I am quilting by hand. Does anyone have any ideas about preventing pricking my thumb with the needle. When guiding the needle it touches the tip of my thumb. I have tried putting a large thimble on my thumb. I do not like this because it is very akward. A bandade does not let me feel the needle either. Any ideas?

chamby

I can't use a thimble on my thumb either so I come up very gently on the thumb.

I am doing this also. It has cut back on the pricks but it does stop it completely. I am making sure that I put lotion on my hands at night and in the morning to put the moisture back into the tip of the thumb.

Thanks,
chamby

Some of that liquid bandade or even white glue one your finger or thumb protects mine enough to not get quite so sore, and I can still feel everything. It feels a little wierd at first, but is alot easier to get used to than a bandade or thimble. Don't forget to let it dry first!!

Some of that liquid bandage or even white glue on the finger or thumb protects mine enough to not get quite so sore, and I can still feel everything. It feels a little wierd at first, but is alot easier to get used to than a bandaid or thimble. Don't forget to let it dry first!! Also, I use my middle finger or index finger instead of my thumb sometimes, and the needle hits my nail instead of the skin, but it is very hard on nails. They get all scratched up, but better than hurting.

I also do a lot of hand quilting. I use a couple coats of clear nail polish to reduce the "ouch" but still enable me to feel the needle. I thought that I wouldn't mind the needle prick once I developed a callus . . . unfortunately that didn't happen.

LOL you just end up with a lot of little snags that hang on everything, especially pantyhose!

So true. I had to deal with that this morning getting ready for work. My thumb may not be looking good but at least the quilt looks nice.

chamby

I do a lot of hand quilting and also loads of applique and I use super glue on my fingers that I tend to prick all the time. It seems to work best for me. My hands crack open and bleed often and I use super glue to put them back together. It helps them heal also.

That unusal. I have never heard of anyone putting super glue on their finger on purpose. How do you remove this? If removing with finger nail polish remover, does this not dry out your finger?

chamby

I had a old pair of rubber gloves, cut out the thumb. Its thick enough to keep from pricking the thumb yet thin enough I can feel it. I had one on the thumb and one on the left finger as I use that a lot more than the thumb. Not that I am an expert hand quilter but enjoy it, just not the ugly's. It worked great. Also put a thin one on right hand to help pull the needle thru as I am always losing those needle puller round things. It works wonderful. As the commercial goes try it you'll like it.

Rita

They have some leather thimbles that work fairly well.....but some of us just can not get used to wearing thimbles! hahaha..... I can't wear rubber gloves either!

Thanks. I did buy a rubber thimble for my thumb. It is too small. I have already came up with a solution though. I go to the dollar tree and buy rubber cleaning gloves. I buy the small size cut out the thumbs. This has worked wonderfully. :D

Glad to hear you found a solution. When I handquilt, I do the same. I'll get to talking to someone while I'm working and ouch...there it did it again. LOL. I can't use a thimble either. I'll have to try these ideas.

Like Norah, I use the liquid bandage. Nail polish just dries my skin and doesn't stop the needle enough. the liquid bandage will peel right off when you get your hands wet enough, like doing dishes! (I know, I'm probably the only person in the world without a dishwasher :roll: but it keeps me adding lotion to heal the hands)


I do use a thimble on my push finger, but not on the catch finger or thumb....sigh.

I forced myself to get use to a thimble. It was very awkward for a week or so and then became second nature. As far as pricking yourself with a needle I think that most quilters just get use to it, though you do tend to learn how far in you can go without blood loss. I think in the three months I've been quilting I've almost got a callous built up. Ah well, part and parcel; the Marquis de Sade would be proud. :wink:

I cut a small circle of rather thin suede leather, clip a pie shape piece out of it...cone the circle to fit around my finger, thumb ( I use either my thumb of middle finger depending on the type of sewing I'm doing) then whip stitch it together on the suede side. Turn it inside out so the slick leather side is out and its thin enough to feel the needle tough enough to protect my fingers.

Oh yeah...forgot a step...I start stitching just under the tip of the cone, and snip the very tip off so it isn't bulky when I turn it slick side out.

I also use super glue to heal cuts and pricks, my friends laugh when I tell them. A friend of mine said they used it in the service when he was in to get the men to the hospital alive. so I guess I can use it too!!!!
I cover my thumb with about 3 coats of liquid bandage to hand quilt, it helps alot. Deb :mrgreen: