Hand Quilting Pain Relief!
06-16-2009, 10:27 PM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aledo, TX
Posts: 672
Ok, I recently injured my right wrist on a motorcycle trip out to West Texas. I haven't been able to hand quilt since, and it was really taking a long time to heal. I've tried the wrist braces, all kinds, and had just about given up.
In a desperate attempt to return to hand quilting, I bought this lady's kit, shown here....
http://www.thimblelady.com.au/produc...g-Package.html
I was pretty skeptical, but willing to try anything.
But I gotta say that I was absolutely shocked. I watched the DVD, and sat down today to try it out.
NOT ONLY was I able to quilt ALL DAY WITH NO PAIN, I did some of the best hand quilting that I have ever done so far. Tiny, perfect stitches are starting to grow on my needle, and I can't wait for tomorrow so I can practice some more! I really had to make my hand relax, and think about how to do it, because it is so different than how I was hand quilting before. I LOVE the little thimbles, and they work perfectly just as described. The hoop is very easy to assemble and work off of.
If any of you are having any kind of pain in your hands from quilting, I can highly recommend Liuxin's method. Or, if you want to hand quilt but have been unsuccessful, this would be a great thing to try. I know it is pricey, but the thing is worth every penny if it means I can quilt again.
Worked wonders for me.
Oh, and one more thing. The quilting thread that Liuxin sends with the package is WONDERFUL. It is YLI Corp, made in the USA, cotton. Best I have ever tried.
In a desperate attempt to return to hand quilting, I bought this lady's kit, shown here....
http://www.thimblelady.com.au/produc...g-Package.html
I was pretty skeptical, but willing to try anything.
But I gotta say that I was absolutely shocked. I watched the DVD, and sat down today to try it out.
NOT ONLY was I able to quilt ALL DAY WITH NO PAIN, I did some of the best hand quilting that I have ever done so far. Tiny, perfect stitches are starting to grow on my needle, and I can't wait for tomorrow so I can practice some more! I really had to make my hand relax, and think about how to do it, because it is so different than how I was hand quilting before. I LOVE the little thimbles, and they work perfectly just as described. The hoop is very easy to assemble and work off of.
If any of you are having any kind of pain in your hands from quilting, I can highly recommend Liuxin's method. Or, if you want to hand quilt but have been unsuccessful, this would be a great thing to try. I know it is pricey, but the thing is worth every penny if it means I can quilt again.
Worked wonders for me.
Oh, and one more thing. The quilting thread that Liuxin sends with the package is WONDERFUL. It is YLI Corp, made in the USA, cotton. Best I have ever tried.
06-17-2009, 02:24 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,822
I love to hand quilt and so glad that you found what is working great for you. So nice to know that system worked great for you too (thanks for sharing) one of my favorite hand quilt books (it has so much fun stuff in it to talk about too) is 'Quiltmaking by Hand' by Jinny Beyer. She hand quilts w/both hands!! Amazing to me!! Glad you have found a system that helps feed the passion!! Good job! SKeat
06-17-2009, 06:29 AM
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Central Washington State
Posts: 5,997
This lady was on Simply Quilts, perhaps eight or ten years ago.
Her system has a different thimble, which allows your hand to be in a more natural position to quilt. When I do hand work, the only thimble I have found that works is a leather thimble ... the BIG one (control issues dictate that I absolutely know that the thing isnt' going to fall off.)
However, observing her thimble, I could see that it was a secure thimble, not limited by size (if I remember correctly), slides most of the way on your finger and for a control person ... it looked VERY secure.
Be sure to write a review for that item ... they are going to need to hear from you!
Her system has a different thimble, which allows your hand to be in a more natural position to quilt. When I do hand work, the only thimble I have found that works is a leather thimble ... the BIG one (control issues dictate that I absolutely know that the thing isnt' going to fall off.)
However, observing her thimble, I could see that it was a secure thimble, not limited by size (if I remember correctly), slides most of the way on your finger and for a control person ... it looked VERY secure.
Be sure to write a review for that item ... they are going to need to hear from you!
06-17-2009, 12:33 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aledo, TX
Posts: 672
I did write a review, but it hasn't posted on the website yet.
The thimble (the cone shaped ones she has), even though I got the cheap plastic ones in the kit, are WONDERFUL. They use the inside of your finger instead of the tip, so you can relieve the stress caused by keeping your fingers curved. I may spring for the silver one they make, but I'll wait a while to make sure I like it. Thimbles generally have to "grow" on me, I gotta make sure I really love it before I spend that many $$.
Best news of all is, after quilting pretty much all day yesterday with her system, my wrist did not hurt AT ALL today.
It will take me a bit to get my stitches even with the new system. The problem I am having is that I keep going back to my old way of quilting, and I have to stop myself. Her method allows me to keep the stitches very small, and my old way I have to work very hard to do that.
The thimble (the cone shaped ones she has), even though I got the cheap plastic ones in the kit, are WONDERFUL. They use the inside of your finger instead of the tip, so you can relieve the stress caused by keeping your fingers curved. I may spring for the silver one they make, but I'll wait a while to make sure I like it. Thimbles generally have to "grow" on me, I gotta make sure I really love it before I spend that many $$.
Best news of all is, after quilting pretty much all day yesterday with her system, my wrist did not hurt AT ALL today.
It will take me a bit to get my stitches even with the new system. The problem I am having is that I keep going back to my old way of quilting, and I have to stop myself. Her method allows me to keep the stitches very small, and my old way I have to work very hard to do that.
06-18-2009, 12:33 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aledo, TX
Posts: 672
No, not faster. If I try to go fast, I slip back into my old "tensed" hand position. It will take me a bit to retrain.
I do think that I will eventually be much faster, with more accurate stitches.
I do think that I will eventually be much faster, with more accurate stitches.
06-18-2009, 01:27 PM
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Athens Ga
Posts: 11,420
I would love to see a picture of it, can you post one? I just went to the site and looked and I might be interested, but would want to see it first. All I do is hand quilting and would love to find a different way.I usually use a floor frame,but sometimes I like to lap quilt also.
06-18-2009, 01:48 PM
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Aledo, TX
Posts: 672
Originally Posted by Ninnie
I would love to see a picture of it, can you post one? I just went to the site and looked and I might be interested, but would want to see it first. All I do is hand quilting and would love to find a different way.I usually use a floor frame,but sometimes I like to lap quilt also.
I'm gonna try this with my floor frame, by taking all the "tightness" out of the quilt that is in it. Liuxin quilts with an extremely LOOSE quilt. When I first saw her do it, I thought it would never work.
It is really hard to explain how she does it. I did get the book, but the DVD was much more helpful.
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