I have Fibromyalgia and a dumb question..
03-23-2009, 07:51 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 11
I am finding it harder and harder to cut my fabric, my hand gets tired and my arms get tried with the rotary cutter. Will most LQS cut MY fabric into my needs (usually squares)? I can handle the smaller cut they don't require alot of reaching or so much repetition. How much would they charge do you think?
Michelle
Michelle
03-23-2009, 08:00 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 5,552
Michelle--
I would think that as a simple act of kindness your LQS would cut your fabric into smaller pieces for you when you purchase it, as long as they are not too busy.
Why don't you go into the shop and talk to the owner and explain to her the reason for your request. The worst they can say is "no" and they just might say "yes". :D
If I lived near you, I would be happy to cut fabric for you. (and I have arthritis in my hands.)
I would think that as a simple act of kindness your LQS would cut your fabric into smaller pieces for you when you purchase it, as long as they are not too busy.
Why don't you go into the shop and talk to the owner and explain to her the reason for your request. The worst they can say is "no" and they just might say "yes". :D
If I lived near you, I would be happy to cut fabric for you. (and I have arthritis in my hands.)
03-23-2009, 08:17 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Menominee, Michigan
Posts: 914
Through my blog I have met this (awesome!) quilter who has both a longarm service and a new cutting service.
http://www.cvquiltworks.com/accuquilt/
I put the link to her web page about just the cutting. Don't know if it would be feasible for you with shipping, but maybe someone closer to you offers this sort of service also.
Have you seen the electric scissors out? They might be easier for you to handle. I tried them out at a Hancock Fabrics store in Green Bay, Wi and was impressed. (Not sure exactly where you are in Mi.)
I am sorry to hear about your fibromyalgia- I worked with someone who had it and she was miserable sometimes. Sending prayers and thoughts your way!!
http://www.cvquiltworks.com/accuquilt/
I put the link to her web page about just the cutting. Don't know if it would be feasible for you with shipping, but maybe someone closer to you offers this sort of service also.
Have you seen the electric scissors out? They might be easier for you to handle. I tried them out at a Hancock Fabrics store in Green Bay, Wi and was impressed. (Not sure exactly where you are in Mi.)
I am sorry to hear about your fibromyalgia- I worked with someone who had it and she was miserable sometimes. Sending prayers and thoughts your way!!
03-23-2009, 08:22 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: WA
Posts: 1,372
Hi Michelle,
First of all, I don't believe there are any dumb questions. Second, I have Fibro too, and I've learned a few ways to adapt to our kind of problems. First of all, if you don't have it, I would highly recommend "Rx for Quilters", written by Susan Delaney Mech M.D, available as cheap as $1.17 on amazon.com. You can find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rx-Quilters-St...7867079&sr=8-1
Here's what they say about this book:
Product Description
To avoid injuries that afflict stitchers due to repetitive wrist movements, neck strain, or related problems, this helpful book gives readers gentle health advice from an M. D. who is also an experienced quilter. The book explains how the quilter's stitching life can be comfortable, free of stressed hands, shoulders, joints, and back. Simple daily exercises, setting up a good work area, healthful eating, and other positive ideas are offered.
Lots and lots of great advice for anyone, healthy and not so healthy - for all the stages of our lives.
Personally, I've made a few modifications that I've found beneficial for me:
My cutting table is the right height (about 3" below my elbow), thereby avoiding the additional neck and back strain that is caused by a table that is too short. Don't have that luxury? Just use your kitchen countertop instead. My table is open on 3 sides, shortening the stretching/reaching considerably. I also might fold my fabric once again, that way it's only 11" across, not the standard 22" or so.
Warm up your muscles before, during and after a cutting session, and make sure you're not at it for very long at any one time. We need to wake 'em up, to get blood to all areas so they can work efficiently and cause us the least amount of pain. WebMD has an excellent slide show showing how to do this. You can find it here:
http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/sl...wnl_art_032309
Take frequent breaks. Could hubby help with the long cuts? If not, I imagine the folks at your LQS would probably be more than willing to help you out somehow. Sometimes tho, we just need to find different and more creative ways to do things. That way, we don't feel like we're having to give up one more thing due to this disease.
You might consider trying an ergonomic rotary cutter by Martelli, the Ergo 2000. You can cut with it while in a sitting position, cutting down on the neck, back and hand strain considerably. Some like 'em, some don't. I tried it, takes a little getting used to, but I can see where it might be helpful. Made especially to cut down on hand fatigue. You can find it here:
http://www.martellinotions.com/
Home some of this helps you. Best of luck to you, too.
:) Happy quilting, Karla
First of all, I don't believe there are any dumb questions. Second, I have Fibro too, and I've learned a few ways to adapt to our kind of problems. First of all, if you don't have it, I would highly recommend "Rx for Quilters", written by Susan Delaney Mech M.D, available as cheap as $1.17 on amazon.com. You can find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Rx-Quilters-St...7867079&sr=8-1
Here's what they say about this book:
Product Description
To avoid injuries that afflict stitchers due to repetitive wrist movements, neck strain, or related problems, this helpful book gives readers gentle health advice from an M. D. who is also an experienced quilter. The book explains how the quilter's stitching life can be comfortable, free of stressed hands, shoulders, joints, and back. Simple daily exercises, setting up a good work area, healthful eating, and other positive ideas are offered.
Lots and lots of great advice for anyone, healthy and not so healthy - for all the stages of our lives.
Personally, I've made a few modifications that I've found beneficial for me:
My cutting table is the right height (about 3" below my elbow), thereby avoiding the additional neck and back strain that is caused by a table that is too short. Don't have that luxury? Just use your kitchen countertop instead. My table is open on 3 sides, shortening the stretching/reaching considerably. I also might fold my fabric once again, that way it's only 11" across, not the standard 22" or so.
Warm up your muscles before, during and after a cutting session, and make sure you're not at it for very long at any one time. We need to wake 'em up, to get blood to all areas so they can work efficiently and cause us the least amount of pain. WebMD has an excellent slide show showing how to do this. You can find it here:
http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/sl...wnl_art_032309
Take frequent breaks. Could hubby help with the long cuts? If not, I imagine the folks at your LQS would probably be more than willing to help you out somehow. Sometimes tho, we just need to find different and more creative ways to do things. That way, we don't feel like we're having to give up one more thing due to this disease.
You might consider trying an ergonomic rotary cutter by Martelli, the Ergo 2000. You can cut with it while in a sitting position, cutting down on the neck, back and hand strain considerably. Some like 'em, some don't. I tried it, takes a little getting used to, but I can see where it might be helpful. Made especially to cut down on hand fatigue. You can find it here:
http://www.martellinotions.com/
Home some of this helps you. Best of luck to you, too.
:) Happy quilting, Karla
03-23-2009, 11:32 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: MIchigan
Posts: 527
I have fibro also. You have to learn to adjust everything in your life to your handicapp.
I just bought the Accucut Studio and love it. Makes it so much easier. I will be offering services very soon of cutting your fabric for you. I also live in Mi in the Flint area. PM me and we will see what we can do.
Linda D
I just bought the Accucut Studio and love it. Makes it so much easier. I will be offering services very soon of cutting your fabric for you. I also live in Mi in the Flint area. PM me and we will see what we can do.
Linda D
03-24-2009, 05:35 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota
Posts: 364
Hi,
I work at the local quilt shop in our town and we cut several peoples fabric into the required strips or squares for them. A few just are afraid of cutting fabric and some are new to it and some we just have always done it. We don't charge for cutting it, but do it when we aren't busy so it always isn't a right now cut it for me deal. There's a come back later claus sometimes.... :D
I would think that your LQS would do that for you when you purchase the fabric there.....we would sure help you out!
Hope you get some help with that......
Bev
I work at the local quilt shop in our town and we cut several peoples fabric into the required strips or squares for them. A few just are afraid of cutting fabric and some are new to it and some we just have always done it. We don't charge for cutting it, but do it when we aren't busy so it always isn't a right now cut it for me deal. There's a come back later claus sometimes.... :D
I would think that your LQS would do that for you when you purchase the fabric there.....we would sure help you out!
Hope you get some help with that......
Bev
03-24-2009, 06:05 AM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
(((Michelle))), your, 'dumb' (NOT), question, just helped me a lot!!!
I love to sew, and quilt, but find it is a slow process for me now, due to my fibromyalgia.
Ppl on here gave some wonderful tips, and support for our 'world'...uggh, who wants to live here? but we do, and if we want to quilt, we have to figure out how.
So glad you posted this, I never thought about anyone else doing the cutting. We FM-ers, are very aware of how physical this art is. For now, I will just keep cutting when I can, and then moving on to other things, till I can get back to it, but the idea of having stuff already cut and ready to sit for a bit and sew...whewee...makes me think of my younger days. :D
I love to sew, and quilt, but find it is a slow process for me now, due to my fibromyalgia.
Ppl on here gave some wonderful tips, and support for our 'world'...uggh, who wants to live here? but we do, and if we want to quilt, we have to figure out how.
So glad you posted this, I never thought about anyone else doing the cutting. We FM-ers, are very aware of how physical this art is. For now, I will just keep cutting when I can, and then moving on to other things, till I can get back to it, but the idea of having stuff already cut and ready to sit for a bit and sew...whewee...makes me think of my younger days. :D
03-24-2009, 06:20 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: WA
Posts: 1,372
DUH!! If it weren't for Fibro Fog, I might've thought of this earlier. PRE-CUT pieces you say? Okay, I know this doesn't work in every situation, but for some projects we have the option of buying Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, Charm packs, and now Turnovers (triangle cuts) and others. That might help lessen the burden some days.
With the cost of fabrics soaring, one option is the pre-cuts through connectingthreads.com, only $5.96 a yard, no matter how it's cut. I personally have not tried them yet, but others have and say they're just fine.
I hadn't even thought of asking my LQS to cut my fabs for me. That's an excellent idea to all who've mentioned it here. Thanks! Too bad so many of us have Fibro, but yahoo that we are sharing our ideas with each other. What a great community of quilters you have here.
Karla
With the cost of fabrics soaring, one option is the pre-cuts through connectingthreads.com, only $5.96 a yard, no matter how it's cut. I personally have not tried them yet, but others have and say they're just fine.
I hadn't even thought of asking my LQS to cut my fabs for me. That's an excellent idea to all who've mentioned it here. Thanks! Too bad so many of us have Fibro, but yahoo that we are sharing our ideas with each other. What a great community of quilters you have here.
Karla
03-24-2009, 06:44 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,689
Thanks for all the great suggestions. There are some days I can not cut fabric, other days I can and then suffer for days with the pain. Right now I am doing ok and can cut, but never know when the pain will come back. I have even had DH help me cut when it is a necessity and that helps as he is very undomestic.
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