Rubber fingers?

[JudyWoo]

I knew that would get your attention. lol

But seriously, I do have a question ... since I don't have proper quilting gloves to move my fabric around when I'm doing free motion quilting, why couldn't I go to my local office supply store and get some of those rubber fingers the bank tellers, etc., wear? I've been practicing my free motion all afternoon and I'm getting pretty good at it. Suprise suprise!!! But I got so tense in the shoulders from pressing on the fabric & moving it around that now I'm really sore ... however, I just remembered they sell quilting gloves for moving the fabric more easily. But wouldn't those little rubber fingers work until I can get the gloves? Has anyone else been so desperate that they've tried them?

Judy

[Littlebit]

Haven't tried the rubber tips but have read where other quilters do use them )

[minniemouse]

Hi Judy, Yes, you could do that or you could take and cut the fingers out of rubber gloves too. They also sell those gloves with the little dots on them in the garden dept. Don't know if they are exactly the same but would work till you can check out the regular quilting gloves. Another idea is that you coulf buy a package of finger cots at your local drug store or wal-mart. They aren't as heavy as the ones at the office supply place and go further back on your fingers. This is what I use when I am hand quilting to grasp the needle with. I've used the others but my fingers sweat in them and they don't in the finger cots. I'm sure someone else might have a better idea but that's my 2 cents worth...........jan in Punxsutawney

[sunsup]

I use a pair of cotton gloves with the little dots on them that I got at Ace Hardware really cheep. They work just fine for me.

[CoyoteQuilts]

I have used the finger tips and they make my fingers sweat & then they fall off. I have used the gardening gloves (make sure the dots are white as sometimes the color rubs off onto your quilt) and they are easier to deal with.

The best thing I did was to get a 'slick' bed to move my fabric around on. The reason you are pressing so hard on the quilt & making muscles sore is you are fighting the fabric on the sewing machine bed. Also, you need to take timeouts every 15 minutes or so when you first start out. Raise your arms over your head, go get a drink of water, go potty, go iron another quilt block you are working on, etc. It is amazing what 1 minute of time out will do for your FM (free motion). I find I am more jerky when I don't take a break. There was another discussion on this some time ago and there were lots more ideas mentioned.

Good luck & happy quilting,
Sharon V.

[JudyWoo]

That was a GREAT tip about creating a "slick" bed to move the fabric around on. I have two Applique Pressing Sheet's that are coated with non-stick Polylon and that stuff it really slick ... so I cut one of them up and made a piece that I could tape onto the bed of my machine with a small square opening in the center for the presser foot and it works like a champ!!!

And you're right about taking breaks because I noticed that I got jerky also after a while. I'm using a stippling stencil and a "disappearing fabric pen" to map out my free-motion lines and I've been practicing on a stack of heavy store-bought place mats that I've had for years. They are making great little practice quilts and by the time my gloves and Miracle Chalk Marking Kit arrive, I'll be ready to actually work on quilt that I have pieced.

I don't know what I'd do without this group to turn to for advice and help when I have questions and am at the end of my rope on a project ... and I really appreciate it when someone jumps right in and offers their advice and suggestions. I can't begin to tell you how many times you've saved my bacon.

Judy

[cindyg]

I don't do much quilting on my sewing machine but I have done a little. I do applique. I have a pr. of Fons & Porter gloves. They are very light weight made out of t-shirt material and they have the little gripper dots on them. I absolutely love them.