A few years ago a quilt teacher recommended Machingers - which I duly bought - did gasp at the price. On a retreat I needed some and couldn't find them - so rushed to Morrisons and bought a 99pence pair of gardening gloves - worked a treat ! still can't find the Machingers !!!!

My Machinger's don't have any odor at all. Can't figure that poster's problem. Weird, huh?

Mine cost less then $8 at the quilt shop. On Amazon they are about $7, JoAnns they are about $6. I would never pay more then $8 for a pair.

Just converted £13.89 and it comes up at $19.60 on Ebay !! Our hobby is quite expensive in the UK. If I researched it further maybe I could find some cheaper.

Dotty, how much would it cost to ship to you? I would be happy to help. I know gloves don't cost that much!

My DH is in a color corps (you know, the guys who march in parades carrying flags) and he gave me a pair of his gloves that he no longer needed. They have the rubber dots on the palms and fingers, and I cut the finger tips off so that I would be able to actually use my hands. So those who can't find the Machingers might look for a shop that sells flags and such; they would probably have the gloves for the color corps.

WOW - thank you so much for your very kind reply and I believe ladies with our wonderful hobby around the world are just so generous. To be honest the gardening gloves are absolutely fine and work very well. I don't do a lot of quilting as I have a wonderful lady who is very reasonable with her Longarm Quilting charges and makes a much better job than I can achieve. She has done quite a few quilts for me now - including a Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and a Loyal Union Sampler ( by Jennifer Chiaverini ) - so big quilts ! I could never have been able to do them on my home machine - even though it has quite a big harp space.
Here is a link to my SBS
http://www.amiga.talktalk.net/
Many thanks again and great to talk to you !

see that's why I'm wondering if somehow I either got a good knock-off or a bad pair? Cause they have that awful plasticky smell that's so nauseating! I've washed them and no avail. I may have to just chuck them and figure out something else

Me too. I have all those, plus some dobie pads with elastic sewn on. None to me work as well as the machingers. Mine don't smell. I washed them by putting them on and using some Dawn and washing like I was doing my hands, then rinsed well and hung to dry. Got mostly clean and kept whatever it is that makes them machingers.

Try storing them with a dryer sheet (such as Bounty). I use these sheets when I store my suitcases, shoes, etc.