A Crafter's Ergonomics

I love my new craft room. Paint on the walls, organization in the closet, every tool within a fingertip's reach - it is like living in a dream. So what happened to the crafter who suddenly got everything she always wanted? Like a childhood chocolate-factory fantasy, she lived happily ever after. But then a pain in her wrist started to develop, accompanied by a tweak in her back and a slightly pinched nerve somewhere in between. It seems that all those years of crafting over the coffee table, stitching on the floor, and using the bed as a cutting surface (don't ask) added up to pain in all parts. So she learned a new word: ergonomics.

From the US Gov's OSHA website on ergonomics

Ergonomics is an applied science "concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely," according to Merriam-Webster.

For a craft room there couldn't be a better plan than efficiency and safety in design. Crafters of all kinds create in small spaces meant for other activities (you know, scrapbooking at the kitchen table between meals) and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, ergonomic risk factors are found in exactly those kinds of spaces in jobs, or crafts, that require repetitive movement, fine hand-work, constant pushing and pulling, and most importantly "prolonged awkward postures." Sounds like my entire sewing experience. Though I can't go back and undo the years of cramped coffee-table sewing I endured, I can embrace ergonomics for the future and create a more friendly stitching station while encouraging others to do so too.

The first step in assessing your ergonomic situation is to sit at your sewing station as you would when stitching, stitch a few lines if you have to, and then take a look at your position. Are your shoulders raised, your wrists bent or forearms resting on the sharp corner of the table, your legs jammed as you push the pedal? These common awkward postures are often caused by a chair that is too short or too high. The goal is to create a supportive environment that keeps your body in a near-neutral position where knee, elbow and seat angle are around 90 degrees, shoulders are down and wrists and neck are elongated, not bent. Adjustable chairs, wrist pads, foot lifts and even adjustable height sewing tables are all tricky ways of getting your station to fit you perfectly.

Next, take a look at the other activities you perform while sewing. Does your hand get sore from scissors, or your neck tire from bending over to squint at a skipped stitch? Think about investing in more ergonomic spring-back and bent shears that require less force on your part. They even have electric scissors these days for just this kind of thing. Do you squint from lack of light or lack of sight? Whatever the issue, address it with a light or magnifying glass and hopefully you'll assist both your neck and eyes at the same time.

All activities you perform as a crafter have some potential for repetitiveness built-in, but that doesn't mean that every time you string a bead on a wire your fingers are doomed. The most important weapon in your arsenal against awkward pain is taking breaks and switching activities. Which means more crafts for you! So start crafting with awareness now and you might just live craftily ever after.

Find more information about ergonomics and your sewing environment at the US Government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website.

Trashed Tee Stash Tutorials

 There is a problem spreading among the households of America, in the corners of each home and in the drawers of every dresser. At least one person per family is a contributor to this growing crisis, and there appears no end in sight. To the layman, it's known as the Trashed Tee Stash (TTS).

Fathers and mothers hoard their old college T-shirts full of sentimental value, while children muss, smudge, grow out of and just plain destroy their tees, then return them to the dresser without another thought. Thankfully, professional crafters have found ways of dealing with this calamity, and they are willing to share their knowledge to reign in worldwide TTS. Listed below are two projects aimed at reducing your TTS while still getting some used out of your old friends.

Tee Ruffles Embellishment:

To add a little pizzazz to your newer tees without breaking the bank, embellish them with older tee add-ons.
Tools: a new tee and an old tee in complementary colors, scissors, a soda can, fabric chalk, needle, thread.

The Great Alaskan Playtime Book: Part 2

If you tuned in to the last Alaska Crafter article* then you already know about my crafty family and their amazing feats of craft genius. To continue the trend this week I'll reveal the last half of the Alaskan Playtime book that was created for my nephew Owl (just his nickname). Pages 6-15 are sure to thrill as much as 1-5.

Page 6-7
When Owl is not making noises of his own, he loves to make noises with everything around him. That's why a forest of trees that crinkle as the bears rumble by is right up his alley. To create crinkly trees, first cut a tree pattern out of green foliage-textured fabric. Sew two tree pieces together with the right sides together leaving the bottom open. For the crunchy interior reuse the plastic windows from security envelopes. Stuff them inside your tree and stitch up the bottom. Then, attach the tree to a forest page with a strip of furry brown fabric for the trunk.

The Great Alaskan Playtime Book

**UPDATE** Click here to see the rest of the book . . .

Eek, I have been waiting for this article to come out so that I could post it here . . . SO COOL - Go Mom and Sis (ps, yes that is my sister's mouth spouting "Peek-A-Boo!")!!

Babies are a crafter's dream. There are so many tiny tot crafts to be made it's almost exhausting. With the arrival of my new adorable nephew, nicknamed Owl, the house has become a total craft zone. My crafty lineage (read: my mother and sister) have really topped themselves this time by designing and creating an Alaskan-themed playtime book from scratch, and lucky for us they were willing to share.

The Book
The book itself is crafted from soft fabrics sandwiched around batting layers to give it a fluffy baby-appropriate texture. Local stores provided the fodder for much of the wildlife-inspired fabrics. The seams are bound with bias tape to create a finished look on the page edges. The pages are built in spreads (this means the pages are combined together, not individually) but individual pages would work like a dream. To help yourself, draw the layout first and assemble the pages separately (just in case there is a - gasp - mistake).

Page 1
To start things off right, page 1 holds Owl's favorite activity, peek-a-boo. To craft this page, take a photo of yourself with a quintessential peek-a-boo expression - you know the one. Use printable iron-on paper to print and adhere your face to the page. Now create the hands using two layers of felt each for a bit of rigidity. Sew around the edges to bind them, and between the fingers to create the right look. Lastly, sew a small piece of hook and loop to each hand to secure them before the peek has been revealed.

Baby Shower Pennant Tutorial

not only have i just been crowned a new Auntie (see last post- whale pattern tutorial), but i have tons of friends who are currently preggers right now- what fun!!!!

one lovely lady was celebrated over the weekend with a fabulous baby shower.  i got down to crafty business in the decor department.  the colors for the bash were zesty orange and lime so not only did we decorate with fruit (you use what you can up here in Alaska!) but i whipped together a cute pennant that works both as decor at the party, and gift to decorate the baby's new room.  and just for you i've whipped up a tutorial to go along!  Check it out after the jump!

A Whale for Baby Pattern

I wrote this week's article on crafting for baby's because my lovely sis just had her first.  We were there when the tyke was just 3 days old and got to love his tiny self!!

And then, of course, we inserted him into our carved pumpkin because even at five days old the boy is CRAFTY!

I brought the new nephew a little gift of a stuffed whale, which was just right for his little hands.  It was great fun coming up with this pattern, because of course Cap'n wanted a whale too!  So here it is (it's also in the article if you want to check it out there). Please give me feedback on the pattern for improvement!!

A Whale for Baby Pattern

 

Supplies: Blue top fabric, fun belly fabric, matching thread, scissors, baby-safe stuffing, needle, whale pattern (print out image above- scale to size you like!)

1. Cut your contrasting whale fabrics - Two top pieces of blue and one belly piece of a fun fabric.
2. Pin the belly pieces to the body, right sides together starting at the tail and heading toward the nose.
3. Using a ¼" seam allowance, sew the 2 body pieces to the belly using a straight stitch from dot to dot (nose to tail).
4. Sew the two body pieces up the back with a straight stitch, leaving open the space for turning the whale.
5. Turn whale right side out and stuff.
6. Sew whale closed with a slip stitch. (Optional) Pull thread through whale and knot tight to create a "blowhole" indent.

You may repost, remake and redistribute as long as you link back, give cred, and not sell!!  Thanks so much!

Lovely Summer Headband Tutorial

we had the best time making some fun quick headbands the other night - i thought i might whip up a tutorial for all to share. this is just a guideline- so have fun trying it a million different ways!
start with your supplies, an elastic hairband (or use a ribbon, or plastic headband covered in fabric), scissors, felt sheets, and later you will need a needle and thread.
fold over your felt about 1" and cut. no need to be too precise here.
snip off 1" squares of the folded over piece you cut. if you were to unfold them they would be about 2"x1"
keep snipping down your felt strip
with the folded edge in your fingers cut the top edges in a simple leaf shape. Keep the folded bottom wide for now.
soon you will have a little stack of felt soldiers. admire your work. ah lovely.
get out your needle that is in your pincushion (mine is a shameless plug of my rowdy ravens up now on etsy)
back to it! take one leaf and squeeze it between your fingers so that the folded edge gets ruffled.
stitch through the leaf to maintain the ruffles
continue with the same process adding each ruffled leaf to the last to create a row of ruffles
like this lovely row- do you have enough? make some more quick if you feel like it!
now start stitching your row of petals to your hairband. if you are using a plastic headband covered in fabric make sure you don't sew the leaves on right in the center- believe me, it looks silly.
stitch stitch stitch, you are almost done!
and there it is!
here are some tries with other styles - little layered flowers and such!
i made five the first time i tried! i'd love to see yours- send me pics or links to show them off!

Crafty Raven Pincushion

here are raven sisters Berry and Blue.
they are the best of friends, but they aren't sure about the new raven in town, Peachy.
but honestly Peachy is more interested in you than in Berry and Blue.
Peachy, Berry and Blue are all handmade pincushions living out their dramas in the tpALASKA etsy store. i am sure they would much rather be used in someones home. a magnet tail keeps needles in place and the rest is filled with batting for pins galore.

not only are they sold online they are also in local stores in Alaska, and i hope to put up a pattern on Etsy soon.

The Best Summer Skirt EVER!

look out for this weeks capital city weekly and a fun tutorial for a great summer skirt/dress.
and a big THANK YOU to Shyla Germain who helped with all the strechy sewing tips!!

this is a special sneak peek of the pattern -with link posted above. check out below all the ways you can wear this reversible, zipperless stretch-knit wonder-

excuse the house mess!



even a shirt or babydoll dress!
this weekend was super sunny and i wore it as a dress all weekend long!