Sewing is one of the many hobbies that can be done at any age, at any time, and at any place that you want. All you need are the right tools and skills to get things going. Although everything seems pretty exciting and interesting when it comes to sewing, you should give proper focus to safety precautions as well.
You are not advised to work on the safety precautions because of sewing’s complexity but because of the sharp tools, needles, and hot irons that are used in the whole process.
Needles and iron can hurt you especially if you don’t have proper focus while working.
Some skilled people ignore safety measures as they think that they have enough experience to stay away from any issues but you should always work while keeping your safety in the first place because accidents and mistakes can happen by any human even if he has spent all his life sewing.
Just continue reading this article as we will first talk about the top safety precautions while going through some other related topics as well.
What are safety precautions when sewing?
Many safety precautions should be considered all the time because any ignorance or carelessness can cost you your health and in severe cases, can cause deaths as well. So, it is always better to protect yourself instead of playing with the risks.
Don’t sew when not feeling well
Just stop sewing when you are not feeling well no matter if it is because of illness, tiredness, frustration, depression, toxicity, exhaustion, or any other reason.
Working in such conditions can reduce your concentration on sewing which can lead you to make mistakes. You may push your finger too close to the needle or get a cut while trimming the fabric with scissors.
Buy high-quality tools
One of the very first things to do is to ensure that you have all the tools needed for sewing projects. Buy tools of the best quality and it will reduce the chances of injuries to a great extent.
A simple example is that if you buy a pair of scissors that requires a lot of force to cut fabric, you may get frustrated, apply too much force, and get yourself injured.
Another good practice is to only use ergonomic tools as they are designed to do their intended work while being comfortable as well.
Using ergonomic tools with comfortable handles can reduce the chances of strain which mitigates tiredness and frustration as well.
Know your distance
You should have an idea of how close you can go to the needle or scenarios while sewing. Some people keep their hands too close to the needle and sometimes get their fingers under the needle by mistake.
This can cause a severe injury and you may not be able to sew for a week or more. If at any part of the fabric where you are required to hold the fabric, use other products instead of your hands such as an awl, a pointed chopstick, a thang, a small crochet hook, etc.
Keep sharp tools away from your mouth
Some people have a habit of keeping pins and needles in their mouths while taking a pause or working on another aspect of sewing.
This thing can be very dangerous and there are many stories where seamsters have swallowed needles or pins and ended up requiring immediate surgery.
Some people got a huge scar, while others got nerve damage, tongue issues, damaging the inhaling process, and much more. There are a few cases where semesters lost their lives because of this simple but dangerous habit.
Turn OFF sewing machine when not sewing:
Develop a habit of turning the sewing machine OFF every time you are taking a break or especially when you are changing a needle or loading the thread into the needle.
You work on a sewing machine for hours and sometimes people tend to press the pedal unintentionally. This thing can cause injuries if you were having fingers under the needle.
Correct your sitting posture
Hunching too low over your sewing machine can lead to many issues such as neck pain, shoulder pain, back problem, and strains at different parts of the body.
If you don’t correct your posture for a long period, it can lead to permanent chronic pain and sometimes may cause repetitive strain injury as well.
Keeping your posture straight can also protect you in case the needle breaks down and its tiny parts fly in the air.
Don’t let electrical extension stay on the floor
If you have to attach a power extension to your sewing machine, never let them stay in the middle of the room as it can increase the chances of electric shocks especially if you have kids and pets at home. The good practice is to run it along with the edges of the room so that it stays at the side.
One of the best ways is to put your sewing machine table near an electric switch or if you don’t have a switch near your table, it is ideal to simply hang the extension on some wooden stand so that it stays right near to your machine while being away from your kids, pets, and you as well.
Take special care while ironing
Always take proper care while ironing, steaming, or pressing your clothes or fabrics. The tools used for this process are extremely hot and can cause burns in almost no time. The best thing is to simply concentrate on your work and don’t keep your eyes off the fabric and iron.
Dispose of broken needles
If you work on sewing projects, you will have broken needles and pins that need to be disposed of properly. Never put them directly into the dust bins as it can cause injuries to the cleaners or maybe you need to put your hand in the dustbin for any reason and get yourself injured. So, always:
- Go for a specified container for sharp products.
- Put your broken needles and pins in that container.
- Seal it properly.
- Then throw it into the dustbin.
Why is safety in sewing important?
Sewing is an activity that involves a lot of sharp objects, especially needles. The machine itself requires a lot of tweaking and you can get a cut or something while doing it.
Also, you need to use iron a lot of time and any carelessness at this point can cause you a burn which can be severe as well. Broken needles and pins can go into the machine which can damage it or the fabric while sewing.
Safety in sewing is important to protect yourself and other people such as your kids, staff members, pets, and customers from accidents, injuries, and different health issues that can occur due to sewing.
What are major sewing hazards?
Many things can happen when you are working with sharp (edges, needles, thread, blades, scissors, and pins) and hot (iron) objects and tools. Some of the common and general sewing hazards that can occur if you are ignoring safety include getting cuts, injuries, and burns.
You may also damage the clothes specially while ironing them. Needles can hurt your fingers while you are loading the thread. The sharp pins that you use for keeping the fabric in place can be dropped and hurt your feet.
The sewing hazards can become more dangerous if you have kids and pets at home as they don’t really care about any objects and can put pins or needles in the mouth as well. Some people may also fall into back injury from poor posture as well as eye strain from poor lighting.
What are the most important safety tips while sewing?
Although most safety tips are covered in the first section of the article, some other details need to be considered.
Most people ignore these factors as they think of them as minor issues but they can also lead to major accidents, injuries, and issues while sewing.
So, some of the most important safety tips while sewing includes the following:
- Concentrate on your work.
- Keep your attention on your hands.
- Tie your hair or keep it far away from the sewing machine.
- Know the distance and never push your hands closer to the needle.
- Stay away from sewing machine belts.
- Remove pins from the fabric before you start sewing that part.
- Don’t use a sewing machine that is faulty or is not compatible with your sewing project.
- Always keep the sewing machine, belts, and tools clean.
- Make sure that electrical circuits are well protected and all wires have safety coatings.
- Stop working and troubleshoot the sewing machine if it is emitting noise.
- Always turn the sewing machine OFF when it is not being used.
What are the safety precautions when doing needlework?
Needlework is a lot more simple than proper sewing because there are not many tools needed. You simply use a thread and needle to make stitches on fabric using your hands.
Still, you shouldn’t ignore safety precautions as a needle is a sharp object and is free which can lead to injuries if you show even a little bit of carelessness.
- First of all, only do needlework once you have learned completely and have the proper skills.
- Never cut the thread by biting it with your teeth as it can cut your lips and tongue.
- Keep your 100% attention on the needle and your hands because a little ignorance can get the needle into your finger.
- Never put a needle in your mouth.
- Keep your kids and pets away from you while doing needlework.
- Sit in a clean and clear area where there are not many distractions.
- Always put needles and other stuff in proper storage when you are taking a break.
FAQs:
Is sewing a dress difficult?
Sewing a dress can be difficult if you are just beginning but once you have the required skills and have learned the techniques, sewing a dress can be extremely simple. Experts claim that a person can easily learn the basics of sewing in less than a week while most people succeed in sewing their first dress within 10-15 days of their learning.
Is sewing dangerous?
Sewing is not dangerous to do if you know the right way, have the required skills, and concentrate on safety precautions.
The only thing which makes sewing a bit hazardous is the wide range of sharp tools and objects such as shears, needles, pins, etc.
Electricity and iron can also cause damage but as said earlier, all these things can only become dangerous for you if you show carelessness. Otherwise, sewing is a normal and fun activity to do.
References:
- https://letslearntosew.com/10-safety-tips-sewing-machines/
- https://so-sew-easy.com/safety-tips-sewing-machines/
