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I recently wrote about the serious injuries you can get from sewing. That’s what prompted this post on sewing safety rules.
Sewing is a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t take precautions to keep yourself safe. Here are eight important sewing safety rules to help you avoid injury while you sew.
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Don’t Sew Too Fast
I understand that sometimes you’re in a hurry to get a sewing project finished up, but don’t sew so fast that you are not in control. You could accidentally sew over your finger or break your needle. Both situations are dangerous and could require a trip to the hospital.
Don’t Put Pins in Your Mouth
It’s tempting to put pins in your mouth to hold them temporarily while you sew, but it’s a bad habit. People have accidentally swallowed pins and needed surgery to remove them and repair their esophagus and stomach. Keep a pincushion near your sewing machine or on your wrist so it’s always available.
Don’t Hunch Over While You Sew
Good posture is important to avoid back strain. Don’t hunch over while you sew or even while standing and cutting out fabric. Look for a high cutting table and an ergonomic sewing chair. Also, put reminders in your sewing room to have good posture.
Change Your Needle Regularly
When needles get dull, they have a more difficult time piercing your fabric. This can cause them to break and go flying. Always put in a new needle when you start a new sewing project so it is sharp and less likely to break. Replacement sewing machine needles are inexpensive if you buy them in bulk.
Cover Your Rotary Cutter Blade
It takes very little effort to cover your rotary cutter blade when you’re done using it, so don’t neglect to do it. You can accidentally nick your finger or arm on a rotary cutter blade that is left on your table. They are sharper than scissors.
Pull Your Hair Back
Your thread take-up lever and feed dogs can grab your hair and pull it into your sewing machine. That’s why you should always pull your hair back while you sew and try not to lean too close to your machine. The same is true of long sleeves and loose-fitting clothing and jewelry. They can get sucked into your sewing machine.
Turn Your Iron Off When It’s Not in Use
Sewing projects always look better when you press as you go. However, you should never leave your iron on when you’re not using it. Someone could accidentally get burned. Get an iron that heats up fast and has an automatic shutoff feature.
Wear Shoes in Your Sewing Room
You should always try to keep track of your sewing pins, but sometimes one drops on the ground and you don’t notice. That’s why you should always wear shoes in your sewing room, even if you love being barefoot. You wouldn’t want to accidentally step on a pin. Ouch!
Safety is important. It’s easy to get lazy when you’re sewing and forget the bad things that can happen. Try to avoid developing bad habits like putting pins in your mouth and leaving your iron on. Sewing should be fun, and an injury would ruin that fun.
Also Read: 3 Exceptional Products That Make Sewing Safer
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