The thumbs up is more general, indicating you like / agree with / follow / empathise with  the poster rather than a specific post

Now you've gone and made me think. What happens if someone were to thumbs down someone? Would it take Kharma points away??? 

I always forget about the thumbs.....

I should stay off the web today. My first thought to the title was..."the kind with holes". 


I've always used traditional Masonite pegboard. It spray paints nicely. My Mom was an antiques dealer, mostly small goods and had two sets of 2' x 4' pegboards, framed out and hinged which she could set up on tables to increase her space. They were sprayed a sort of flat royal blue. Quite nice. What I do use of hers is an old 3 panel wooden screen that had originally  been set with fabric panels. She ripped off the fabric and stapled poultry screening in its place. Hang stuff on it with little s hooks. Sort of fun.

@Efemera , your chair should be at a height where your thigh is about parallel with the floor. Then your table should be at a height where your arms  can rest comfortably with your fore arms parallel to the top while sewing.

It will all vary depending on how tall you are, your upper back length, i.e. how tall you sit in the chair, the table, the chair, etc. It can take awhile getting it all sorted out.

Sounds like you need your foot pedal raised up on a platform. Just put something non skid on it and it works fine. Ask how I know! 

Thanks @Francesca . I'd not heard of Safesearch. I do live under a rock apparently.  It's turned on now. I'll be able to tell by the swearing if it impedes OH in his Internet exploits.  Will it filter out idiotic Facebook pages? Political pages? 

Years ago, maybe 2000, when we first had a computer, I mentioned to a friend I should find the value on my old Barbie doll and maybe sell it. She suggested about.com, you can find out everything there. Yeah.... Entered barbie doll, went to a legit doll forum. Lots of links, all informative. Then one took me to a porn portal and hijacked my computer. Couldn't get away from the page, so shut off the internet. The imagery, a video no less, was playing still. Turned off the computer. After some smelling salts  I turned it back on and it was still there. Took me a consult with someone much more savvy to get rid of all of it.

Mentioned it to OH. He laughed it off. Then, suddenly, every time I went to search for something some really heinous phrase would pop up in the search bar. Sometimes unbidden pages would also pop up while I was browsing. WTH? Seems OH was "inspired" by my discovery and had launched into an abundance of searches. Now, get this. Totally innocent of course. Had to nip that in the bud. Took a little interaction with his Pastor to get him sorted out. Told him get your own computer and own place to live if you want to watch that garbage.

He has no idea how to find let alone clear the web history. I do. 

Annie, sure. Here's a link to OSHA's Sewing Ergonomics pages. This is sewing station design, please look at all the other pages too and especially stitching. Here's an infographic from the page.

Hmmm. You shouldn't need to bend over when you're sewing. Is that an issue with adequate lighting or needing vision correction?  Sometimes we think we need our nose in there but if you look at the image a lot of us slouch/crouch  in front of the machine.

It starts at the bottom. Feet should be level, chair height so your thighs are basically level. Chair should have lumbar support-adjusted to you- and your back should contact the back of the chair. Ideally the machine is flat bed in the table top so your wrists aren't tweaked. Your forearms should be level while sewing. If using a portable machine using an extension table helps to give you a larger level surface.

You have to adjust the table top, seat and floor for all of that. Table higher or lower, seat higher or lower, maybe a cushion under you and possibly a platform for your feet and the foot pedal.

I'm 5' 8', very long torso so sit high in the seat. My table is too high so I need a cushion and a platform for my feet, as my legs are sorta short. It does feel like I'm far away from the action of the needle but with proper lighting and decent glasses I can get used to it. Partially it's retraining ourselves to adopt better posture.
 My PT also said not to sit there for more than 20 minutes without getting up and walking across the room. Just takes a minute but it interrupts bad posture.




OSHA is US Dept. of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration. I get great factoids from them.

Nothing to report, all UFo's still snug in their resting places.

Did however just remember another...cough cough...Disappearing 9 Patch throw, actually the first one I tried, in lovely Spring hues, an English Garden type floral for the big squares, assorted green foliage types for the half block parts and a red from the floral for the small accent square.

As Spring is hard upon us I should likely start there. It's going to be 70-79 F over Fri to Monday, or 21-26 C for you all.  This after very low 60's and upper 50's....

Perhaps for some small things you might like playing around with one of the knitting looms. Those are small and portable and a bit of fun.

I'm a terrible knitter. Didn't try until a few years ago, took lessons even, and it's horrible. I've got Carpal Tunnel, both wrists so knitting is just not fun, as I can only do a few rows even on a neck scarf.

I coveted a knitting machine, read decent things about the Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine and OH kindly got one for my birthday a few years ago. Proudly the Man said he used a 60% off coupon.  I've taught him well.

I've tried. If and when I ever get it to work I'll let you know. I get a jam on the needle beds, a combo of not being able to leave it up and uneven antique tables and a dolt operating the machine. It's a two part plastic bed so grr to get aligned right. There are some nice looking garments made on them. I like stockinette and simple so it's right for me in that respect.

The Bond is no longer made, stopped right after this was bought.

Being able to leave one set up would really be good.