I am finding it harder and harder to cut my fabric, my hand gets tired and my arms get tried with the rotary cutter. Will most LQS cut MY fabric into my needs (usually squares)? I can handle the smaller cut they don't require alot of reaching or so much repetition. How much would they charge do you think?

Michelle

Michelle--

I would think that as a simple act of kindness your LQS would cut your fabric into smaller pieces for you when you purchase it, as long as they are not too busy.

Why don't you go into the shop and talk to the owner and explain to her the reason for your request. The worst they can say is "no" and they just might say "yes". :D

If I lived near you, I would be happy to cut fabric for you. (and I have arthritis in my hands.)

Marcia-

Thank you so much for the wonderful offer, even if I can not take you up on it. That is very generous.

Michelle

Through my blog I have met this (awesome!) quilter who has both a longarm service and a new cutting service.

http://www.cvquiltworks.com/accuquilt/

I put the link to her web page about just the cutting. Don't know if it would be feasible for you with shipping, but maybe someone closer to you offers this sort of service also.

Have you seen the electric scissors out? They might be easier for you to handle. I tried them out at a Hancock Fabrics store in Green Bay, Wi and was impressed. (Not sure exactly where you are in Mi.)

I am sorry to hear about your fibromyalgia- I worked with someone who had it and she was miserable sometimes. Sending prayers and thoughts your way!!

Hi Michelle,

First of all, I don't believe there are any dumb questions. Second, I have Fibro too, and I've learned a few ways to adapt to our kind of problems. First of all, if you don't have it, I would highly recommend "Rx for Quilters", written by Susan Delaney Mech M.D, available as cheap as $1.17 on amazon.com. You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Rx-Quilters-St...7867079&sr=8-1

Here's what they say about this book:

Product Description
To avoid injuries that afflict stitchers due to repetitive wrist movements, neck strain, or related problems, this helpful book gives readers gentle health advice from an M. D. who is also an experienced quilter. The book explains how the quilter's stitching life can be comfortable, free of stressed hands, shoulders, joints, and back. Simple daily exercises, setting up a good work area, healthful eating, and other positive ideas are offered.

Lots and lots of great advice for anyone, healthy and not so healthy - for all the stages of our lives.

Personally, I've made a few modifications that I've found beneficial for me:

My cutting table is the right height (about 3" below my elbow), thereby avoiding the additional neck and back strain that is caused by a table that is too short. Don't have that luxury? Just use your kitchen countertop instead. My table is open on 3 sides, shortening the stretching/reaching considerably. I also might fold my fabric once again, that way it's only 11" across, not the standard 22" or so.

Warm up your muscles before, during and after a cutting session, and make sure you're not at it for very long at any one time. We need to wake 'em up, to get blood to all areas so they can work efficiently and cause us the least amount of pain. WebMD has an excellent slide show showing how to do this. You can find it here:

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/sl...wnl_art_032309

Take frequent breaks. Could hubby help with the long cuts? If not, I imagine the folks at your LQS would probably be more than willing to help you out somehow. Sometimes tho, we just need to find different and more creative ways to do things. That way, we don't feel like we're having to give up one more thing due to this disease.

You might consider trying an ergonomic rotary cutter by Martelli, the Ergo 2000. You can cut with it while in a sitting position, cutting down on the neck, back and hand strain considerably. Some like 'em, some don't. I tried it, takes a little getting used to, but I can see where it might be helpful. Made especially to cut down on hand fatigue. You can find it here:

http://www.martellinotions.com/

Home some of this helps you. Best of luck to you, too.

:) Happy quilting, Karla

I have fibro also. You have to learn to adjust everything in your life to your handicapp.

I just bought the Accucut Studio and love it. Makes it so much easier. I will be offering services very soon of cutting your fabric for you. I also live in Mi in the Flint area. PM me and we will see what we can do.

Linda D

Hi,

I work at the local quilt shop in our town and we cut several peoples fabric into the required strips or squares for them. A few just are afraid of cutting fabric and some are new to it and some we just have always done it. We don't charge for cutting it, but do it when we aren't busy so it always isn't a right now cut it for me deal. There's a come back later claus sometimes.... :D

I would think that your LQS would do that for you when you purchase the fabric there.....we would sure help you out!

Hope you get some help with that......

Bev

(((Michelle))), your, 'dumb' (NOT), question, just helped me a lot!!!
I love to sew, and quilt, but find it is a slow process for me now, due to my fibromyalgia.
Ppl on here gave some wonderful tips, and support for our 'world'...uggh, who wants to live here? but we do, and if we want to quilt, we have to figure out how.
So glad you posted this, I never thought about anyone else doing the cutting. We FM-ers, are very aware of how physical this art is. For now, I will just keep cutting when I can, and then moving on to other things, till I can get back to it, but the idea of having stuff already cut and ready to sit for a bit and sew...whewee...makes me think of my younger days. :D

DUH!! If it weren't for Fibro Fog, I might've thought of this earlier. PRE-CUT pieces you say? Okay, I know this doesn't work in every situation, but for some projects we have the option of buying Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, Charm packs, and now Turnovers (triangle cuts) and others. That might help lessen the burden some days.

With the cost of fabrics soaring, one option is the pre-cuts through connectingthreads.com, only $5.96 a yard, no matter how it's cut. I personally have not tried them yet, but others have and say they're just fine.

I hadn't even thought of asking my LQS to cut my fabs for me. That's an excellent idea to all who've mentioned it here. Thanks! Too bad so many of us have Fibro, but yahoo that we are sharing our ideas with each other. What a great community of quilters you have here.

Karla

Thanks for all the great suggestions. There are some days I can not cut fabric, other days I can and then suffer for days with the pain. Right now I am doing ok and can cut, but never know when the pain will come back. I have even had DH help me cut when it is a necessity and that helps as he is very undomestic.

You might want to consider getting an Accuquilt GO! It is supposed to be much easier to cut fabric this way, and it cuts up to 4 layers at a time. Pricey, but I think worth it in the long run to be able to cut fabric to desired shapes at home. Here is the website:

http://www.accuquilt.com

Aside from the demo on the website, there are some helpful demos of the GO! on YouTube.

I know the ladies in my fabric store and always happy to cut my fabric any way I want. I would hope the LQS would too. I like Prism99s suggestion of the Accuquilt. It could help you too.

Another fibro quilter - I do not do those marathon sessions for cutting or sewing any more. It's one of those "lifestyle adjustments" the dr warns you about.

I use ergonomic tools - rubbery, large handled seam ripper, Fiskers rorary cutter that is easier on the hands, and a lipped ruler when possible. I also have a lumbar pillow on my sewing chair.

I use electric scissors to cut out pieces. I have lots of hard to find patterns and I sometimes cut out enough pieces for enough blocks to make a quilt. I piece one block and sell it and all the required pieces on Ebay, so I do a lot of cutting. Electric scissors save me lots of fatigue in my hands.

Michelle,
I am another Fibro-Quilter...Moonpi had the right ideas! I keep my cutting table higher than normal to make it easier, and fold the fabric narrower if possible.
I cut when I can and sew when I can't...Don't give in to the pain, we can't let it rule our lives!

Susie

I didn't expect there to be so many other ppl with fibro....just thought arthritis is more common. T G, I don't have that!
anyways, was just wondering, I have multiple chemical sensitivities, (MCS), are you guys, just as bothered,...or in other words,...does your fibromyalgia, really act up, after certain foods?
Yeah, you'd think, oh, that'ts easy, just don't eat them.
I tried that. Wasn't getting enough vitamin C, and nobody knew it.
I had blood in my urine for a year and a half.
Knowing that probably contributed to the blood, I just eat what I have to, and suffer like a monkey! :?

Food intolerances can aggravate many disorders, including fibromyalgia and arthritis. My friend's rheumatoid arthritis flares up after she drinks half a cup of coffee. She has been able to control her RA for 20 years by means of diet. Unfortunately, food intolerances don't show up on regular allergy tests and most doctors don't understand them. There are some good books available; check Amazon. The best way to identify food intolerances is to go on an elimination diet; however, this is very difficult to do correctly unless you do it under the guidance of someone trained in the approach, such as a naturopath.

I have fibro and arthritis both. I'm one of the few people who can trace fibro to its cause - my second bout of Lyme disease. Let's start another thread in chit-chat rather than hijack this one, ok?

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/18105.page ia a chit chat thread about fibro. It does seem more common than I ever realized. Unfortunately!

I too, have fibromyalgia. I've learned to adjust my lifestyle...including sewing and cutting around it. There are days I can't even get out of bed......let alone think of cutting and sewing.

Today is a very bad fibromyagyia day...Weather has a big hand in some of my symptoms...I may give in and go back to bed for a little. I have been trying to work and it doesn't look like I'm getting anything done. Did sort a little fabric though.

What is your e-Bay store name? Wanna ck it out. Thanks, Sheila

I m fibro and artheritus and permanant damaged right elbow newbie quilter, there sure seem to be a bunch of us that has fibromyalgia, we can soon have our own club :lol: :lol: :lol:

i buy from ebay( and some if i see in the shop here in Norway) but i m trying my best to buy ready cut blocks as much aS i can or atleast fat quarters.

to start cutting myself i need a 5 inch long ruler and a 5" by 5 " ; thats my starting point size i v decided. my first quilt will be 5 by 5 so if anyone knows where i can get a cheap one, yell out, i really wanted one of those from robs rulers but i cant get the link to work no matter what i do.
but actually start i do need those to rulers, i need one thats long enough to cut a whole fatquarter :wink:

I was reading this today and thought of a method to adjust your cutting table. I did this to mine. I have a light weight folding table and made leg extensions using PVC pipe in a couple of lengths. I can raise or lower the table at different heights. Connie

Hello Sunny,
I purcjased a ruler 18" x 2" marked, at Hobby Lobby in a nearby town. Would that size help you out? I'll be going there again April 2nd, Thurs, & could get one to send you if you'll tell me your price range you'd want to spend. If they're too much (? don't remember) I won't get one, but wanted to offer. It has a raised knob in center so you can hold that while cutting. I've found it really helpful. I have bone spurs on my spine (causes lots of pain, swelling & discomfort), so know your fibro is similar. None of it's fun, but don't give up. Folks on this board give out great info, I'm new to it, but been reading for several months. Welcome & if I can help, please let me know. PM me with your address so I can send it if possible. I'll also look to see what fabrics I have in case some are your colors.
God Bless, Sheila Elaine

Thanks for PVC remedy. I'll try to get it cut at the store as I don't have cutting tools for that thickness.

I saw the AccucutGo demo'd at a Quilt Show it is the coolest thing