Stretches for Crafters.

Crafting, whether it be sewing, knitting, cross stitch or any other craft can be hard on the body. These stretches for crafters are designed to help you. In this blog not only will I discuss the stretches you can do to help relief achy arms, upper backs and necks but I will go through a few other top tips to help reduce the amount of aches and pains you have and keep you crafting for longer.

Whether you are an experienced crafter, have been inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee or have started sewing in lockdown as a hobby or making scrubs for the NHS, too much crafting can cause aches and pains. Let’s see if we can reduce the aches and pains you feel and get you back to your crafts.

I love sewing and one of the things that kept me sane during lockdown was my weekly sewing group continuing via zoom. Not only a time for a catch up but to make some beautiful things as well.

Before we get to the stretches for crafters here are my top 5 tips to help reduce aches and pains when crafting.

1. Set up your space well. If you are sewing make sure that your machine is not too far away from you and that it is not too high or too low. This will stop you from hunching over it.
2. Bring your work to you. If you are hand sewing or cross stitching bring your work towards your. Either by using a stand or by putting your work on a cushion so that it is not in your lap. This will reduce the risk of you bending down towards it which could irritate your upper back or neck.
3. Make sure you have enough light. Poor lighting can cause you to crane your neck forwards to see what you are doing. This can not only cause neck pain but could lead to eye strain as well.
4. Watch your posture. If you are spending time cutting out fabric try and do it on a table at a good height so you are not bent over at awkward angles on the floor. This can lead to back pain and stiffness.
5. Take regular breaks. Crafting for too long at a time a can cause your muscles and joints to stiffen up particularly in your low back if you have been sitting for a long time.

Stretches for Crafters

If you are crafting a lot then here are the stretches I recommend that you do. These stretches will help your neck, upper back and arms.

Low Back Stretches

Sitting for long periods of time, which often happens when you get into a crafting project, can cause low back pain. These stretches can help reduce muscle aches and joint stiffness in your low back.

Hopefully this advice and stretches for crafters will help reduce any aches and pains you are feeling. Getting you back to the project you are currently working on.

If you are suffering from aches and pain then do contact me to see if I can help.

I would love to hear any hints and tips you use to help reduce the aches and pains you get when crafting. Also if you have made any brilliant creations recently do post them below. You know how crafters like to see the projects other crafters are working on.