Sewing Machine Safety: Dos And Don'ts For Beginners

27 August 2015
 Categories: Industrial & Manufacturing, Blog

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Learning how to sew can be a fun experience, but when the time comes to begin working with sewing machines, there are some important safety considerations you'll want to keep in mind so as to avoid serious injury. Specifically, you'll want to be aware of the safety tips you should follow when working on a sewing machine and the common safety mistakes you'll want to be careful to avoid. From there, you can enjoy a safe and fun experience with your sewing machine.

DO Invest in Finger Guards

One of the most common injuries related to sewing is that of accidentally puncturing the skin with a needle. This can be especially dangerous when working with a sewing machine, as all it takes is one little slip to accidentally sew right through your finger. Ouch! Fortunately, this is an easy injury to avoid by simply wearing finger guards. Most sewing machines and sewing kits come with these included, but you can also purchase your own at your local craft store.

DON'T Sew Over Pins

When working with straight pins, it can be tempting to try and sew over them rather than re-arranging them as you work. However, sewing over pins can not only affect the quality of your stitch, but can also be downright dangerous. Specifically, sewing over a pin can cause it to bend and eventually break, resulting in injury if you accidentally get poked with the broken pin. Your sewing machine isn't designed to sew over a pin, just as it isn't designed to sew through super thick material.

DO Ensure Proper Form

Believe it or not, proper posture and form while working at your sewing machine can also help to prevent injuries. When you're hunched over a sewing machine for an extended period of time, you could easily end up with neck and back injuries. To avoid these, make sure your chair is adjusted so that your feet are flat on the floor as you work and your arms are parallel with your work space.

DON'T Toss Used Needles in Trash

When discarding of used or broken needles, make sure you do so appropriately. Don't just toss them in your trash bag; you could end up getting poked when you go to take the trash out. Instead, place discarded needles in an empty prescription bottle or even in an old mint tin. Once it's full, you can toss it in the trash safely.