In honor of International Repetitive Strain Injury Day on February 28th, we decided to go into the Handwoven archives and resurface this valuable article from September/October 2008, about positioning a warping board and winding warps in such as way as to avoid injury. - Susan
Photo above left: In studios where warp preparation is infrequent and wall space at a premium, a portable stand can provide a practical way to have height adjustability. Tapestry artist Lyn Hart of Tucson, Arizona (www.desertsongstudio.com), uses the Spriggs tripod stand. It’s available from Hill Creek Fiber Studio.
Photo above right: Using notched pegs, fiber artists Ann Keuper (near right) and Julie Hul (far right) created a height-adjustable wall mount to accommodate weavers who work and study at their studio in Tucson, Arizona. Because winding a warp is a dynamic activity with wide arm movement, it’s not surprising that most people stand. For those who sit, a stool that tilts from its base to move with the body can reduce reaching and straining.
From a purely physical perspective, using a warping board doesn’t top the list of ergonomic issues for most weavers. Viewed holistically, though, winding a warp is a complex task. There’s the mental activity of counting, the need to apply even tension while winding non-overlapping threads, muscle tension induced by anxiety to avoid problems at the loom, and repetitive motion. Add personal concerns (e.g., shoulder injury; fibromyalgia), and there’s ample motivation to apply these basic ergonomic principles:
Fit the environment to yourself.
Select a board whose proportions match your arm span, vary the board height according to how your body feels each day, and have adequate light without glare.
Find your personal compromise between eyesight and movement needs.
For a starting point, have the cross at eye-level, then adjust board height to accommodate your movement pattern; consider changing eyeglasses if there’s a mismatch between your focal distance and comfortable arm reach.
Use gross movements with large muscles wherever possible.
Position your feet to create an open base; shift your body weight side to side to minimize shoulder reaching.
Use balanced, non-extreme postures.
Let your knees be unlocked. Keep your head upright over your shoulders, elbows near the body, and hands moving between shoulder and waist height. Use both hands in symmetrical rhythm.
Use minimal effort.
Monitor your breathing, be deliberate about ambient sound, trust yourself, and enjoy the process.
Respond to changes from project to project.
Readjust the board position if your body rhythm changes with different warp lengths or yarn characteristics.