I never thought I'd be writing a blog post like this one, but as DT get more and more mobile, I think a lot about their safety. My sewing space is right next to their bedroom and GT has been known to take a detour on the way to nap. If you've got littles in your house, grandkiddies who visit, or even an overly curious fur child, some of these baby proofing tips might be useful to you!
There's no question that if you have a dedicated sewing space, as I am lucky enough to, you can close the door on all that potential danger. But one day you'll forget. Or they'll learn to turn a door knob! ☺
Before leaving my studio, I tidy my desk. Each. And. Every. Time. Even if I think I'm coming right back. Think of all the sharp edges (rotary cutters, seam rippers, pins, scissors) and wee things (safety pins, Wonder Clips). Danger! Danger! Danger! I push my machine to the middle of the desk and place my scissors back against the wall or in a drawer where BT can't grab them.
You may have noticed this handy mug in a few shots of my work space. When I leave my desk, the (closed) rotary cutter, seam ripper, and just about anything else goes in!
I try to think about all the wee things that live on my studio desk. Thankfully, bobbins and presser feet can be easily contained in my machine's handy flip top storage area.
My trusty Wonderclips are very attractive wee things. That's why they live in a container with a screw top!
Given that my ironing board is always set up, I make an effort to unplug my magic cookie making iron AND put the cord up onto the board. BT has a quite a reach and he wouldn't hesitate to grab that cord!
I read a tip some time ago about safely disposing of broken needles and bent pins. Ever since, I've saved medicine bottles to use as sharps containers. When full, you can toss the container in the trash without worry.
Related to sharps, the other item I'm planning to add to my tools is a magnetic wand to be swept across the carpet each and every time I drop a pin or break a needle. Better for me to take a couple minutes from my sewing then for GT to have it in her tiny pincer grip.
I'm linking up today with
Tips & Tutorials Tuesday @ Late Night Quilter!
Got more safety tips? Please share them in a comment!
J
P.S. Apologies for the slightly wonky formatting on this post. The html seems to have gone a little cattywampus behind the scenes and I didn't have the time/energy to re-write the post!
Great post! There are presently no little ones to worry about at my house but this is good information for everyone. I use an old prescription bottle as well for getting rid of sharp items but mine is a bit wider and holds my old rotary blades as well as the pins and needles. I hate the idea of someone coming across any of those things laying loose in a garbage can - yikes!
ReplyDeleteGood idea on using the sharps container for rotary blades. I usually put them into the package for the new one and tape them shut.
DeleteMy kids and grands are past the point, but still good advice. I learned to unplug appliances when I came home one day to the sound of the vacuum which the cats had managed to turn on during a tusslebout. Needless to say they were cowering in the far reaches of the house, doing their best to feign innocence!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas, even if I only have fur babies! I learned early on that the pin cushion has to be high and covered or buried in my EPP bag if it is to remain safe. And I ended up buying a seam ripper with a sturdy lid on it in case it fell to the floor. Elvis has been known to get things in his big ol' hound mouth before I can grab them! And I need to invest in a magnet, I've found a stray pin more than once in the carpet near the machine!
ReplyDeleteI haven't quite figured out how to manage the pincushion issue. I've considered creating one I can hang on my bulletin board to get it up and out of the way.
DeleteGreat advice on the sharps container! I just wrap things in paper, but I think I'm going to start using an old perscription bottle!
ReplyDeleteawesome tips. You would be appalled at the state of my studio...
ReplyDeleteThis post triggered a memory for me. Back in 1992, my son was four years old. I left my sewing machine on the desk and left the room. He climbed up on the chair to check out the machine. Somehow he pulled the whole thing off of the desk. I heard that crashing sound and ran back to my room. He was terrified, but not hurt. The worst of it was that we had just put in new hardwood floor is and the machine left a huge gouge in the floor. I practically cried when I saw it.
ReplyDeleteIt only takes a second for anything to happen. Nice post Jen.
Dangers lurk all around the sewing room, don't they? Thanks for sharing these tips!
ReplyDeleteAll of these are great tips and definitely something to think about. I've been lucky in that everyone in my house, human and furry, have been big enough to leave things alone. Now that we have a kitten my eyes have been opened. She likes to try to run off with things like sharp scissors and stray presser feet. Everything has to be put away. She can be on my table and off like a shot quicker than I can press a seam :(
ReplyDeleteJenn, great post and oh, so very important to be mindful of! I just have cats and dogs to worry about, but I have to take certain precautions with them, too! XO
ReplyDeleteI have a cat who loves my sewing room. I have never worried about her being in there with or without me. The other day, I heard something fall on the floor with a bang. She had taken a small pair of scissors out of the container where I keep them and was biting on the handles. The container is now in a drawer.
ReplyDeleteAll great suggestions. Thanks for sharing. You may need to put a lock on the door!
ReplyDeleteNo children for me to worry about but thread can be deadly to animals. I'm very careful to put all spools and bobbins away to avoid the possibility of long threads wrapping around the intestines of my precious fur baby.
ReplyDeleteI was nowhere near that careful with my sewing supplies when my boys were that little (the youngest two are 10 and 11 now.) Instead, I set an example by being a total klutz. They'd seen my scorch my fingers on the iron, get myself with needles....The only injury that hasn't been to me was years and years ago when my daughter stepped on her own sewing needle and we had to pull it out with pliers. OUCH!
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine quilting with little ones in the house! Once our dog was playing with a pin...the cute ones with pretty flowers...freaked me out. Safety is always important, much more so with children. I freak out when I drop a pin because I know my husband would hit the ceiling if he found a stray weapon like that!
ReplyDeleteAll good tips! I use the Sharps container that you made still! I haven't filled it yet and was showing my aunt the other day :)
ReplyDelete