It Never Fails
 

It never fails. Each time I make a quilt for someone else, I bleed. Somehow, I bleed. Today, I was trying to grasp my bobbin thread after I had brought it to the top. Suddenly, my needle went down, back up, down again and then back up again, through my finger, nail and all! I had to slide my finger off of the needle. Worst part is, my foot wasn't on or near the foot pedal. My LQS says this happens sometimes when there's lint in the base of the machine.

So, now, I'm slightly nauseous, dizzy and lightheaded. Thankfully, DH was home from work today and came to the rescue with the first aid kit. My finger's pretty numb at the moment and bandaged to the hilt, so I'm just reclining and recuperating. And thankfully, there's no blood on the quilt.

That must be awful to go through the nail. I have hit the side of my finger a couple of times and that hurt bad enough. I hope you feel better soon and find out why your machine took off on its own.

It's more traumatic then hurt when that happens. A day of pamapering works wonders. Been there! If I prick myself with a pin while sewing a quilt I just think well who knows, I could be cloned from that tiny speck of blood one day. LOL

Glad you are ok....and no blood on the quilt.....did you know the hydrygen perixoide took blood out,,,,and even better if it is just a tiny spot, your own spit !!!!!!!

oh my, think about a tetanus shot too hon!!!

Keep watch for infection, we need all the quilters well and healthy

Adults need a tetanus shot every 10 years! Sorry you are injured. Be safe.

Sorry to hear about your boo-boo. I've only been quilting a few years and I've had tons of pin pricks and only one rotary cuttery nick. It makes me cringe to even think about your injury.

Ooh, I'd better go find some wood to knock on. :o

I am not a doctor, or a nurse, but if your finger is numb that can mean nerve damage. I hope not but maybe you should see a doctor. Feel better soon and take care of yourself!

I'm not diabetic but have relatives who are and they have to be real careful about injuries. If you are diabetic call your doctor!

You really do put a little of yourself in each quilt!

I should talk - I'm a klutz too!

LOL, thanks ladies. My finger is no longer numb, but throbbing. I don't know when I last had a tetanus shot, though, so I think I will call the doctor about that. I should just expect these things when I quilt for other people. A few years back, I was rotary cutting late at night and my finger was over the edge of the ruler just a little. That was quite a night. Still hurt less than my finger now, or so it seems right now, lol.

Ouch! Hope you feel better soon!

I know someone who was making a shark-themed quilt for her young daughter and bled on the blue-and-white quilt. Her daughter insisted she leave the blood stain in, because after all, it was a SHARK quilt. Made me want to adopt that little girl!!!

I've done that and yes, it really hurts. Once you rule out infection or tetanus, you'll heal pretty quickly, though. Kisses on the booboo.

Poor Honey :( HANG IN THERE!!! oUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Usually that applies to a foot injury. A slow healing injury needs to be reported to your dr. but otherwise, you should be fine.

I seriously doubt there was any tetanus bacteria, on your needle, so don't freak out about that. Unless you've been using that needle to dig outside, chances are it's relatively clean. Still a good idea, to talk to a doctor, though.

Sorry - but i have to agree with the crowd....have the doctor look. Puncture wounds are the most likely to get infected because "germs" get pushed down inside - and also they take the longest to heal. Staff can be found everywhere !! Not trying to be a doom-sayer or to scare you -- but in this case -given where and how you did this -- it's just best to be safe -- and a tetanis booster if you need one is always a good idea anyway. We all just want you to be ok.

The worst I have done - knock on wood - was I use to always stick a finger with a pin or needle and bleed on several quilts and comforters. I'm sure glad I started being more careful.
good Luck.

I have to be careful about letting any blood loose.....being on blood thinners. I do notice blood flows freely now then it did before I started Coumadin.

Glad your feeling better!!

I am so sorry you had that problem with the machine! And I know just how painful that can be....it was just a couple months ago that I got my finger in the way and my trusty 6600 jammed that needle down, breaking it into four pieces, three of which ended up in my finger. I was able to pull out one, but had to have one piece surgically cut out (after it got infected) and left a very tiny piece still in there. $1000 in medical bills made that quilt for grandson a very expensive one! You need to keep a close eye on the finger for fever, redness and swelling, all indicators of infection.

Oh, you poor thing! I'm sick just thinking about it.

I accidentally cut the knuckle of my thumb with a rotary cutter. I bled a lot. I went to Emergency USA where the doctor washed the wound with special disinfectants. Its a good thing when you think about all the chemicals used in making fabrics, and the amount of time the needle has been in use going thru fabrics made in of all sorts of locations. My advice is to avoid infection.

Owie!!!! I put a needle through the center of my fingernail last year. It hit the bone and broke off into 3 pieces, which are still there. I am so much more careful now.

This makes my fingers hurt just thinking about it! Be sure and watch it for any signs of infection. So sorry you have a booboo and hoping it feels better really soon!

If the needle is still usable, REPLACE IT. That one has TASTED BLOOD!!!

My stomach is queasy thinking (and picturing) this. Not long after I started quilting, my quilt teacher's teenage daughter had the needle go through her finger through the nail. Years later, every time I think of that it gives me the heeby jeebies and makes my stomach flip. If that ever happens to me (please God, no!) I hope I keep a level head. I'm sorry this happened to you. Too late now, but I wonder if soaking it in Epsom salts or something would have helped with the throbbing.

One note on tetanus shots...yes, it's 10 years between boosters, but that's only if you're wound free for that period. If your last shot was over 5 years ago, you'll need a booster to be fully covered.

Any puncture wound can be extremely dangerous for anyone. They heal from the outside in and seal bacteria inside the wound. Get to a doctor even if you think you're fine.

OUCH this hurts to read about! Sorry it happened to you

My advice, "don't bleed on the cutwork"--my son and I quote this every time we load up the quilting machine--those ten penny nails (our quilting pins) will get you every time.....

Your injury made my tummy turn over--I've only witnessed a bad rotary cutter finger slicing once in my quilting career (it was awful, they almost had to hospitalize me, not the injured lady); most of the needle and pin pricks have been pretty minor. DH would have had to take me to the hospital if I had been there helping you....hope you're doing better now.

Sorry to hear about your "owie". Hope you and your finger are feeling better today.

The queasiness is the worst! An operator at a garment factory where I worked did just what you did but asked me to raise the needle because she just couldn't. I did it for her and then we were BOTH queasy. My own blood doesn't bother me but another person's sure does.

Please take care of yourself.

And if it's been more than two years, with an puncture wound like yours, its a good idea to just get another booster! Keep your eye on your wound over the next few days!! (and so sorry, too!!)

Sorry, just read all the responses and saw Ghostrider's post... didn't mean to duplicate messages, but she explained it perfectly!!

My feelings too....Sorry for the injury and hope you will be back to quilting soon.

Thanks everyone. The finger is still sore today and I'm finding out how hard it is to type with a missing digit. :/ The best part? Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm leaving my twenties behind and what a wonderful way to start my thirties. On the phone with the doctor, now, about getting in for a tetanus booster.

I use a long quilting pin to pull the threads out from under the foot. smile. never put a needle through a finger, but I have done the cutter bit and took off a good slice of my left index finger. sigh... Found blood spots on a quilt top i made by DGD. Plain cold water took it out. Used a q- tip to scrub it.

Pennif is correct. Puncture wounds need to be looked at. SIL told me they make a gas or something.

I have done this more than once. The first time I was working on my Mother's old treadle machine and stuck the needle through my thumb right in the middle of the nail. Did it again more recently and just missed the nail of my thumb. Now, I use a pin or something to grab that thread because don't want a repeat!

Ouch! I hope your finger feels better soon. Have you had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years?