutting. I am 5'6" tall. No more back ache when I'm cutting!

I am 5'5 and do all my sewing standing up. My tables are counter height. I can't sit for a long period of time so I sew standing up. No more neck and shoulder pain. So much easier cutting to

I'm 5' 5 1/2" tall (used to be 5'6"). I'm sitting on a lousy office chair (my husband's reject) and the machine sits too high on an old library table. I really should do something about it, but I just take lots of breaks so I'm not sitting at it for long periods of time. If I was doing free-motion quilting I would definitely need to correct the arrangement. I also wonder if the machine did sit lower on the table if I would end up hunching over more to see what I'm doing. I may do something differently if we move to The Netherlands end of the year. I'll have a car then and it'll be easier to shop for something suitable. I wonder where there is info. on the best seating for sewer's posture?

Mine is 29 inches. My chair is adjustable so I just lower it to sew and raise it to quilt. I like all my surfaces the same height so made everything 29.

I'm 5'3" and use a regular utility table with an adjustable chair. While the table is a bit high, I take frequent breaks which makes it workable. There have been a few times when I didn't break as I should and had knots in my shoulders for what seemed forever.

I also have the Janome 7700 with the extension table set up on it and find I have to get an adjustable chair now to be more comfortable to sew. The extension table raises it just a little to high for me to sit in a regular chair.

I guess we Texans are tall. I am 5' 10". (I used to be 5' 11', but have shrunk an inch. Ah, old age!) I use a regular desk and swivel chair. It works for me. My elbows are bent pretty much at a right angle.

I get bad shoulder and neck pain when quilting, but not when sewing. I'm going to go measure my table now! I think I need a taller chair when I quilt.

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Originally Posted by madampolo

I guess we Texans are tall. I am 5' 10". (I used to be 5' 11', but have shrunk an inch. Ah, old age!) I use a regular desk and swivel chair. It works for me. My elbows are bent pretty much at a right angle.

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I am not quite that tall, just 5'8" but the right angle thing is the key. You should not be reaching up or leaning down. My cutting table is at the height my hand is when my elbow is at a right angle. I try to keep my sewing chair at about that height but it tends to slowly creep down and have to be readjusted.

So excited! I think I figured out how to put a picture here of my sewing area.

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/ass...5&d=1360294534

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/ass...5&d=1360294525

My machine sits on the space to the far left, I put my ironing pad on the peninsular by it and use the peninsula to the right to cut out on. When I am not quilting/sewing the space to the left I use for individual instruction for my kiddos and the horse shoe area is where all our main books and my lap top sit. When I sew I use our bed for extra flat surface to lay completed blocks, fabric that needs to be cut, etc. Of course at bed time everything have to be put back in place so we can actually sleep on our bed and the next morning we can continue with school. Compact but it works.

You know, everything is bigger in Texas!!!!!

I'm definitely on the vertically challenged side of life (5'2"). I just measured my sewing table, and my machine sits at 25" high. It's a perfect height for me.

I'm really glad you asked about this, because I've had this sewing table for a very long time. Back when my husband and I were dating, he invited me to his parents' house for Christmas dinner. When they were opening presents, I noticed a VERY large package leaning against the wall. He's one of five siblings, so there were a lot of presents to open, but that large package leaning against the wall didn't get opened. More presents, still leaning. When everyone was done, my then-boyfriend-now-husband walked over to the large package leaning against the wall and brought it to *me*!!! I was so excited -- I love big presents.

I tore open the bright red paper. I was flumoxed. I had absolutely no idea what I was looking at. "Don't worry," I thought as I tore the paper, "you'll get it." I began to slow down the un-wrapping.

OK, it was big. It was brown. It was kind of bi-level. I didn't have a clue. I finally had to -- in deep, deep embarrassment -- ask, "What is it?"

"A sewing table!" he said proudly.

So now I've had that sewing table for 36 years, and it is absolutely wonderful (so is my husband). It lets my sewing machine sit at 25", but to the left it has a second level at 28", the same height as my sewing surface. It supports garments and quilts and elbows and notion baskets and pincushions and irons! OK, not all at the same time, but all of those at some time or another.

I may have been an idiot not to see what my present was, but I sure saw what a good catch this boyfriend was!

I love my 'area'. It is so multi serviceable. Last winter my husband had to officially retire at age 77. The lose of that income made us rethink our home so we moved out of the lower part of our house and turned it into an apartment. It was a good move as we really needed the income but it also cut our living space down to almost 1/2. With two kiddos it has been a challenge to find a place for everything. My built in desk/school table/sewing area has been wonderful. It is very small area for sewing but by incorporating some of the other area when that is now being use for school it works. I really am sort of limited to quilt as you go quilts though.

I would love to see your sewing area but I got this message when I clicked the links...

vBulletin Message
Invalid filedata specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator.

I'm kind of new to forum postings so I don't know what the issue is:) I did measure my sewing cabinet and it is 30 inches but my arms are not at right angles. Probably need an adjustable chair (using card table chair..too low). I an 5'2". this is great info and I am so glad it was addressed here today. I get tightness in neck and shoulders both at my sewing machine and at my desk at work!! Going to measure there on Monday. Thanks for all the suggestions:)

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Originally Posted by JudyNewToQuilting

I would love to see your sewing area but I got this message when I clicked the links...

vBulletin Message
Invalid filedata specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator.

I'm kind of new to forum postings so I don't know what the issue is:) I did measure my sewing cabinet and it is 30 inches but my arms are not at right angles. Probably need an adjustable chair (using card table chair..too low). I an 5'2". this is great info and I am so glad it was addressed here today. I get tightness in neck and shoulders both at my sewing machine and at my desk at work!! Going to measure there on Monday. Thanks for all the suggestions:)

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I am not sure why the pics don't come up for you. When I click on the links they pop right up. I am so not techy though. I just got a new trac phone and have spent most of the day trying to get it working. UGH! Finally figured it out but good grief! I could have been quilting! LOL

I am 5’ 4 & 1/2” and my sewing table is counter high too. My oldest son made the table from two wall cabinets and a solid-wood door. It is large enough to have a cutting space at one end and it will hold big quilts without dragging. The cabinets were on Craig's List and the door from Home Depot. I bought an adjustable drafting chair from Office Depot to get the height so I can sit to sew and he added a foot shelf underneath for my foot control. So far I have not had any muscle soreness or problems. Sometimes I feel like I have to climb up to sew, but it is a lovely set-up for now. Someday if I find another table that’s lower, this will be a dedicated designing and cutting table. Love it.

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Originally Posted by mom4him

Thanks. I am 5'4. I have a Janome 7700 with the table thingy around it so that adds height. It puts the height of the sewing surface at just under 34". I guess I will try raising my chair a bit and see if that helps. It sort of has a mind of its own and lowers itself until it is clear down so I have just left it but.......

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Ii have the table that fits the Janome 7700, the machine drops down and a piece of plastic surrounds it. I have yet to unwrap the extension table that came with it. I also have a SewEzi table for other machines. The table height is the same as a regular table, but the machine is dropped down so you are sewing on the same plane as the table top, I think this works best. I also have cutting tables, which I believe are the same height as a counter top, saves the back from a lot of pain from bending over, or heaven forbid, working on the floor!

I also would like to see your area , but I too get this message
vBulletin Message
Invalid filedata specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator.

I never have had an issue seeing anyones pictures or links.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Iris Girl

I also would like to see your area , but I too get this message
vBulletin Message
Invalid filedata specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator.

I never have had an issue seeing anyones pictures or links.

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Not sure what to do. I am so not a techy person. If anyone has a recommendation...