I really do enjoy hand quilting.. I find it very relaxing.. I use Aunt Becky's Finger Protector when I hand quilt... I have looked all over the web and have only found one example of some using it... In fact I just found the link yesterday..

Does anyone else here use one? Am I the only one :lol:

Link to Aunt Becky's finger protector...

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=932708422&channel=156457828

I guess that is the brass thing, I am a bare hand quilter, I can't get used to a thimble. I have tried all kind of things. Now I quilt for a few days then stop for a couple of days till my fingers feel better. I think I might try the liquid bandaid several people said it was good. You are lucky to have found something that works so well for you :D

I have one but haven't figured out how to use it yet. When Jean Brown demostrated it it looked so easy! :mrgreen: Ha! More practice is needed.

Any suggestions?

P.S. Thanks for that web site. It was good to watch Jean Brown demonstrate Aunt Becky again. Good refresher course. Now if I can just teach myself her techniques.

I can not do it the way she shows... I do the same under the quilt but I hold my hand on top about the same way I would if I used the rocking motion.. I just do not use the "rocking" motion to quilt...I hold my hand still and just push the needle...

It has made a large difference on how fast I can quilt a top..

Okay, I'm a gettin' my practice piece out and giving it another go. I really want to learn how to do this. I am wanting to "be a hand quilter!" Thanks again.

Thanks for that link! It was so interesting. When I grow up, I want to quilt just like that!!!

If you can get the hang of it you will be able to hand quilt faster than if you use the rocking motion.... I can quilt a king in about 30 days by just picking it up when I have a chance... I also do not do as much quilting on mine as she does in the video...

Last year I did do a queen in 9 days but I was working on it instead of doing other things... It was a log cabin,, I quilted around the ditch on the inside edge of the block and the inside of the center block of the quilt.. Nothing fancy on it and my finished block size was 8 inches...

Thanks for the link and the information Diamonds! I watched the video and wow! Was she able to go fast! I'm going to have to look into finding one of those and learning how to use it.

I am very interested in using the Aunt Becky. But I cant find out much about it either.....

Here's Jean Brown's web site.

http://www.jeansimpressions.com/

A demonstration of Aunt Becky can be seen here.
http://newsblaze.com/story/200802040.../topstory.html

Diamonds, I love to hand quilt, and I guess I use the rocking technique. I recently tried Aunt Beckys and I couldn't get the hang of it, my needle kept slipping off of it and my stitches were huge because of it. I guess with practise I would figure it out, but it is hard to make myself do it that way when I can do so much better without it. The reason I wanted to try it, is that I am so slow, I thought if it really does speed up the process, how great that would be. I also needed relief for my fingers getting so sore. What I have been able to use is a spoon underneath to do the basic same thing as Aunt Becky. Jinnie Beyer suggested that. For some reason my needle doesn't slip off the spoon. It is somewhat faster than using just my finger underneath but I don't see me doing a queen size quilt as fast as you did, anytime soon. If you have any hints on what I might be doing wrong, please share. Thanks.

I've tried it before, but I am used to feeling the needle with my fingers, I switch from one to the other . I've tried several things over the years, but always go back to pointer!! :D


Ninnie

I went to the Grass Valley quilt show and had Jean show me how to use it and I just can't get the hang of it. DH says that I move my needle. I'm not sure if my problem is practice or mind set.

Martina, I'm so glad to know I'm not alone. I have owned that gadget for years and talked with Jean Brown at the quilt show in Eureka two years back. It seems so absolutely clear when you talk with her! So easy! I've still not "got it." I've not given up hopes though. Periodically I'll get that thing out and give it a try and then put it away again for another day! :?

Hmmmmmm, very interesting!

I use an Aunt Becky finger protector but I use it the same way as I would use an 'under finger'. After watching the video of the way Jean Brown does it :shock: I think that I will give it a try!

I've got one & have used it successfully when I'm doing straight stitching...but when I'm hand quilting a design like a rose or something curved.....I really can't get nice even stitches. Maybe with ALOT of practice I could, but that's probably not going to happen in this lifetime. It is a neat little invention though.....

I'd love to try one...but think qubby can make me one for less than $5

I have one and have tried to get the hang of it. I saw Jean on one show where she used a hoop that sat on her lap. It looks so easy when she does it, but I feel like I am all thumbs when I try.

I have one too, but guess it must take a lot of practice. Somehow, I guess I must like the feeling of pricking my finger under the quilt? Maybe I'll make a resolution for 2010 to put in some practice time.

Renee

Here is a nice video of Jean Brown showing how she uses it. She makes it look pretty easy. http://www.quilterstv.com/channel/video/265
Last spring I injured the finger that I wear my thimble on to rock the needle so I didn't know if I could ever use it to hand quilt with again but after watching the video I think I would like to do it that way.

I am a hand quilter and have used a cloth tape, you buy at the drug store, I don't know if I could use the Aunt Becky Finger protector, I also need to feel the needle.

I couldn't figure for a while what you were all talking about. Then it dawned on me, I have one of those, bought at a quilt show. I hate the darn thing. I can't get the hang of it, I use my fingers on the bottom, they are never sore. its the top finger that gets all the hurt. I can't find a thimble I really like or can wear. I am new to hand quilting, am not fancy basic stitches is all. I do the rocking quilting tho and as I said its the top fingers that get all the flack. I have a pretty good collection of thimbles and none of them work, have tried leather, metal plastic, you name it I have tried it. No haven't bought the real expensive ones, that I can't make myself do. Can't fit the cheapies, and to pay that much for one that won't fit and I won't use, well that knocks me out of my chair. I am glad to see that there are you out there that did buy them and can't use them like me. Oh did I say that outloud. Thanks I feel better.

Rita

I Googled for comments about the Aunt Becky. Some said that it's really important to use the right kind of thimble with it. This thimble is sold on Jean brown's website but you have to kind of hunt for it. From what I can figure out, this is the type of thimble that has a deep indentation on the top -- sort of a rim around the top. Someone who watched a demo said that the end of the needle is held inside this indentation, near the rim edge, and the thumb holds it there.

Again, from what I can tell, the needle is held stationary this way while the underneath finger moves the fabric onto the needle. I watched a video that demonstrated how Jinny Beyer hand-pieces, and it is a similar technique in that she holds the needle stationery and manipulates the fabric onto the needle for the stitches. She is amazingly fast at doing this!

I think that, even once you understand the theory behind each technique, it can take quite a bit of practice to get good at it. The advantage is that it's a lot faster. I have seen knitting techniques that are similar -- where the knitter manipulates the yarn onto the needles instead of moving the needles -- and again, that is much faster than our traditional methods.

I've only been handquilting a few years. For the most part, now it's all I do. I've looked at Aunt Beckys protector several times and just cannot figure out if it would work for me. I now use a small lap hoop like she does, 14" round. Whether floor frame, PVC or lap, my quilting is the same. I've tried the drugstore tape and can't get the hang of it. I have to feel that the needle is on the other side. I've considered using the liquid skin too, and I still might.

What I really want is a callous on my finger. I know, what a thing to want! But I do, I'm trying to form a callous on my index finger so it won't be so painful. It's so hard to describe to someone who doesn't stitch anything that I'm not pricking myself at all, but it's still painful.....oh well.

For now, I'm still sticking to feeling the other side. Just not in my comfort zone I guess. I use a generic 87 cent Walmart thimble with the lip on it for quilting. I don't necessarily rock or not rock the needle, though I do try to put at least 4 stitches on the needle at once. I sometimes rock the needle, other times the fabric. It's all one fluid motion if my quilting space isn't too taut.

I have heard of the Aunt Becky but have not been able to find one in any of the quilt shops around here......
Does it really work that well?????????? Thanks for the site.... very interesting.

want to try it one day.

Scrap Quilter

Just bought the Aunt Becky after watching the video last night. I can't wait to try it, I know it will take time after being a rocking stitch hand quilter. I already have the thimble, it is the one I learned to hand quilt with over 25 years ago, they are not really that hard to find. I have been using the one with the deep brass cap since the 80's. I can usually find them at LQS or Quit shows as well as online, clotilde and Creat for less http://www.createforless.com/Needlea...2-8801cd2af630 and create for less.

I will let you know how it goes, I have several projects I am hand quilting on right now.

G'day

I also use the Aunt Becky's finger protector. I have had it for many years having purchased it on a trip to Florida from Australia. So many people ask me where to obtain it and after another enquiry today, I got on the internet and found it. So now I plan to buy a few of them as gifts for quilting mates. The markings on mine have nearly been worn out but I did manage to decipher it and so have been successful in finding the source.

Aussie Janie

Diamonds,

I need to find Aunt Becky. Seriously, I am wondering if you have any contact info from when you bought it. I want to sell the little finger protector on my site. It is a perfect add on. Any thoughts?

Harry B.

Jean Brown sells them on her site: http://www.jeansimpressions.com/
Scroll about halfway down the page and you will see them. I really like mine.

Harry, go to Jean Brown's site she is the one that teaches with Aunt Becky and also her husband makes lap hoops.
http://www.jeansimpressions.com/

I don't know if I could get used to not feeling the needle come through. I only use a thimble on my pushing finger. I still look for the "feel" of it underneath. I used to quilt for days, then wait for my fingers to feel better....then I thought I want to make callouses. Still don't have them and my fingers still feel sore. I've been thinking about using those liquid bandaids like others find success with.

I am trying to find the manufacturer or a wholesaler.
Harry

Harry,
Email Jean Brown on her website, I am sure she could tell you who her wholesaler is.