The Absolute Best Sewing Chair for Quilters and Sewists

Today’s post will be ALL about the best chair for sewing (in my humble opinion.) The chair that I will be featuring is the chair that I use every time I sew and quilt. This is my own personal experience, and I am not being paid to give this review.

Let’s jump right into the sewing chair review and discuss why I think every sewist should invest in this chair! I’ll also address some FAQs about sewing chairs at the end of this blog post. 

A Comprehensive Review of the Boliss Ergonomic Sewing Chair

As most, if not all of you know, sewing and quilting can be taxing on the body. Sitting for hours at a time working on a project is fun but can be rough on your body, especially your lower back, hips, and legs. Trust me, I know. 

A Bit of a Backstory

At the beginning of December (2022), I decided to invest my hard-earned money into a chair that would support my body. I suffered from chronic lower back pain and sciatica issues. 

I had been using a bar stool that I got secondhand from my parents. I was using this because I have a standing sewing table, which I LOVE. I enjoy the option of either standing or sitting for work. That being said, finding a tall enough ergonomic chair that was comfortable and within my price range took a bit of work. 

My Requirements

I spent weeks (in the evenings after work) searching the interwebs for a good sewing chair. There were a few things that were super important to me.

• Some sort of footrest
• Ergonomic sewing chair
• Adjustable height and back angle
• Armrests
• Large seat
• Lumbar support
• Within my budget

As you can see, I had several “musts” while hunting. When I had a regular-height desk, I had a cheap office chair for sewing, which just wasn’t going to be an option this time. I needed to buy something that would support my body. 

After weeks of searching, I found the chair of my dreams! I’m still SO in love with my chair and Every. Single. Time. I sit in it, I just think, “Wow! I am So glad I bought this thing!”

Want to know my other MUST-HAVES for quilters? Watch the video below!

The Chair

The chair I decided to purchase was the Boliss Ergonomic Drafting Chair. Don’t worry; if you have a standard-height sewing table or desk, I’ve got you. Boliss actually makes this exact chair in a standard office chair height which is fantastic!

This chair checks on the boxes and then some! Let’s discuss some of the excellent features this sewing chair offers.

Adjustable Armrests

This is a feature I didn’t know I needed until I had it! Sometimes I want to have my arms fully supported by sewing, and sometimes I want to be able to hang my elbows down. The adjustable armrests make this the perfect quilting chair.

Curved Large Seat

I absolutely love the seat of this chair. I used to suffer from sciatic pain almost every time I did any sewing. Since switching to this chair, I do not get that pain anymore. The seat is made from a thick molded foam that is thicker near your hips to give them plenty of support.

Adjustable Footrest

It’s essential to have a footrest for a chair that is this tall. If you are working for an extended period of time, you don’t want your feet just dangling because they’ll fall asleep, and that’s just Ouch! This chair has a ring all around the chair that you can adjust the height. 

The only downside of this chair is you have to readjust the height of the chair. It slowly slides down the shaft of the chair, but that takes 30 seconds to readjust it to the correct height. 

Adjustable Height

Unlike my bar stool which was NOT adjustable, this chair can be adjusted depending on what type of sewing I’m doing. Sometimes I like the chair to be at its highest; for example, when quilting, I want to be super close to my work.

On the other hand, if I am piecing quilt blocks, I usually lower the seat a couple of inches and lean back while I piece my blocks. I love having the option to adjust the sewing chair height. This is another reason I believe this is the best chair for sewing.

Breathable Mesh Back

There’s nothing quite so uncomfortable as when you are middle of quilting a large quilt and realize your back is super hot and sweaty. Sorry if that’s gross to anyone, but hey, it’s reality! 

The back of this sewing machine chair is made from breathable mesh that keeps me cool for hours quilting, which is a HUGE bonus for me!

Curved Back

The back is also curved to give you lumbar support. This is another undeniably crucial element the best sewing chair should have.

I’ve seen plenty of chairs marketed specifically to sewists and quilters, but the back is just a small straight board with a bit of padding on it. I can’t imagine giving the same lumbar support that the Boliss Ergonomic Chair does. Plus, those chairs are always SO incredibly expensive. 

Color Options

Another super cool feature is you can order it in several different colors. I went with the light grey colorway, and I love it. It looks modern yet soft in my sewing space. The other available colors are:

• Dark Brown
• Black
• Dark Grey
• White

Sturdy Frame

This is not a flimsy, cheaply-made Ikea chair. Don’t get me wrong; I love Ikea; my table is actually from Ikea. This chair, however, I found on Amazon, and it has a sturdy metal frame and weighs nearly 50 lbs on its own. 

It also has a weight capacity of 400 lbs which is awesome. The shorter version has a weight capacity of 500 lbs! It’s great to have an inclusive chair brand that doesn’t make cheap, flimsy chairs for sewing.

Review Wrap Up!

So, even though the Boliss Ergonomic Chair isn’t necessarily marketed towards sewists and quilters, in my opinion, it truly is the best chair for sewing, no matter what kind you want to do. I’ve had it for eight months, and it still looks and feels brand new, and I don’t plan on switching it out for another chair any time soon. And even if I did, I would probably purchase another Boliss brand chair. They have proved their quality, and I’m officially a fan of the company. 

FAQs about Sewing Chairs

Let’s discuss a few FAQs that pop up when looking into the best chair for sewing and quilting. 

Is a Chair or Stool Better for Sewing?

This is a fascinating question, and honestly, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. What is comfortable for one person may not be for another. If you prefer sitting on a stool, then go for it!

For most people, a chair is going to be more comfortable, though. They have a lot more support, and you can have a back to lean on and an armrest if you prefer.

Is a Saddle Stool Good for Sewing?

Talk about interesting questions! I would say, for most people, no, a saddle stool isn’t the best choice for a sewing chair. That being said, if you are comfortable with this type of stool and prefer it, then by all means, use one!

There are no “rules” regarding what chair you can or cannot use. The most important thing must be your comfort, especially if you plan to sew for hours. 

Do you have other questions about sewing chairs and how to choose the right one for you? I wrote an entire article on How To Choose the Right Sewing Chair, with several examples of excellent chairs for sewing. 

I hope you found this review helpful and that you consider the Boliss Ergonomic Chair for your sewing chair needs. It really is the best chair for sewing, in my humble opinion, of course. Hehe

Thank you for stopping by, and happy stitches!