What did Sir Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, and Thomas Jefferson know that we don’t know?
They all worked standing up! Each used a work surface conveniently set at a comfortable height for standing. They discovered standing while working gave them more energy, clearer thinking, and made them far more productive than when sitting.
Makes sense to me! I’ve been standing up to embroider for years, and it does make me more productive. Perhaps it’s the lovely, broad surface right next to my machine for hooping up fabric, or it could be that it’s easier to see the work in progress closer to eye level. Setting my laptop on the opposite end of my high cutting table works well, too. It’s very easy to just step around to the computer when editing designs. Whatever the reason, I’ve always gone back to the standing option every time I’ve experimented with sitting while embroidering.
The only problem is that I love to sew as well as embroider. Sewing works better for me at a lower height level. So, I found myself moving my embroidery machine from the high cutting table down to the sewing cabinet. It’s a solution, but not a good one.
Horn 2000 MultiLift
Enter the Horn MultiLift Adjustable Table. I love, love, love this solution! This table includes a lift for your sewing machine which raises the machine up to sewing position or drops it down below the table surface so you have a wide cutting surface. Nifty, but no different that the other Horn cabinets. The real treasure in this table is that the whole table has another automatic lift that raises and lowers the height of the entire table. So, up high for embroidery and then down low for sewing is achieved at the touch of a button. And, I don’t have to actually move the sewing machine at all!
Dimensions:
- Width: 60″
- Height: 29″ to 42″
- Weight: 194 pounds
Features:
- Dual electric lift legs allow for smooth height adjustment
- 2 button controller raises or lowers the table to the right height for you
- Three position touch release airlift to raise and lower your sewing machine
- Power strip included for easy connection of your machine and other electric accessories
- Large 60″ x 29″ work surface doubles as a cutting table
- One drawer on nylon rollers with stop and storage slot for filler board and insert
- Completely assembled – just install casters
- Optional 3 drawer caddie (05.81) available for more storage (fits under 2000 drawer)
- Optional insert available – custom fit around your sewing machine and flush with the table surface
Horn MultiLift Table Closed
This table was originally designed to make cutting fabric easier on your back. Makes sense, especially in light of a study done with Boeing employees several years ago. The Spine Resource Clinic at the University of Washington studied the backs of 31,200 Boeing employees and found that sitting puts 40% to 80% more stress on the back than standing. Another interesting report of a study I came across states that standing will burn nearly 10,000 more calories per month than sitting. Now, I couldn’t verify that study but a girl can dream, can’t she?
There are a few little lessons I’ve learned along the way with this new work system.
Take some time to find the perfect height for you. My perfect height is 35″, but it could range anywhere up to 42″. You should be comfortable at your work surface and not need to lean over as you work.
Don’t lock your knees as you stand at your table. Just put a little spring in your knees – no need to squat like a duck! Locked knees can inhibit blood flow and make you dizzy. I learned this while attending a Coast Guard graduation ceremony. Two of the young men keeled over like fallen trees right in the middle of the event. They were hauled off quickly and reappeared later no worse for the wear. It was quite a shock for the families in the audience, though. Upon further inquiry we were told that this was quite common and happened often during the ceremonies. The kids had been trained not to lock their knees, but the stress of standing at attention in front of a large audience often caused them to forget! Easily avoided with a little spring in your knees.
When you get tired, sit down for 5 or 10 minutes; have a cuppa. During the first few days you will probably feel tired fairly frequently, but this goes away soon and you’ll enjoy your improved productivity and mobility.
posted by Suzy Poor
