BellaBoo

I use Bag Balm for severe dry skin, it heals. It is what the Drs Without Borders give to the people of desert climates for severe cracked heels. For every day I use lotion made for diabetics. I'm not diabetic but the lotion is great for preventing dry skin. For my face I use Rexaline.

JustAbitCrazy

Working with paper will also dry out your hands. Many years ago a dermatologist recommended Eucerin to me for my cracked bleeding hands. At that time the product was not well known and my drugstore had to order it for me. Now you can buy it in WalMart and all drugstores. There are no dyes or perfumes in it--nothing to irritate or be allergic to. It is an emulsion of water, waxes and oils, including petroleum jelly. It is very greasy (think Crisco, lol!) but it seals the moisture in so it can't evaporate out. The doctor recommended applying it over just washed wet hands, then blotting off excess water with a paper towel. Use it nightly at bedtime. You can wear old cotton socks on your hands like mittens if you like to protect your sheets (very sexy!). Because it's greasy, you can't use it while you work, but if you use it at least nightly (maybe through the day if necessary), your hands won't need any kind of lotion while you quilt, and they won't itch or crack and bleed. It also helps to drink lots of water daily so your hands are not dehydrated to begin with.

susie337

I like Neutrogena Hand cream (the cream, not the lotion, they have both). It soaks in well and leaves your hands with a nice grippy feel. I play cards a lot and I started using it because my hands were so dry I couldn't handle the cards. It works well with fabric too. I also use surgical gloves. You can get them practically anywhere now. The work very well in handling fabrics, in fact, they're my "go-to" now, I use them all the time.

Bueniebabe

I use Dr. Scholl's over nite foot cream on my feet. I'm diabetic so I have really dry skin. I use it on my hands and elbows too. Anything that has eura in good for dry skin. You can find lotion on the internet with more eura in it than dr. scholls.

gigigray032447

I sew early every morning, and then work with paper and wood all day. My hands stay dry. I use a sugar scrub every night and then massage my hands with "Working Hands". I think it's a miracle product. The only way I my fingers don't split every winter is because of this stuff. I also use it in the morning before I leave the house, but can't use it at work or I might leave a smudge on someone's artwork. But a good scrub will work wonders by itself.

Jo M

Yes, hand quilting sure does dry your hands out...especially flannel! I finished 2 quilts made from DH's old flannel shirts last year and it'll be a long time before I hand quilt another one. I recently found Lavishea Lotion Bar at a local quilt shop. It comes in a tin and is a round waxy-like bar that you rub on your hands. It comes in some lovely light scents - I don't like the overwhelming aromas. I got the Pear scent. It absorbs nicely and isn't overly "greasy". A little pricey @ around $9 for a 1.25 oz bar but lasts quite awhile. As mentioned earlier in the post, Bag Balm is a very good product too.

Rodney

Bag Balm is the best product I've used for dry hands. My hands would get severely dry and crack and bleed during the winter when I was still working. It is greasy and takes a while to soak in though. Better to use it at night before bed. You're not going to want to quilt right after using it.
Rodney

costumegirl

It seems like I have been battling dry hands my whole life - I worked in a Medical Science lab and had to constantly wash my hands which could really dry them out - used a product called Prevex - it coats your hands, keeps them moist and protects against external irritants. Although it contains 67% petroleum jelly it leaves no residue after application that will not rub off on what you are working with. I still use it when my hands are chapped and sore and there are no 'grease spots' on any fabric that I am working with.

jhoward

Paper seems to do the same: drys one's hands. I use any lotion I can find. I had a sample of Thimbleberries lotion. It soaked in very well, but it's very expensive to buy...Some quilt stores offer "Gloves in a Bottle", it too is very good.

tessagin

I use Lubriderm dye and fragrance free. Often it's the dyes and fragrances that cause add to any extra dryness. I purchased the COACH self adhering bandage. It helps when I'm working on any quilting. It is actually for using like an Ace bandage. But I cut small strips to wrap around my fingers. It's easy to adjust accordingly. Not expensive for the amount you get. 3"x2.2yards. you can make it as comfortable as you want. I have a roll in my bathroom closet and my sewing room. I got it because I'm allergic to the adhesives used in band aids. The thing is it helps to protect the fingers without wearing gloves. It breathes. The fabrics absorb the oils from our hands and that is why our hands dry out so bad. Wintery dry weather just adds to it.