you bet my hands get stiff!! I am 55, same as lots of you. I very seldom do hand quilting, and then when I do, I allow lots and lots of time for the project to be in the works. No rush for me. I wore out my Right thumb joint and had a replacement a year ago. I have pretty good strength back, but don't want to put pressure on it. So I'm just making the tops now, and will decide about the quilting another time.