Has anyone tried the Aunt Becky's Finger Protector and Thimble? I was wondering how well it actually worked.

Here is the video describing it: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...19466527029261

Hi Jan- the background noise was so bad I couldn't really hear her. Did that happen to you?

No, it worked fine for me.

Here is her own web page link: http://jeansimpressions.com/

Hope this one works!

Hey I LOVE Aunt Becky! I learned how to quilt from her and am so happy with the results. I had to be careful with my wrists; they always have to be in neutral position. When I met Jean "Aunt Becky" at our quilt show I watched her a lot and thought it would work. It's been two years now and I'm so happy with the method.

I did take a quilting class from her last Fall at PIQF (in Santa Clara, CA) and that helped to perfect my technique. Not that my technique is perfect, but my stitches got smaller! :roll:

Thanks, Jan!! It was better for me with the Youtube link.
I would love to try one of those. Also liked how she threads 30 needles- great idea! I looooove hand quilting! Her method does look like it would go faster too.
Thanks for still another thing I need to buy :D

Great to hear! The only thing I wonder is if you need that metal thimble?? I can only use the leather thimbles.

Well I spoke with her and ordered both the thimble and the Aunt Becky.

I think my husband can modify one of my many hoops, else I guess that's next on my list.

awesome, where do you buy it from??

I bought the thimble and the hoop. I absolutely love the thimble! I didn't think I would because I use a Roxanne thimble. The deeply recessed thimble that Jean uses is so easy to maneuvre when making circles and curves. With the Roxanne I have a tendency to flip my needle... very exasperating because around here it's like looking for a needle in a haystack (pun intended). I love the smooth feel of the Roxanne and the weight of it (and the looks of it, too!) but I admit that I have been reaching for the recessed thimble more often. I also use a little rubber finger for pulling the thread through. but it isn't a typical office type. The one I have came from the notions section of quilt store and it came 2 to a package and they are blue with little air holes and they are thinner. They are so sensible. Now, I just have to set aside my current quilt and practice on the hoop. I really think the Aunt Becky will work. I just need to get started.

Oh, I ordered the hoop from Jean Brown's website. It came quickly and was well packaged.

I ordered the thimble and Aunt Becky from her website:
Here is her own web page link: http://jeansimpressions.com/

I called her at the phone number listed on the site as I don't use paypay or credit cards. She agreed to take a check or money order. I told her I had no problem with waiting for it to clear.

I did find the Aunt Becky at my LQS and it was cheaper, however it is 30 miles away. So I just ordered from her.

Can't wait to get it and try it, however have done very little hand sewing up to this point the reason being is I'm lousy at it!
:(

Will keep everyone posted. :thumbup:

awesome, I need to buy one of them!

I have been looking at that tool for a while now... I think if I was going to hand quilt, this technique would work out better for my hands and wrists. :D:D:D

I tried using the Aunt Becky tool with her recessed thimble and I like it but I can't bend my wrist the way she does when she holds the thimble. I feel too awkward using my ring finger at all, even to hold the thimble in place. I prefer to put the thimble on my first finger, but then that's my preferred "thimble finger" anyway.

I cant get videos out here, but I am dying to see this. Will have to go and watch it at boyfreinds!

I have the Aunt Becky, recessed thimble and her frame. I just can not get use to using Aunt Becky. Not all my stitches go through the back of my quilt. I do love the thimble and that is all I use now. As a matter of fact need to get a larger one for the summer/hot months. I do keep trying with Aunt Becky especially after quilting for a couple of hours and my underneath finger is so sore.

I think the type of quilting that Jean does is almost like whole cloth quilting because she appliques and then does echo quilting. And doesn't she use a low loft batting? I watched the whole segment on Quilters TV with Shar, and Jean said her quilts are only for decorative purposes. Does that mean her quilts are thin enough that her stitches go through all layers easily? I haven't tried the hoop and Aunt Becky so I'm just posing questions out of curiousity.

I think tonight I am going to give Aunt Becky and the hoop a try. With so much gardening today, I'm too pooped for housework anyway.

I have been practicing for over an hour and watched the video again just to be sure I'm doing it right, or at least trying to do it right. But the positioning feels awkward and my hands are feeling tired. I must be doing something wrong. I love the thimble when the quilt is tight, but I can't seem to keep the needle pushed against the side of the thimble... it keeps slipping free. When I do manage to make several stitches, they are larger than my usual. Maybe I just need to keep practicing.

Is anybody else having good luck... or not such good luck? I really want this to work. It seems like my needles wouldn't get so bent up with this technique.

I have the tool Aunt Becky - but I don't have, nor do I want to get, a hoop - is it necessary to use one?

How do you use it without the hoop? Are you one of those fortunate people who know how to quilt on their lap comfortably without a hoop? I'm not talented enough to do that. :(

I don't know if it can be used without a hoop - that is what I am asking - has anyone ever done it? I hope so. I do handquilting on my lap, yes. Talented- - just lucky I think :) I'd love to use AB without the hoop - guess I should just try it DUH!

I have decided that just trying to do your own thing is how she got her results. So we might as well try to do our own thing... who knows, we might succeed! :mrgreen:

When I saw it demonstrated it was without a hoop. The show was closing down I think and she was giving quick demostrations. I even think she was standing up while she was showing me how to use it.

You're kidding me. And I went and bought the darn thing. :shock:

Okay... update!! :lol:

I have adjusted the tension on Jean's hoop to be a little tighter and now I have more control and my stitches are looking good! I'm using the thimble like Jean does and Aunt Becky too, but my personal needs are a tighter fabric on the hoop. And it's comfortable. :mrgreen:

My main reason for giving this whole setup a try is because I want to take my quilting with me on vacations, but I don't want to take my 22 inch quilt-hoop stand. No room in the camper for that. (I hope the picture is right side up.)

Keep persisting, ladies.

I ordered the Aunt Becky and the thimble from Jean Brown's site and received it within 3 days so she has very fast service when you order. I plan to put a base on a 14" hoop that I have but can someone who has her hoop tell me the length of the legs from the base to the hoop - thinking probably around 4". Am really anxious to try her method on a whole cloth quilt that I just finished marking.

I just ordered the aunt beckys finger protector, and got lap hoop off ebay. I have made a giant dahlia center and was wondering what i was gonna do to quilt it. Ive done a little hand quilting so when i saw jeans video on you tube i said thats it thats the thing i wanna learn on and do for dahlia. Ive been practicing and doing great, recommend this method to everyone and quilting goes faster and more even. now i m gonna order thimble.........lol then im really set.

I love hand quilting but haven't done much this year. Had a bone removed from wrist a not very good at present for sewing. I have a habit when doing it of using my nails. I push needle through from top and land on inside of my finger nail then just keeping needle there move finger to left and push up. I get no marks on finger. Not sure where this has come from but I am a member where I stood as a very young child and watched elderly aunts and uncles and grandad sewing.

I had never learned to hand quilt so when I saw this technique, I thought I would learn this way...no other habits to break.

I took a class with Jean at PIQF a couple months ago and LOVE the technique. I have the tool, thimble and hoop.

The hoop is what allows this technique to work well. One of her tips was to make sure that you have enough slack when you put the quilt in the hoop. It shouldn't be tight...it should be loose enough so that when you slide the tool back and forth, the quilt moves up and down several inches. Jean suggested more slack than I was comfortable with, so I adjusted to what felt right for me.

Experiment. :)

I may order the Aunt Becky and the thimble. I wish she was using a dark thread to demonstrate on the fabric she is using. White on white is hard to see.