I personally prefer a milleners needle to a short needle, and I only use good quality needles (John James, English, Bohin,French, etc, no cheap made in china junk). They are sharp and last longer, when I have tried to go with cheap they aren't cheap because I don't use them. If you check the points and shaft under a magnifying glass there is a difference.

I also prefer a fine needle, nothing less than a size 10 (and I have arthritis in my hands).

So my suggestion is that you try different sizes and brands to see what is comfortable for you and maybe you need to relax and enjoy the process more.

Longarm

I feel real klutzy using a regular thimble, so I use stick on leather dots called : ThimblePad. They stick on to your finger, so you can place them in the exact location you need. They can be used over and over until the adhesive no longer is sticky. I place them on my magnetic pin cushion when I'm finished using it and it's right there and ready for use the next time. Also using a smaller needle is helpful.

I do it that way and just stretch fingers periodically.

Take lots of breaks. I'll sew for awhile then get up and do something else for awhile. I can't sit very long so taking lots of breaks is necessary for me. That also helps relax your fingers. :thumbup:

I would also say check the needle size. The smaller the needle the easier. It can be tiresome hand stitching. I do a lot of hand quilting throughout the day and then soak my hands in hot water for a while. Aaahh that feels better!

Put in a long movie! Even when I have the right needles and needle pullers I still sometimes get antsy or overwhelmed when I look ahead at how much I have left to do. But if I'm watching a movie while my hands are at work, glancing up now and then, I get so much more done because my mind is focused on listening to the movie and not on how much I have left to do. And I'm quite content to sit for a few hours if it's for watching a good movie.

My 4 fingers gets numb, lets see, cell, computer, quilting, driving, rolling my hair--- and I know it is Carpal tunnel--I am waiting to have the surgery in November..then I can sew until then. I have the hand brace to wear at night, and it seems to help, some.

You may have done too much in one sitting. I usually break mine into manageable chunks.

I learned to use a smaller needle and not do so much in one sitting. Otherwise my fingers hurt too.