Ergonomics

holding the shuttle thumbs up

There has been discussion on a group about developing pain during weaving.

For me it has always been about working as ergonomically as possible.

Physical ailments can prevent a weaver from weaving in many ways.  We deal with repetitive motions constantly, to the point of wearing down our bodies.  Some of us have actual injuries we need to work around.

So I try to explain the principles and then let the individual figure out how to make those principles work within their own particular circumstance.

Generally speaking, the thumbs up position is better than thumbs down.  

At the loom, sit with hips higher than knees.  Sit high enough shoulders do not have to hunch up to prevent elbows from banging into the breast beam.  Sit perched on the edge of the bench to prevent circulation from being cut off in your legs.  Sit on your sitz bones, not rotated back on your coccyx  Sit with abdominal muscles engaged.  Sit with straight back, no hunching of the shoulders across your back.

Wear some kind of protection on your feet.  At the very least socks, preferable a light shoe with some kind of protective sole.  On one loom I wear ballet slippers with the firm leather down the centre of the sole.  On the Megado I wear Merrells with a firm sole.

A few years ago (quite a few now) I did video clips and loaded them to You Tube.  They are amateur in terms of production and may not show the precise angle you would like to see.  We did a better job with the DVD where a professional photographer used three cameras to get different points of view.  (I was in no way responsible for the editing but I did the best I could to inform them of what I felt needed to be in the frame.)

That DVD has been turned into an on-line 'class' The Efficient Weaver

I also discuss a lot of the principles in The Intentional Weaver.

Or click on the ergonomic link to the right.

Take breaks.  Rest.  If you feel pain, stop.