As a joke, people say quilting is an addiction. But when you keep doing something that hurts, is it a joke?
I'm hand quilting my self portrait for the Interpret This challenge. (I chose to hand quilt because I couldn't think of a way to machine quilt I thought would work well.) Hand quilting hurts my wrists and my hands, which have been feeling a bit arthritic the last few days. So this morning when I woke up with pain, I resolved to give the project a rest today. But I've been back at it. Hmmm.
Ironically, this is a small piece, with really just a few hours of work, and my quilting stitches are ugly anyway. So the painful fascination has no rational cause. Oh, well. I think I'll stop now, and go have some food--that's harmless, right?
8 comments:
To more easily grasp the needle I wear a "thumb condom" on my stitching hand. That's a cutaway finger from a latex glove. By wearing one it takes a lot less effort to pinch and pull that needle through layers of fabric. I even wear one when doing a simple hemming project these days.
When I sewed the beads on Poppies, my wrist hurt but I took Ibuprofen and worked through the pain. I thought was arthritis too. But it was tendonitis. I wore a brace for several weeks because the pain was so intense--I still wear it at night and I still can't lift a skillet with my left hand. So be careful there. Six weeks later my wrist is finally starting to get better. It's been awful.
When I have had a long string of hand embroidery days, my hands get a bit stiff and my little finger will start twitching uncontrollably. Then, I know it's time to go do something else. I have tried to be more cautious that I am not pushing a deadline when I have a feeling my hands will give out on me.
Sucks.
I try to take lots of breaks and stretch when doing hand work. I figure I've got to find a way to work with the bones I've got. Yet I know what you mean, sometimes the pressure to keep going gets pretty intense.
I have to say I actually ponder this having the addictive personality that I do. Just in general terms I mean - I ask myself about my addiction to quilting. There are signs. I dare not share them here but I think some self-control could be applied. Actually, come to think of it, I did spend the entire week on other things. Even if it was forced and painful to give up the quilting it should count as a "win" for the addict.
I doubt that your quilting stitches are ugly, as you say. Seriously doubt that.
Sorry you're in pain as you work. There is still a while before the deadline....don't push yourself so hard!
Oh dear! I think we love our craft too much sometimes. I have done the same thing so take heart...but be careful as Rian said. I think it is the feeling of accomplishment and need to complete something that drives us past a normal breaking point.
My left wrist used to hurt a lot when had sewing too... but I found wearing a brace on it while I am sewing avoids the pain.
And my other way to avoid it... do it by machine!!!
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