LOL, I tried to word it like this, "do you carry any of the steel finger protectors from Aunt Becky for hand quilting?" as I was doing sign language of putting it on my hand. She joked, "I don't have an Aunt Becky" and I said, "I don't either and I need her!" She said I could have her Aunt Tammy!

I think if they'd had them, I would have bought a couple, but who knows? I haven't tried it yet, I might hate it!

Be sure to use the right kind of thimble with the Aunt Becky. Here is the developer's website that shows the thimble:
http://jeansimpressions.com/

I think the thimble needs to have the outer ring and fairly deep "dimples". I didn't see this thimble at Connecting Threads, but a Google search showed a number of sites selling it for about $8 plus shipping. And, of course, as a hand quilter you may already have a suitable thimble on hand. :-D

I'd think so too! I just started quilting in TN and only know of one person who quilts (machine), but I can't wait until this weekend to get together with some people from this board!

I tried using a spoon this weekend, and that didn't work one bit! I slowly started slipping back into my usual rocking. I wonder how long it will take me to train my hands to quilt with Becky?

I also feel out of touch with all the stuff that's there.. I was looking for a stencil and was in the machine quilting stuff. I felt so lost LOL

I am hoping that my thimble will work. It's not quite as extreme as her's but it's flat and I can control the needle pretty well. I never thought about it until I saw her video!

thanks for that link. i didn't know what it was either

Sorry, I can't give a link, because it's over a year since I watched it, but there is a Youtube video with a lady showing how to use an Aunt Becky.

Found it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeSSyueipPw

Like so many others posted, LQS needs to cater to the many, not the few. Really all you need for handquilting is quilting betweens and thread. You don't even need a thimble, I only use one part of the time. In fact there are a lot of us here on the QB that are "fingernail" quilters. We push the needle through with our fingernail.

I think anything else is just a gadget and the job can be done without. Which is why LQS would really only carry the essentials for hand quilting. Needles, plain vanilla thimbles and thread. Every once in a while you will find a LQS that carries really nice thimbles or gadgets. This is why we have the net. Quilt shows are sometimes good venues for out of the ordinary supplies. That is where I found my uber-expensive TJ Lane thimble, which is the only thimble I have ever been able to train myself to use (some of the time!)

I do hand quilt alot and the only, only thread I use is YLI. It comes in all colors, but I usually use grey or natural or tan. It is strong and does not tangle. I think you do have to buy it at a quilt shop. It maybe a bit more expensive, but well worth it!