Living Resourcefully

Susan Hansen, Extension Educator, Colfax County

Make Sewing A Relaxing Time

Sewing can be relaxing for some people and frustrating for others. A properly designed and set up sewing area can reduce the tension and stress, and, instead, be more relaxing.

 

Select a chair that is comfortable. The ideal chair to have, is a chair that was designed for use at the sewing machine. Realistically, that is not always possible. The key is to make sure it is comfortable. Check the height of the chair seat. Do you want a padded chair seat or not?

 

Make sure that the height of your sewing table is adequate for you. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. Your elbows should be bent at a 90 degree angle.

 

Place all supplies and tools in areas where you won’t have to bend or stretch in order to reach them. Stretching for items could increase the risk of back strain.

 

Set up the ironing board near your sewing machine so you can press as you go.

 

Take breaks periodically. Stand and stretch or walk around the house to give your back a rest.

 

Make sure you have adequate lighting. Poor lighting causes eye strain. Poor lighting also

increases sewing errors. It is hard to stitch a straight seam when the needle or fabric cannot be easily seen.

Orange Regreening

 

Ever notice that oranges sometimes have a greenish tint on the peel? The oranges are fully ripe but are going through a regreening process. The fruit was orange but while it was on the tree waiting to be picked chlorophyll returned to the tree and the fruit. This was caused by the warm ground temperatures. Remember that the chlorophyll causes the green color in plants.

 

Regreened oranges are fully ripe and safe to eat.

 

Spots on Natural Fibers

 

Garments made of natural fibers such as silk, linen and cotton can become damaged if they are brushed or rubbed when wet. The damage looks like a white, chalky area on one side of the fabric.

 

Attempting to remove a spill or stain by wetting a napkin or paper towel and rubbing the fabric is usually the cause. The damage may not be noticed until after the garment is cleaned.

 

When attempting to remove or minimize a spill or stain, gently blot the area, rather than rub it.

 

For washable garments, pretreating the stain and then laundering as soon as possible will aid in the removal of the stain. Do not machine dry a garment until you are certain the stain is gone.