By now most everyone has seen my new big quilt. I make a bunch of small er projects throughout the year, and one big quilt. The big one this year is a surprise, and I've made it all right in front of him and he has no idea, for my DH to celebrate our tenth anniversary at the end of this year. I hand quilt and I knew I would need several months to finish it.

For anyone who hasn't read the story on it, you can find it here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-36285-1.htm

So I got in a fight with my archaic can opener last night and lost. I have an archaic can opener that doesnt like to open fat cans. I opened a can of fruit most of the way last night. I am always careful when opening cans cause my mom told me when I was little that cans can cut your fingers off. I have this large plastic spoon and a large wooden spoon that I always finish opening the cans with so my hands are out of the way.

I still don't know what happened last night. The spoon slipped and the lid to the can went into my finger. I have stitches on the inside and outside of my finger. They said I was lucky because my muscles weren't touched, but they don't know the extent of the nerve damage yet because my whole hand is numb.

This is what my hand looks like now. I cant take the dressing off until tomorrow night.

[IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...1280075882.jpg[/IMG]


I have an appointment with my quilt club tomorrow night to baste my BIG surprise quilt and I cut my quilting finger!!! I have no idea what I'm going to do now. It will take 10 days before the stitches come out. Because I type for a living, they want the splint to stay on until the stitches come out.

Quilter's are wonders of inspiration and new ideas. Any suggestions out there?

I'm so sorry that happened to you! I don't have any ideas for you, but I just wanted to say 'That really stinks.' I wish I could do some of your quilting for you while you rest up.

We both got married around the same time. My wedding was just one year sooner. I'll soon be celebrating my 11th year anniversary.

Ouch big time!

Sorry for your boo boo, hope it heals fast and fine. I don't hand quilt,but I just wanted to give you my sympathies.

I am so sorry that this happened :(

Maybe you can be the needle threader? Keeping them going by having a supply of threaded needles ready for them?

I am sure they will understand why you aren't able to participate as fully as them :wink:

OUCH!!! Maybe someone in your quilt club can start quilting this for you until you're mended! I'd also be investing in an electric can opener after this as an early anniversary gift to you by you!!

So sorry you got hurt. Any chance you can quilt with the other hand? I couldn't even feed myself if I lost use of my right hand but some people can "switch hit". Not alot of help I know, but I'll pray for a speedy recovery for you!!

This is one of those things that proves Mom knew what she was talking about. And look into a Swing-a-Way can opener. Best at opening any type of can, IMHO. And green energy wise.

this happened to me and i had to wait it out.. everytime i moved my finger or bent it i was putting a pull on it..not good.. i have since bought a hand held can opener that opens the lids from inside and it has a button on it that you push and hang onto the lid and take it off.. no using fingers at all ...

Ouch, hope it heals w/no lasting negitive impact !!!
Try to think of it as learning a new skill, if any thing said at work, talk to doc, loa more time to sew, chances are no comment, good employee better than none, even if a little slow!! life happens :)
I'd expect teasing from your quilt buddies, may be more than happy to assist. You know as long as your tung is in the right place, may be able to thread, I'd take cookies !!
Good Luck !!! :)

Oh my goodness, that's horrible! I've cut my fingers multiple times when opening cans of food, but never that bad. I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry and hope it gets better soon - and that you can finish your quilt!

OMG!!! I am sooooo sorry that happened to you!! :cry: :cry: :cry: I am sure the ladies in your quilt club would love to help any way they can. I would if I knew how! :cry: ;) I hope everything works out the you want it to with your quilt and work. I hope you will be feeling much better soon. My mom used to tell me to always keep your chin up so try that and smile. Try to have a wonderful day, I will pray for you. :!: :thumbup: :XD:

I would spray baste the quilt instead of thread basting or pin basting. Be sure to use 505; seems to work better than other brands. Also be sure to use one or more large flat sheets to catchy any overspray, and spray from the edges towards the center to minimize overspray. There are several very good threads about spray basting here; you can use the "search" feature to find them.

So sorry about your accident. I hope you bought a new can opener! I use the Swing Away too! I buy a new one about once a year. They do become dull using and being washed almost every day. Be diligent about keeping clean, staph infection can be deadly.

i'm very very left handed but i've found even though i'm slower with my right, nondominate hand, i can hand quilt with it. so i recommend giving that a try (will show your friends your heart is in it) and bake goodies and surely your quilting friends will help. wish we were where we could help you!

So sorry this has happen to you

So sorry that happened. Wish I was closer, I would help.

Ouch> I am so sorry for your trouble, Melissa. I have no suggestions other than to wait it out.

Too bad about the boo-boo, Melissa. As long as the finger is protected, for the basting I would try stab stitching with your right hand underneath and your left hand on top. It will be slow going, but at least you'll be working on it along with your friends. And look at it this way...it's another great story to go along with this great quilt!!! ;)

When I was younger I suffered the same injury, but with an electric can opener. My Mom still talks about how I stuck my thumb in my mouth, then shook it to make the pain go away and sprayed blood all over her white cabinets and curtains. I behaved until I got home from the dr's. (OK, about an hour) until the draw of a neighborhood baseball game needed my pitching talents. I played and ended up back at the drs. with all the stitches pulled.

I then behaved after a nice lecture. Although I'm sure you're not going to pitch a ball game, be sure to listen to the dr. You need your finger for your livelihood- for years to come. You can make it through 10 days- your quilt friends will pitch in and help you, I'm sure. Put your finger on the disabled list and relax- you'll be back to quilting in no time!

(And your pics gave me sympathy pains in my finger and the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach- OWWIE!)

Take care!!!!!

Oh how horrible. I feel your pain.

Bad, bad can opener! (Probably a very poor attempt at humor but I can't think of anything better at this point.) It better be in the trash at this point. Do not keep it. It might happen again. I am so glad to hear that the muscle was not involved. You are very lucky.

Several others have given good ideas about the can opener to buy. The idea of threading needles is a very good idea and something that you can do even if you need to do it very slowly with your non-dominant hand. At least you will still be working on the quilt.

I agree that you should try to enlist others you trust to help. I can't imagine someone not sympathic in your situation. Bribe if necessary (cookies, cakes, coffee...you get the idea). Just remember, someday others that help you may need your help as well.

Worst case scenario: DH will understand.

Best of luck and hoping for a quick recovery for you.

Of my group, I'm the only one that quilts by hand. I bought spray and pins cause I don't really trust any spray to last the many months it will take me to finish it. Hubby still has no idea it's for him. I'm sure my club will help me baste...but the quilting will have to wait. I type really fast, but already I'm using other fingers for typing. Perhaps I can learn to quilt with my index finger. I'm no good at all with my left hand. Eating was a fun experience.

Thank you all for your sympathies.

The world won't end if you don't finish the quilt on time and there will always be other anniversaries, God willing, so please let your sore finger heal in it's own time, it must be throbbing like mad even though it is seemingly numb at the moment and you should be wearing a sling!! Being a secretary myself, I know what it is like trying to type with sore fingers, so the index finger will take a few knocks and your livelihood comes first - in that sense you're lucky it wasn't the left hand because it is the left hand which uses most letters!!

Take care and try not to worry; you can always catch up on sewing with a few late nights if necessary.

i sure hope it heals fast for you, just be careful and not over do it rememder what doc said ,about 1 yr ago i cut my finger with a glass coffee pot in the middle of nite ,i had to wake dh to take me to emergency ,i had 8 stitches on the tip across my index finger.and today it,s healed and i can,t find any sign of sitich,s but i also listen to doc and put my stuff to do on hold.

I really don't think you should do anything with that finger except to let it heal. You sure don't want to end up with a finger that doesn't heal the way it should.
I pray the best for you.

Hope you heal quickly! I am sure DH will understand if it is not quite done.

Ouch, that sounds horrible. Let the poor finger rest and get better.

I'm so sorry that happened to you - but you still have ten toes to quilt with don't you? ha ha

Sweetie - I promise that If I was near Omaha, I would come help), unfortunately I'm just too far.

I feel so bad for you - but I'll bet you can get some help from that group and still make your deadline - we quilters jump in and do that. They know when you need to be finished right?

Sorry about your boo boo. Throw that can opener away! Tupperware has a very nice one, lifetime warranty as long as you do not put it in the dishwasher.It cuts the rim & has a little beak to take the lid off, it's R or L handed, very easy to use. Before I purchased this one , I was buying one every year sometimes more and had so many nicks and cuts. This one solved that issue.I have had this one 3 or 4 years. love it, comes in black or white i think. Just think positive thoughts and wishing you a speedy recovery. :-D

Sorry this happened to you . I know how you feel as I have had my finger sliced open from a razor blade a few years ago. after my stiches came out I got a sofe ball and exercised my finger. It was hard and hurt more than I could say. I did do a little hand quilting at that time but it was really hard. So good luck and keep on quilting don't let it get you down.

Oh gosh, what a bummer. Well, guess once you heal up, you will just have to get up or go to bed one hour either way to work on it. You will get better, there won't be nerve damage, you will get it done, just keep repeating to yourself.

Hey! I was gonna say that! And it's what the astronaughts used. At least that's what the packaging on the first Swing-A-Way I bought said. I got it in 1984 and it still opens cans like a dream. Never been sharpened and doesn't hurt your fingers!

Ouch! Hope you are soon on the mend. Have you ever tried quilting with your thumb? Once I learned, it became my preferred method.

Oh so sorry to see what happened to you. Thanks for warning us though, I will be much more careful when opening cans. Hope it heals up quickly.

My friend who is a candle carver did something similar right in the middle of a big order. Had to let somebody else finish it for her as it was her thumb. Has healed nicely and she's back at it again now...more carefully! So hang in there and let it rest. Thoughts and prayers your way!

Thank you all so much. I'm keeping the splint on and I'm trying not to hit it on anything. My index finger is fine so I may try quilting with that. I have seen others quilt with their thumbs....it's an idea I may try too.

It's only 10 days, not 10 weeks. I just keep trying to tell myself that.

starting quilting with another finger. Alex Anderson quilts with her thumb, I personally have not tried it yet, and I have heard that it is better on the hands. She maybe have a video out there somewhere. Just a thought. Sorry to hear about your can opener accident.

Exactly my thoughts too!

What if you held the quilting needle between your thumb and first finger? With many an Aunt Becky or spoon underneath to help keep the stitches small? It would be slow but you wouldn't have to bend your quiltin' finger. I'm so sorry this happened to you!

So sorry, that is terrible!!!!