Are There Proper Tatting Ergonomics?

[carolivy]

Like Squeeky I tend to tat very tightly. Recently I finished a doily project that I started quite a while ago. I was shocked at how different my tension was then and now. I had to really back off on how tightly I tatted so that it didn't look different when finished. I found that by easing up on how tight I was tatting my hands didn't tire near as fast and the rings closed much easier. I also have one of those squishy balls for hand excercising that I use to to give my hands a break from the tatting and as Lynn says a good hand massage helps wonders too.

[xstchntat]

My hands tend to swell from time to time because of the lupus. Take a few breaks from it every now & then. All of the ideas the others have shared are wonderful. Most important though you must listen to your body. Pain means something is wrong. Finding the cause and correcting it will profit you in the long run. It could be the way you are holding things or just concentrating so hard that you are clamping your muscles too tight. Relax your tatting should be enjoyable and fun.

[fiberthyme]

Thank you everyone for the help. The video for hand/finger exercises may help me with all the activities I love. I do believe the Relax advise is one I need to take seriously! I need to remember that I do all these activities for the enjoyment of them and not for the speed of completion.

Thanks again.

[Lynn]

That's the spirit. Enjoy the journey.

[Judy]

Because of a nerve condition, I cannot use shuttle methods that require much of a "pinch". So mostly I needle tat. Its also Ok to needle tat, and work up to shuttle tatting a little bit at a time, practicing each day. We often laugh about how we hold the threads... each one is a bit different. We say, "The knot does not care how it is made."

[morganphoenix]

One thing my md suggested to me when I was having repetetive motion pain was to wear braces on my hands and wrist while sleeping. He said that while we sleep our hands go into funny positions which makes the problem worse. It worked very well.

[Kersti]

I suffer from two disorders that mean by rights I should not be at all interested in tatting - one is de quervain's syndrome, which is a problem with the tendons that allow the thumb and fingers to grip and the other is a tendency to tennis elbow.

You're likely gripping too hard at the moment, especially as you're just learning - it's quite natural to want to wrestle control from this strange object (if you also find yourself poking your tongue out while you do tricky bits be careful not to sneeze - I did that once!)

You need to be aware of your grip, an experienced tatter will have a light grip on the shuttle/needle. If you notice that you're tense, put it all down, stretch out your hands and fingers and then pick it up again.

Try to set a timer so that you only do 45 mins at a time. As you get more experienced you will be able to do more.

If your hands are sore after a session, wrap them in ice. Ibuprofen can be good to relieve inflamation but do check that you're OK to take that, stear clear of it if there's any chance you could be pregnant for example.

Never ever ever start a session if your hands are sore to begin with. It's not worth it. Wait a day and see how they are then. Trust me, you'll miss out a lot more if you push too hard - I ended up having to give up a career I really loved because of pain. Spend the day surfing for the next pattern you'll do instead :)

You may also find it useful to do a multitude of crafts - each craft has different movements, so if you tat one day then knit the next and crochet after that for example you are moving in different ways each day, this can help you not overuse the same muscles.

And finally, there are exercises that can help strengthen the muscles and tendons in your hand - check with a physiotherapist for advice.

[Ireneho]

Don't hold the shuttle with a death grip!! I used to do that... :(

[tatting margaret]

I think most of the replies have answered your question, You must relax your hand and when you have a few mins, now I am not being rude when I say this do some finger exercises, wriggle your fingers on both hands, rotate your wrists every so often during the day, you need to strengthen your fingers a little, when your hand gets tired rest it for a while go make yourself a cup of tea and then start again, in time you will be able to tat for longer.

I think when you tat you are trying to get the tatting right that you are riged and not relaxed, just relaxe and you will find it won't hurt so much, practice, practice and more practice it will become easier.

Margaret

[Lacetatting]

Well...you all said the things allready,

I can well remember the pain, cramping and frustration, when I learned to tat with the shuttle!
at first the akward movement to get the flip and the tension right....with time, it becomes an easy swift movement, pretty much a reflex, and you and your fingers relax and there is no pain at all from the work with the shuttle.
With practice and time, you will automatically seize to think about it and might not even spread and move all fingers. By now, I hardly move my fingers anymore...it's more like flicking the finger really, as a group of us noticed while tatting across one another.
Just a short tuck with the middle and index finger flips the knot in place.

Many shuttle tatters have noticed the same, when tatting at their work speed, I am sure.
Don't give up, as with every new exercise...it gets easier and better