Exercises for wrists sore from hand quilting?

[Sandy Navas]

I then went and added insult to injury by needing chemo which resulted in peripheral neuropathy to my hands and feet...result = I avoid hand work where possible. But like you it doesn't stop me, I may even have quilting supplies put in my coffin...just in case.

Lynn - I have a dear friend who just went through chemo and has peripheral neuropathy, too. Interesting that I used to work with an oncologist (many years ago) and spent my working life in the medical field and yet had never heard that this was a side-effect of chemo. And I guess once its there it stays. I know what Donna has been through with it and my heart goes out to you.

On another note, I love your idea of taking quilting supplies with you . . .

[Andrilla]

Thank you everyone for your help. I think that I may talk to a doctor about it. I'm hoping that it isn't anything serious, it has beenligoing on for almost a year now. It was really bugging me this weekend because I forgot my gloves at my apartment. Worst case scenario, I quilt less.

[Dragonfly]

Worst case scenario, I quilt less.

NO NO! worst case scenario, you quilt more with your machine. I know it's not the same as hand quilted which is an art in it's own right, but machine work can be amazing as well...let the machine do the work, that's why we invented them after all.

[Dragonfly]

Lynn - I have a dear friend who just went through chemo and has peripheral neuropathy, too. Interesting that I used to work with an oncologist (many years ago) and spent my working life in the medical field and yet had never heard that this was a side-effect of chemo. And I guess once its there it stays. I know what Donna has been through with it and my heart goes out to you.

Sorry to sidetrack the thread...Sandy it does improve slowly but it is never 'quite' the same again. You may not have seen it as it is a side-effect of the Taxane group of drugs and they have only been used in recent times, and not always used, they are the top end drugs for breast cancer, there are kinder alternatives that are used where possible. My love and hugs to your friend Donna.

[Sewbee]

Sorry to sidetrack the thread...Sandy it does improve slowly but it is never 'quite' the same again. You may not have seen it as it is a side-effect of the Taxane group of drugs and they have only been used in recent times, and not always used, they are the top end drugs for breast cancer, there are kinder alternatives that are used where possible. My love and hugs to your friend Donna.

Having had 2 separate cancer diagnosis myself since 2000 which both included Taxane chemo resulting in peripheral neuropathy plus the additional side effect of Lymphedema in my left hand and arm, I can identify with the hand quilting issues! My fingers just won't work like they should when trying to do fine motor skills. I have accepted the fact that I need to get good at machine quilting if I wish to continue this hobby. Being a new quilter and one who does not hold more traditional ideas about the necessity for hand quilting, I am just fine with doing as much as I can by machine. I already wear a compression sleeve and glove daily for my Lymphedema which makes handwork more difficult but it is a necessity. I just ordered the Paean Veritas Finger Gloves in hopes they will help protect my fingers from needle sticks plus aid in gripping fabrics when sewing.

Andrilla, don't do less quilting! There are lots of options and compromises that will still allow us to do the crafting we love!

[Dragonfly]

Sewbee, love and hugs to you as well, sadly cancer is all too prevalent in our lives now, I'm pleased that the lymphedema hasn't deterred you. May God bless the man that invented the sewing machine, he was definitely a keeper, even if he did do it for commercial reasons rather than to make his wife's live more enjoyable.

[Andrilla]

NO NO! worst case scenario, you quilt more with your machine. I know it's not the same as hand quilted which is an art in it's own right, but machine work can be amazing as well...let the machine do the work, that's why we invented them after all.

But I don't know how to machine quilt. I already learned how to machine piece. I originally hurt my hand when I was hand sewing, so moving to machine piecing helped a lot with that. But machine quilting is something I have not been able to figure out.

[Sandy Navas]

Andrilla - just hang around, keep reading posts, we're most of us in the same boat with you. Check out some of the stitch in the ditch tutorials, then some free motion quilting . . . it will become natural for you . . . as I hope it becomes for me, too.

[Connie Chamberlain]

Lynn,that's all i do is machine quilt.Just put the feed dogs down and practice.I'm new here. Connie

[Andrilla]

Andrilla - just hang around, keep reading posts, we're most of us in the same boat with you. Check out some of the stitch in the ditch tutorials, then some free motion quilting . . . it will become natural for you . . . as I hope it becomes for me, too.

I'll check them out! I hope to eventually get one of the big machines that are super expensive and take up the whole side of a room. They attack to a quilt rack, and I'm doing a terrible job describing it, but that is what I want. A Mennonite (or maybe Old German Baptist, there are a lot of different groups near here..) told me that the machine cost ore than her car. I REALLY want one of those.