Do any of you get stiff fingers or pain in the palms of your hands when you do hand stitching/quilting. If so what do you do for this?
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Yes That is why I have to take a breakEvery 15 to20 min.
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I do a little bit, but I think it is because I am 55 and the Arthritis is setting in. I stop for a bit and go to the kitchen or play here on the computer or even watch a little telelvision, then I start back up again. Sometimes I do something else quilt related, like look up patterns or look at my fabric and think about the next quilt I want to do. Anything to give the hand a rest. I only have two and I must take care of them.
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well I am 54 and today, my hand hurts. The palm up one finger. Hurts to bend my fingers and I was not quilting long.
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do some hand exercises, get a squishy ball from the dollar store and squeeze it while watching tv I I sometimes flap my hands at the wrist to loosen them up when I quilt for too long.
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I am 26 and get this way! I find that if I stitch for to long I will get a cramp/swelling in the thumb area of my left hand (the hand I hold my project with) and in my right hand fingers! I find that it is worse when I have not stitched in a long time! What I do to releave the ache is I soak my hands in the hottest water I can handle, and then hold some heated rice packs. Sometimes the swelling gets so bag I can't make a fist the heat helps SO MUCH!!
I also get this way when I decide to crochet something. Since I don't crochet very often it takes a while for my hands/wrist to get use to it. The advice that Up North gave is great, here is a website that also lists some exersised for sewing! http://www.its-sew-karren.com/hand-exercises.html |
I have to do make sure my hands are good and warm and then do hand stretches, take frequent breaks, and change hand positions frequently. I have a tennis ball that I roll around in my hand like a massager, especially around my thumb area, or massage the sore areas with my opposite hand. I also will use rubber finger tips, they help to grip the needle and you don't have to pull as hard/or grip as hard with them on. It really is a trial and error to find out what works best for you. Keeping your wrists as straight as you can may help also...
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I have RA and have to be very careful when quilting - if I sit too long my hips get stiff, my left hand thumb hurts often. Warmth is what is needed... also if I know I'm going to be quilting for awhile - I will take an Aleve prior to starting - that helps alot.
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Last year, I had a quilt to finish for Christmas, and was hand quilting all day. I kept a heating pad turned on, and would take that and wrap around my hand every so often. Soaking your hand in hot epsom salt water will help tremendously also
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thank you all for the great tips. I will use them
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