NOW I am using cutting gloves
 

Last weekend I cut a thick bacon slice off my left forefinger while rotary cutting. Fortunately my DIL is a physician and I live with them so I was in good hands. Still it took three days for the bleeding to stop when changing the dressing since it was so deep. YES, it HURTS!
Here's the really, really dumb admission I have to make. My son was in the Coast Guard until this summer and he gave me his Kevlar lined gloves to keep my hands safe while cutting fabric. The label says that they are Hatch SGK100 gloves and, now that I finally got around to googling them, they are used both in the military and law enforcement. Apparently they are capable of handling even the blades of knives in confrontations. LSS, I have been wearing them since and they are very flexible and comfortable. I like them much better than the other ones typically sold to quilters for cutting. Yep, had a set of those in the drawer, too. DUH! These Coast Guard issued gloves have a surface that really grips my rulers. I love my son and I'll be wearing his gift for cutting from now on.
Note to anyone out there with cutting gloves in the drawer: They work much better if you WEAR them! Please spare yourself some agony and learn from my mistake.

I had the same thing happen to me about 8-9 years ago. It's why they don't let me handle sharp instruments any more! (Just kidding!) I was rotary cutting late one Sunday night & sliced off the tip of my left index finger. It bled like crazy. I went to work on Monday & it was still bleeding. I work with nurses but when my supervisor saw all the blood, she sent me to the ER. I still joke today that if you're bleeding to death or dying, don't wait for anyone at work to help you. Anyway, they couldn't reattach the severed piece of flesh (don't remember why). I have learned to keep my fingers out of the way.

I never heard of cutting gloves, though, so I will have to look into this.

I have tried the gloves like I see on F&P and they just don't work for me because they feel clumsy -- these Hatch gloves look like they are probably a lot better.

Ouch is right! I feel your pain. In the 70's I worked in an advertising department, and we used exacto knives and hot wax for cutting and pasting. Sliced my fingers many many times! Hot wax wasn't much fun either!

Good advice. I should take it as I often think about a slipping blade when using my cutter and pull my fingers in.

I wonder if there has been any testing on the F&P gloves?? They just feel so much like gardening gloves.

It's not a matter of if but when an accident will happen if you use a rotary cutter often. I use the Quilter's Slidelock or a cut resistant glove every time I cut with a rotary cutter. It's not worth taking a chance. The trauma of a bad cut is hard felt. I make sure it won't happen to me.

Oh dear, I hope you heal quickly. I am glad you have a plan that will prevent this from happening again. I need to do that too. Thanks for the reminder.

Dina

I too have cut the tip of my left index finger. My DH took me to ER. They stitched the tip back on, but it wasn't to save the tip... It was to save the nerves. And this is what I am impressed with as it healed beautifully..

I've been using a F&P Klutz glove for a few years. I wasn't convinced that it would do much good (science geek here), so I tried a few cuts on the cuff. It works! I machine stitched over the cuts so it wouldn't fray. I wear it only the hand I hold the ruler with since I always retract the blade of the cutter before setting it down, keeping that hand safe. That way I have one free hand and one gloved hand. The glove helps to rotate fabric on the cutting board so I don't see it as a hindrance.

he, he. i was using my long 24 inch ruler that had a plastic glue on guard on it, but of course i picked it up and was cutting with the opposite side. somehow the rotary cutter went over the lip of the ruler and into my thumb. took four hours to stop, no stitches but nerves were hurt. wore a metal finger guard awhile. Still don't have cutting gloves.
my cutter retracts automatically, so that is good.

I never knew cutting gloves existed. Genius!

i sliced my left index finger earlier this week. Wearing a bandaid on your index finger and trying to keep it dry is a pain!

It happened to me too. Those nerve endings on the finger tips are so sensitive. It takes forever to heal.You can still feel it years after it happens. And yes, I too bought the F & P gloves, but they sit in my drawer, because they are clumsy.

I tried my first rotary cutter right before I went to work at the salon I was working in still. It was Thursday, busiest day of the week. Left index tip also. Had my neighbor come over and help me. She brought her "Super Glue" Brand new tube. It was a long day at the salon but I got through it. Wore a glove on the left hand all day long. My finger nail was just long enough to put a finger guard on so I didn't have to rest on the tip. I have a pair of fisherman's fileting gloves and they work great. When I'm cutting I have my left hand covered. One thing I was happy I chose a piece of scrap to cut. Bloody mess all over it.

I took a big gouge out of my left index finger. I took weeks to heal properly. I knew it needed at least one stitch but I was being stubborn. I was an ER nurse at the time and didn't want to go to my own workplace and admit I was so clumsy. Next time I'll be getting the stitches!

yikes... how painful and probably frustrating for you and for others who have suffered rotary cuts. I hope your finger mends quickly. Thanks for the info on the Hatch gloves.

This is exactly the reason I'm hoping to find the 6 x 12" ruler to replace the one I mentioned in another post! Don't want a narrow ruler. I want my fingers back from the edge of the ruler. But I will admit, it was the 6 x 12" that I was using last fall when the cutter jumped the lip and I, too, lost the thickness of bacon from 2 fingers. Yes, those bleed prolifically but I'm pleased to report that mine healed amazingly well. Still some numbness and thankfully along the side and not the tips of the fingers. Haven't tried the gloves but don't like gloves when gardening or even a thimble when sewing. (I use a leather thimble when hand quilting.)

This post will make me find my klutz glove in my sewing room. I think I know where it is. lol. I do find the glove inconvenient as I don't like to take it on and off all the time. I guess better that than cutting a finger. I do have a retractable cutter which I always considered very safe as far as setting it down. Last week I cut the end of my right hand thumb when I went to pick up my cutter, blade retracted, and cut the end of my thumb. It got under the blade as I wasn't looking where I was putting my hand to pick it up. Now I make sure the rotary cutter is placed blade down so my fingers don't get in that tiny spot between blade and plastic of the rotary cutter. I never thought I could get cut that way.

My significant other decided he didn't need a quilting ruler, he could just use a plain old plastic ruler to help me cut . He soon learned, the hard way, that the rotary cutter jumps over the edge. Moral of story, he cut the tip, skin deep only, thank goodness, of his finger off, but it took forever to heal for exactly the same reason as above, continued to bleed/seep for days. Now I truly keep my rotary cutters out of his reach. Men are like kids.

I remember how awkward it was to start using the shoulder strap of the seat belt in a vehicle. Many said they couldn't drive that way, it hurt their neck, it was too tight, it was made for tall people not short. But common sense took over and now it's automatic to buckle up. It's time for rotary cutter users to use a safety tool so beginner quilters, (like our children using seat belts ) will never know not to.

Ouch! I would have fainted dead away and bled all over the carpet. My DH gave me a mesh glove they use when cutting meat at the grocery store. I feel like Sir Galahad every time I put it on:) I do like it better than the cutting glove I purchased because it fits snug and is easier to take off. I hang mine on a little nail over the cutting mat so I won't have an excuse to not put it on. You can buy them at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $19.99.
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So sorry to hear that! Hope you are feeling better. Good lesson.

I see that this Gypsy Gripper has not been mentioned...This is what I use after seeing pictures here on the board a couple of years ago. They scared me enough to get something...although it has lost it's 'grip' and has to be reattaches each time, I still use it...
.http://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Quilter-.../dp/B001CE8J7E

I cut a nice gash across my thumb once with a rotary cutter about 28 years. I forgot how many stitches it took to close. It was bleeding nicely. Luckily, our neighbor and friend was home at the time, since my son was 18 months at the time, and was able to take us to the ER. DH was working that night.

I probably should get a pair, because I almost cut myself recently. DH gets nervous when I cut certain things in the kitchen. :)

So far, knock on wood, I have not had a rotary cutter attack me, however, I would offer the same advice that you give for wearing cutting gloves while handling a wand blender. I was making cranberry bread, holding the wand in my right hand, with my thumb near the button, I should have used anything but my finger to get the cranberries out of the blades; when I accidentally hit the button. Yup, I got a deep cut on my left index finger and a trip to Urgent Care where I had a few stitches and a story from the Dr. about how he gets cuts to the chagrin of his wife.

I went right to the site where Icould buy those gloves your son got for you and bought myself a pair!

I just bought a pair from Amazon for future use.

I use the small round Gypsy Gripper when I'm using small templates or rulers. I always use some type of safety tool or I don't cut with a rotary cutter and no one is my sewing room uses a rotary cutter without a safety tool.

That has to be handy too. Make me think about 'investing' in an Accuquilt Go.. But.....too stinkin' expensive for the dies...

Good for you! I must say that I just changed the dressing on my finger and it's still oozing pink. I have now been using these Hatch gloves for a week. I am making myself lay them on top of my rotary cutter when I finish cutting so I HAVE to pick them up to get the cutter. Might as well put them on once they are in my hand! They are comfortable and really, really grip great. This is not going to happen to me again. I salute all of you who protect your fingers but I can't imagine any other device that gives me the comfort and secure feeling of these Kevlar gloves. I am going to order a backup pair from Amazon (Hatch Street Guard Glove with Kevlar) soon as I post this. They cost around $30 but protecting my fingers is priceless. I still hurt and it is even difficult to steer while driving. (Sure, I am still cutting and piecing!)
In addition to gifting me the gloves, my son and DIL cleaned up the blood and my "meat" so I didn't have to. It was a mess. Please protect your fingers!

Thank you for sharing your story. You definitely convinced me and I just ordered a pair of the Hatch gloves for myself and for my niece from Amazon.

I did the same thing to my finger I sliced the side off it and there was nothing to sew back on, the doc use what is call Foam Jell, it looks like Styrofoam , doc laid it on the cut it took away the pain and the bleeding stop to , it stays on till it falls off and the cut than is healed. great stuff.

Oh, my! I stopped peeling potatoes because a potato slid out of my hand on a downward stroke of the peeler, and sliced a my pointer finger instead of the potato. I have a peripheral neuropathy, but even so that surprised me!

Like you, 3 days for bleeding to mostly stop. Since it was on the knuckle, it took over a month to heal!

I have a used accuquilt studio and use that as much as possible for cutting fabric. That was a spur of the moment purchase, but, in retrospect, a good buy!

I may have to look into the kevlar gloves!

I'm very sorry what happened to you, and hope you heal fast and well. But thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will look for a pair of gloves and order a pair today. The Kevlar gloves from Amazon say the protection is on the inside of the fingers and palm. I think I need to protect my entire hand. If I find a highly recommended flexible pair that does that, I'll report back here.

I have the Klutz glove but it's so bulky. Are these Hatch gloves thinner?

What do y'all think about these? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A3H4IG5YG2M689

Cool glove! I might ask for one of these for my upcoming birthday.

I just looked at this one but they don't look like they have any grip. Does anyone know about them?

I purchased a glove & set of candles at B, B & Beyond today. The glove, single, was $14.99. With the $5 coupon it ended up being $11.04. It does not have grippers on it but the price was right.