Table talk for quilters and sewists

I'm packing up for a retreat this weekend 

and my Singer Featherweight and matching table

 is coming with me.

I wanted to protect the top during transit,

so I made a quick cover for it

from some bottom weight cotton.

It has a couple of good features --

including the long pocket with a velcro closure

for my 24 by 6 inch ruler

I sewed fitted corners

and sewed elastic around the bottom

Here it is folded up.

Originally I had thought of making a bag to carry it,

but since the table is 30 inches square,

it would be hard to carry that way.

I'm going to carry it by the edges.

And here is the front, with the long ruler safely 

inside the pocket on the right.

This table is slightly lower than those plastic folding tables 

we sew on at retreats

and the Featherweight sits right in the cutout.

If I don't have good ergonomics at a retreat,

I'm done long before it is time to go home.

This way, my machine is at a good height,

and my leg isn't super-extended.

I love quilt retreats, but I have to watch my posture

and how long I stay in one position,

or I pay for it with back and neck pain later.

Table talk

After three years with this Juki,

I finally bought a table just for it.

It's a birch table, locally made, and with an acrylic cut out for this machine.

It has handles (top and side), folding legs,

 and a set of wheels

sort of visible on the right.

I got it for $230 Canadian
at Oma's Quilt Shop
near Grunthal, Manitoba.

 

I put some non-slip stuff under the legs of the  machine

to avoid table shake.

 

so far I'm liking it

but I think the real test

will be when I free motion quilt.

 

Now there's a bit more table surface behind me to support the quilt.

 

I bought this on my continual quest

to improve my sewing and quilting ergonomics

so that making quilts doesn't hurt my body.