So many of these stories resonated - it's nice to know one is not alone in one's less-than-optimal moments!
It's not from quilting but is related - one of my more painful lessons was learned when I was having to unpick a bunch of trim off several costumes (I was involved in the drama department at our school) and it was a long and tedious job and I discovered things went faster if I held the stitch ripper a certain way... until it slipped and ended up making a nice furrow through the side of my finger. So much for being faster... but I learned my lesson (and it's a good thing considering how often I need to pick things apart these days).