Does anyone else suffer from sore hands when doing alot of hand sewing? I have spent the last couple of days sewing on binding and I have mild arthritis. I saw in some catalog a glove to wear while sewing to ease the discomfort. Do they work?

I have Lupus so stiff fingers can be a problem for me. I haven't seen the gloves you describe, but keeping your hands warm is the best thing. I use fingerless gloves (my son calls them Hobo Gloves!) they leave the ends of your fingers bare so you don't get into a muddle. I try and take regular breaks, and swap between handwork and machining. I have three projects on the go (2 machine and 1 handwork) so that helps.

It is frustrating but if you alternate and take the breaks, you get more done with less pain in the long run. Happy sewing!

Momo, I tried gloves I got for quilting/sewing from Hobby Lobby & didn't care for them. They may work for you & like I did, if yours don't work, you can take them back. Always worth a try. What works for one may be a different story for another.

I actually purchased, at the pharmacy, a glove that has a little steal bar in that keeps your hand in a correct position. I, absolutely positively have to use this when doing handquilting or my carpal tunnel goes insane.

Being a hand quilter only, I have the gloves and they do help me. It took awhile to get use to them, but for me, they work.

sewcrafty, can you post a pic & brand of the gloves you have to wear while hand sewing. The ones I got didn't have a steel bar. I'm willing to give anything a try, in the event it might help. I tried to use the stents the dr prescribed, but w/o much luck. I sleep with my R hand over my eyes & kept banging my forehead.....LOL.

I did hand hemming last night & both my hands are stiff & achy today. I had tests for carpal tunnel 12 yrs ago & that dr wanted to send me for surgery, but I'm not giving in until it's absolutely necessary.

I wonder if you meant these? They don't have any support bar, which is generally (as far as I know) for those with carpal tunnel problems. These gloves are fingerless, so more like mittens, and made of lycra for support.
http://thesewingplace.com/browseprod...ft-Gloves.HTML

I waited for years to have my surgery on my right hand it was at the point I was lossing feeling in my hand. The surgery was a piece of cake for me. I was released in 3 weeks some took 6 it just depend on you and how bad your's is and how fast you heal.I used the gloves for my right hand when sewing Joann carries them. and they seem to work for me. I wore them all day. I also used the one to keep you from bending you wrist during the night.. Vit B 6 is also good to take. I hope some of these will help you.

Lacelady, the ones in the link are like the ones I tried from Hobby Lobby. They didn't work for me, but they may work for others. I may have to go ahead & get the carpal tunnel surgery soon if I continue sewing very much.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I'm amazed you have managed for so long without the surgery, Sheila. I wore one of those splints for 9 months, before I got to see a consultant (UK waiting lists can be much longer at times). I had the surgery about three months later, and have a complete cure (over 15 years now, and still going strong), but it took me almost a full year to be fully recovered, with all my feeling back in the tips of my fingers. I gather that was due to nerves taking a long time to recover, but I have friends who got better much quicker than I did.