I bought a piece of 11x 14 plexi from home depot for around 4$
I havent tried it out yet... but Im hoping it will work :D

I bet it will work great Candance!

I got my finger gloves (cots really as they just cover half the finger) from
http://www.fingergloves.com.
Not expensive, 6 times thicker than a latex glove, but still with plenty of feeling to even hold a sewing needle for applique if you don't have a lot of grip. The come in sizes, but I ordered 12 of the large (big hands) and got a free medium to try too. Obviously you could wear one on every finger/thumb, but I find just one or two on each hand is sufficient for quilting.

Re not expensive, 12 were $5.99, and if you share your experience, it's possible to get a gift packet.

Edit: just realised that it was in 2009 that I ordered the last lot, so perhaps the price might be a little different - sorry, I didn't mean to mislead. (Shows how long they last! LOL)

Wow...those DO last a long time Lesley. I'll have to check them out.

Editted to say the site is under construction. I'll google to see if I can find another. I found lots of sites listed by googling "finger cots"...but since I don't know anything about them....I'd hate to recommend any of them.

Patti, you're right. I tried the latex glove tip last night and couldn't keep it on. I have very little hands. I'll do some research online for the coddles, too.

I'm very happy with this last go-around with Block #8. I like the colors better, and my tracing has been more accurate since using the clear extension quilting table. I really appreciate everyone's help along the way.

I tried again, and I didn't type the addy properly, try:
http://www.FingerGloves.com/

Patti, I also think you need a thread here of your own, with your block designs posted in it. You never know, it might encourage some others to design extra blocks too.

I went to that site, Lesley, and see that they are out of Colorado Springs. About a 90 minute drive from where I live. Cool!

LOL, Ducky, they are much cooler than wearing gloves! :-D :-D :-D

Hi Maureen, I am using a black background and I followed Ai's directions in the book. I use Dritz tracing paper in yellow and I place the tracing paper face down on the back ground and the pattern on top. I pin or tape the edges so they don't move. I use an orange stick or my bamboo seam turner to mark a sharp line on the pattern. It marks through and the tracing paper leaves an outline. The tracing paper will come off easily with water or steam so use a white washable pen to trace over the lines on your background. I did most of the applique without using the white marker but then I had to trace the embroidery lines again with the tracing paper.

I finally finished my first block and I posted it to the block #9 site. I'm hoping I get faster at this as I go along or I will be 2 years making this quilt.