one hand
 

Just joined up from Texas. After hand injury and 3 unsuccessful surgeries I only have use of one hand -the right one thankfully. Anyway am seeking advice or tools to use to try to continue with the quilting. My husband of 56 years has offered to help but hasn't mastered threading the machine yet.

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

Welcome from Southern California!! Tartan has some good suggestions. If you are near a big city there is a good chance there are some "Occupational" therapists that work with such disabilities. They are more than physical therapists they work with people that have suffered strokes and injuries to return to daily living with work arounds. I would send people to them when I handled Workers' Compensation and people that no longer had the fine motor skills, such as if they couldn't hold a needle in the one hand they would put the needle in a piece of something they could hold (say an eraser) and then thread it with the other hand. Same with cutting things they had special things to put on the steering wheel in the car.

I was amazed at all the little clues. I wish I could remember them all. Do you have a needle threader? I have the Desk Needle Threader from Clover and love it. Bohin makes one too that a lot of people like. It works for the smaller needles. When I bought mine it was at the local quilt show and the shop also sold a base for it which makes it more steady.

Have you tried using the little wire needle threader with the machine? just put it in from behind and then pull it thru? I was doing that for a while when I needed new glasses and I swear the needle was winking at me.

Keep working at it, you'll develop what works for you. Amazon and some of the sewing/quilting catalogs sell a Sewing Bird clamp that will help in some instances. Do an internet search for "sewing with one hand" and you will find some answers plus awareness that there are a lot of people out there searching for ways to overcome loss of a hand due to stroke. Unfortunately, there are more asking than answering, but those who answer are offering some gems. Don't give up, you may pave the way for someone else. I admire your spunk.

Welcome from Southern California. Just keep trying, don't give up. I have motor coordination issues which forced me to give up driving. I thought I couldn't quilt anymore but I found if I take my time and keep with simple patterns, I can still quilt. Keep searching to see what will work for your situation.

I have a lot of hand issues, though I still have use of both hands. If you have any grip, you can use anything from a stylus to a large knitting needle to guide fabric -- otherwise you may be able to rig a small harness to hold the guide. Get a machine that has needle up and a thread cutter. I use a needle threader all the time -- some machines have them built in. I have a guide that helps me sew a straight seam but I used to stack sticky notes on the side to get the 1/4" seam. For rotary cutting I use my left forearm to hold the ruler on the fabric and cut with the rotary cutter in my right hand. I have the June Tailor cut 'n shapes and can keep it stable with the palm of my hand or my forearm (when my left hand hurts too much to use the palm). I use a lot of pre-wound bobbins since they save my hands. DS got me one of those rulers with the cutter attached and I find I am able to keep it stable without major issues. It took me a lot of practice to develop the techniques I use, and when I went to classes I have to educate the teachers to accept the way I do things and not continually try to correct my cutting techniques. Just don't give up -- there is always a way.

Welcome from Spring. Seems everyone has already given great advice.

This is from her husband of 56 years. She is a 16 year breast cancer survivor thanks to MD Anderson-went through high dose chemo, 28 days radiation, 19 days isolation and lots of home nursing from guess who. Thank you all for your kind help. May the Lord bless you and keep you....

Bless you both. I'm sure the support of a loving husband has helped dena get through this difficult time.

Dena, I have done home health care and was impressed with the work of Occupational Therapists who would think outside the box to help patients stretch their limits. Before that I did not know the difference between a physical therapist and occupational therapists. I have seen a neoprene glove strapped onto the hand and a spoon attached with strong velcro to the glove so a man who had gone down the stairs head first could now feed himself. The glove looked like the fingerless ones some motorcycle riders use. If you have any movement of your left arm, perhaps this could be a starting point with a chopstick or wooden skewer attached to a snug fitting glove. Martha Pullen uses wooden barbeque skewers to guide her fabric through the sewing machine. She says wooden skewers are safer than metal if the needle hits one. Keep plugging away and let us know your progress.

Don't over look dollar store liner. I've been forced into partial left handedness thanks to a pit bull who chewed up my right hand. I've got it all over the kitchen to hold something in place while I clumsily whatever with my left hand. Same thing in my sewing room. In many cases I have cut 1/2 inch squares and used elmer's contact cement to attach them on a temporary basis - even to the working fingers on the right. Amazingly I have re-learned to use my rotary cutter accurately using only my thumb, ring finger and pinky. Just keep plugging and trying different ideas and you'll find that you adapt to a new way of doing things. It's slow progress (I'm 11 months in now) but apparently even a mid-seventies brain can be retrained.

Welcome from Michigan!:)

:) welcome from se TX

Welcome from N Texas!

Deena, that is the right attitude to have when something like that happens to you! Welcome to the board. You will find a way! Have you seen an occupational therapist to help you master tasks that we all take for granted? That might help you.

I bought a used accuquilt studio last summer. It was an impulse purchase. The LQS near our NJ home was getting rid of it. I happened to be buying fabric, and the sales person asked me if I wanted to buy it. Since I have trouble with both hands, elbows, shoulder, I said yes.

It is the studio model, and the dies are heavy. If I'd thought about buying an accuquilt before I bought what I have, I would have gotten one of the newer ones since the dies are light weight. They do have an electric model, too. The big drawback to it is that the dies are very pricey. Sizzix has a cutter as well. Some of the folks on the board have them, so can advise you about them. I honestly don't know anything more about the sizzix, though.

It has been a God-send with regard to cutting. When your husband masters basic rotary cutting, he can prepare fabric for the accuquilt cutter.

God bless!

You are indeed her dear husband. Love shines brightest when it is tested as yours has been!

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*** Hi! Y'all from the upstate of South Carolina.
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Welcome from Oklahoma. Happy quilting.

Welcome from rainy New Hampshire!

Hope you are able to continue with your sewing/quilting hobby knowing how much this means to you.. Count your blessings to have a good husband.. How many would benefit from such support.