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Francesca Aug 9, 2012

Here is a topic that I was meaning to breach for some time now.
Making teddy bears can be very stimulating to our mind while very tiring to our body at the same time.
Our hands hurt from pulling and handling tools, we use substances and materials that are not supposed to end up into our lungs...and our back bone....well, MY backbone is the real topic here! 
As I hand sew, I spend some hours sitting and basically doing damage to my back. I often find that after a long session of sewing my neck and sometimes my shoulder hurt. Neck stiffness bring awful headaches that can knock me out for a couple of days at times. Sometimes I have aches in my left hand, which is the one holding the pieces while the other one is sewing. I think it might be a common issue and I would like to ask for your advice.
Do you have a special chair that you use for when you do the sewing? Or do you have tricks that help you avoiding to wear out your body? Or maybe you know about the best 'position' to help prevent those problems?

Any input would be very very welcome....Thanks!

valewoodbears Aug 9, 2012

Hi Francy, this is my worry also, like you I am often sewing in pain, we must love this job so much  .  I have worn out thumb joints and nodules on two fingers due to Arthritis, I wear the "Push" thumb splints to do the heavy work like if I am stuffing a large bear or sewing a nose and the needle is stiff to get in. I was given them by my Physiotherapist and they are great, think you can get them on the internet though and they are small enough to protect the correct joints and let the rest of your hands move freely.  I also suffer from neck and shoulder pain but don't know the answer to that.  I try not to sit too long and keep getting up to do other jobs inbetween, I don't have a special chair but use one that supports my back.  You can also try wearing a mask when stuffing, I have tried this but I can't breath properly and my glasses steam up so don't get along with them.  What I do find is that if I work on a few bears at once instead of one at a time I can swap from task to task if I am feeling any pain from on particular bit of bear making, I know this will take longer to see the finished result but the good thing is you may have a few finished all together.  It's all a worry and I also just had another worry of the bulbs I use for photographing my bears (energy saving 45w daylight bulbes) contain mercury, I smashed one a few weeks ago and swept up the dust and glass only to be told by somebody (also seen it on the internet) that you are supposed to vacate the room for hours and then to come back in and mop up with wet cloth  . I am now looking into different bulbs, there is always something to worry about whatever job you do for a living though.

Boogaloo Bears Aug 9, 2012

Hi Francy

I do have an area in my lounge called the 'Bearia!'  :lol:

It is a dedicated area including a large worktop with storage underneath, daylight lamp, sewing machine etc.  I have recently invested in a special 'small person' chair with fantastic lumber support and with a foot rest as well, this has made an enormous difference.  I used to suffer from a lot of back ache and in particular, sciatica, but since having the new chair, that fits me perfectly, I have not suffered at all.

I am like Pauline above and normally work on at least two bears at once.  I hate the stuffing part of bear making, so if I am not in the mood for relentless stuffing, I can do something else with the other bears instead.

I am very slow at bear making as it is purely a lovely hobby, so will often move position and sit hand sewing on the comfy sofa, just to make a change - this seems to help with aches and pains too!  :thumbsup:

I think the trick is to keep moving about and don't try and do everything at once - take breaks and relax in between bear making.

Hugs

Lisa x

1 user likes this: Francesca

dangerbears Aug 9, 2012

Ah, Francy...I know what you mean all too well!

For me, though, bear-making is not the problem. I'm a writer, so on some days I'm in my desk chair for 8 or 10 hours. I think it's VERY important to get up and move around every hour or so. You might also need a different chair, or some kind of device such as office workers use. (There are cushions that attach to a chair and add support for your lower back/lumbar area, and I have a gel seat cushion that takes pressure off of my tailbone/coccyx.)

I also take a few ibuprofen when I'm sore (often it's the backs of my legs that are sore), but I know not everyone likes to take medicines for pain.

Good luck,
Becky

1 user likes this: Francesca

Donna Aug 9, 2012

Back when I was making bears full time I was instructed to set a timer for 10 minutes.  When the timer went off I was to put my work down and raise my hands over my head and shake them then to wiggle my fingers all while over my head.  Then I was to roll my head on my shoulders then to roll my shoulders.  The idea was to loosen everything up that had been in a certain position for any time.  Set the timer again for 10 minutes and this time get up and go to a doorway.  Put your hands flat on the door frame at shoulder level and lean through the door so that your head and shoulders are on the other side of the door frame.  Hold that position for at least 3 minutes and then walk around for about three minutes.  Also, myofacial release helps.  If you don't want to go to someone, you can buy a book on it and a tennis ball and do it yourself.  The important thing is not to do one thing for too long.

1 user likes this: Francesca

tcfolk Aug 9, 2012

I agree that one of the most important things is to take frequent breaks and move around.  My limit is 30 minutes, or so.  I do something different at each interval.  I have a wonderful dog that makes sure I go outside with him and throw the ball for about 20 minutes two times a day.  While he is retrieving the ball, I do squats, bends, arm rotations, and the like; I have quite a little routine!  I have Arthritis in my hands and shoulders, and I find that this 40 minutes everyday keeps me limber and fairly fit!

1 user likes this: Francesca

Francesca Aug 10, 2012

Well ladies,
you have all been very helpful here!
Some things I am already doing....or trying to. I try not to do too long sessions of the same thing. I only do one creation at a time, but as it is not a full time job I can just leave it be when I feel it is too much....and do some house cleaning instead! 
I have started using masks when I trim or scissor sculpt, especially if I'm using faux fur which is a lot worse than mohair in that department. It is a bit uncomfortable, but I feel very virtuous and safety conscious that way
I have a room that is becoming more and more my 'teddy bear lab'. I have a long table, a section of the wardrobe and a cabinet are now full with my things...my next step is a chair. Meaning a chair that gives me the best comfort for when I am sewing.
Lisa: what kind of chair did you buy? Is it a special brand?

Then again...Becky...: when I have really overdone myself...ibuprofen it is, yes....

All Bear Aug 10, 2012

I definitely think its important to think about posture while you work - I used to make bears for long hours sat on my sofa and I eventually found my hips were giving me hell.  Now I work at a desk with a proper hobby swivel chair (made by Horn if anyone is interested in checking them out) and I no longer have the hip problem.  I am also conscious of the tendency to nibble away at treats if I get bored while I'm working on my own, so lately I've developed a taste for celery sticks and can often be found crunching those during the day!  :P

Also, I've just bought a bicycle and for the first time in almost forty years have started to cycle again - it gets me out of the house, gives me exercise and it's fun!

3 users like this: dangerbears, Francesca, tcfolk

Boogaloo Bears Aug 10, 2012

Wow, Paula - you go girl!!  :lol:
I can't believe how tidy your work area is, mine is full of bits of bear, lots of fluff, needles everywhere - wish it looked more like yours!

Francy - I can't remember the make of my chair at home as currently I am at work (should be doing work, not looking at TT)  :P
The chair I have at work (also a petite person chair) is a 'Lyreco' chair.  You may want to do an internet search for 'Petite person chair', they really do exist!! 
The one I have at home has pump mechanisms which can increase the lumber support and also pump up the seat base area so it is like sitting on a gel seat. It is absolutely fantastic and soooo comfortable.

I was very lucky as my partner bought it for me as a surprise  :love:

Hugs

Lisa x

All Bear Aug 10, 2012

Wow, Paula - you go girl!! 
I can't believe how tidy your work area is, mine is full of bits of bear, lots of fluff, needles everywhere - wish it looked more like yours!

Ah well you see Lisa, it's like this ... first you get the workroom renovated, then you take the photo ... then you start work and now?  There's stuff everywhere!