Having recently discovered how much I love quilting, and especially needle turned applique, I was dismayed at the difficulty I was having with finger strength, dexterity, and painful joints.
So I went to the internet looking for a better solution to grasp the needle and to keep my fingers from being stabbed countless times per session in the studio. The logical solution, or so it seemed to me, was to find some non-latex finger cots to give me a better grasp of the needle, and thus avoid the strain on my index finger and thumb.
FOUND…
😦
Sadly I could not afford to buy the box of 500 Nitrile finger cots at a cost of about $57.00. Yes, you read that correctly. Not to be deterred I reasoned that I could get the same traction from a finger off of a Nitrile glove. So it was off the hardware store for Nitrile gloves, in the paint department, at a cost of $4.99 for a package of 25.
Do the math! 5 X 25 = 125 finger cots!
I snipped and…
Voila!
Well, OK they are Smurf Blue but what do I care?
I also ordered special longer, coated, quilting needles, and a good leather thimble for my pushing finger.
I’m good to go!
Now if I could just quit stabbing the thumb on my left hand! Guess I will have to spring for another thimble and quit using my thumbnail for a needle stop.
😉
~*~
Life on the Farmlet 
I use the smurf blue and purple nitrile gloves for food prep, as I seem to be allergic to many food acids, or I have trouble with hot peppers (which we use a lot). They are horribly expensive! You are a very clever girl to utilize each finger on the glove! Cute and delightful post… and a very good idea! Thanks for the tip! (No pun intended)
Thanks! And now next year when I am preparing all the chilis for my pints and pints of salsa I won’t hurt myself because I will have plenty on hand… Um, I think that was a punny too… can’t get away with it on this topic I guess, LOL!
Ok the smurf digit is cool but what i loved the most were you unshaped slightly filthy fingernails (like mine.. thank god) and those ridiculously healthy moons! you have great nails!! sorry was not concentrating on the quilting.. c
Cecilia, This is a backhanded compliment! LOL!
Once in High School a girlfriend who fancied herself a “fortune teller” looked at my nails and told me that I was lazy because of their rounded shape. Guess she was wrong, nowadays I work hard around here to make them look that bad! 😉 ~ L
you got working hands!
Mine are always scabby from scrapes, covered in paint right now, hangnails from the constant washings. And broken nails because…. well, its a farm!
Hard to remember what life was like without pain. I have lived with chronic pain for years now and occasionally it gets the best of me. I get angry. I get depressed. I hurt myself because of lost mobility and agility and get clumsy.
You have to come up with ideas like your custom cots! A little ta-da moment that helps you.
And love using them for peppers too. Never thought of that and always rub my eyes or nose with pepper stil on my hands and burn!
Give Polly a cuddle for me, is she laying eggs? (does she have a gander?)
Connie
Thanks Connie, It has been a rough winter for me. Kind of up and down, but this week was the worst. Tripped on the back steps coming in and have a hideous bruise on the bone of my wrist. I understand about losing balance alright. Polly was laying, she laid about 5 total, but they froze because she didn’t stay on them in this cold we’ve had. Spring will come and then we’ll see! And yes, she has a gander! 😉
When I read the title, I wondered what you were up to now! lol Glad to see the gloves worked out for you. I know those needle sticks hurt, especially when done over and over. Can’t wait to see your quilt!
Thanks Patti! I am getting excited about being done with it. It has gone primitive in the execution, though it did not start out that way! I was all supposed to be done by machine, but I thought it looked awful so, as my new quilting friend Anita would say, I had to frog it… “Rip-it, Rip-it, Rip-it!” 🙂 ~ L
I hadn’t heard the term “frog it,” but am very familiar with Rip it!
Yup, that’s the one alright. 😉 ~ L
I admire your determination. I love the idea of quilting but I am very un-crafty so I guess I’ll just order one from you!
Juli, thank you! Most of what I am making while not “smaller than a breadbasket” would, if neatly folded, fit into one.
Very creative solution! I love when the ordinary in life makes for such good posts.
LOL! Nancy, I was desperate, as you might guess, because of all the holes in my fingers. Plus, the longer I worked the harder it became to pull the needle through. Very frustrating, but not now! ~ L
(One of your recent posts made me feel good about sharing this. Something about the daily stuff being interesting to read about?) 😉